The Elingamite Disaster.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 16, Issue 94, 5 December 1902, Page 5

The Elingamite Disaster.

Auckland, December 3

At the Elingamite inquiry Mr Burkitt seated he had been chief officer of the Elingamite since April or May last. The vessel had not been surveyed since. A survey consisted, so far as he was concerned, of an examination of the deck and boats. There had been no external inspection beyond that made by himself and the captain. Witness personally examined boats and equipment on the last trip from Auckland to Sydney in October. The whole equipment was correct and in goed order. He saw that everything was up to requirements. He had not made a detailed inspection of the boats since October, but had seen all with covers off when the carpenter was attending them, .He inspected the rafts in October. All were sound and in good order, and their equipment correct. It was not customary to keep compasses in boats. They were in a box on the bridge, and he was trying to get them out when he was washed overboard. The proper equipment for a boat was oars, rowlocks, sails, beaker and water, lamp for vegetable oil, tin of oil for lamp, rudder, tiller, two painters, and a hatchet. Boat drill took place twice every trip. Auckland, December 4.

Henry H. Aikins, second engineer, said that on Sunday morning he was in his room and heard the telegraph ring. He went to the engine-room and was there in about thirty seconds after the telegraph rang. He found the chief engineer and fourth endeavouring to get the engines to reverse. He aPributed the refusal of the engines to answer to the propeller being jammed in the rocks. It was not possible that three minutes could have elapsed between the time the order “ Full speed astern ” was given and the time the ship struck. Witness also stated that on the trip from Sydney they were getting all the speed they could out of the vessel. This was done bv the instruction of the chief engineer to make ilie best trip they could, and was understood ! / all the engineers.

Replying to the Bench, Mr Aikins said he could not exactly say the ship was on the rocks before the order came to reverse the engines. Directly the telegraph rang the engines stopped. /Thirty seconds later he got into the engine-room and felt the shaft jump. Then, about one and a half minutes after the reversing order was given the ship stuck fast. THE MISSING BOAT. The boat was the ship’s long boat, and was in charge of Mr W. B. Watson, third officer. It was the first to get away on the port side, and was thought to be well manned and fitted. Although survivors' opinions differ as to the boat's movements after she cleared the ship, Mr Leefson, a saloon passenger, informed the Sydney Morning [Jerald that he was satisfied it was Ijst. He saw it some distsnee from the boat he was in, but on nearer approach it suddenly disappeared, and was not seen again by him. After as careful a compilation as is possible under the circumstances, we make those unaccounted for total -j2, but whether that number was in the missing boat (understood to be able to comfortably accommodate about 30) it is imp ssible to say. The following are the names : Passengers- Miss Skinner, Mesdames Greenwood, Jeffson, Scotting, Messrs Wilcan, Berry and two children, Greenwood, Chaploe, A. Reynolds, H. Chadwick, W. H. Hutchings, A. Bennie. E. H. Reid, Morris. \V. O’Connor, Christeson, A. G. Palmer, H. Mills, Jas. Jennings. Members of the crew ; R. Fraser, chief engineer; W. B. Watso’n, third officer;' W. R. Seymoure, J. Jones, A. McInnes, C. Richardson, J. Steedman, O. Rasmussen, seamen ; J. Biirelj, II• Dobson, W. Copeland, T. Mirtpn, H, Oakley, firemen; W. Parker, G, M. Gee, D. McCullock, trimmers; W. Arkell, G, Harris, Gawler, C. Henricksen, stewards.