The Wreck of the Emilie

Southland Times, Issue 11439, 25 April 1890, Page 2

The Wreck of the Emilie

OPINION OF THE COURT. The report of the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the Nicaraguan barque Emilie was read by C. E. Rawson, Esq., R.M., in the courthouse at noon yesterday, His Worship said : — What I am about to read is my report on the loss of the vessel Emilie, commanded by George L. Small and owned by C. Nicholas, of San Flrancisce. I need not read the formal part of it — in which I find that the loss was caused by the improper stowage of the timber cargo— but only my opinion on the matter aa foilows : — " That the vessel from the time ehe left the Bluff until caught by a sudden gale — about twenty miles west ward of Puysegur Pomt — made a little' water, but that ten minutes pumping every £wo tours appeared sufficient to keep her dry ; that the pumps were efficient and in good order ; and that at about 7 a.m on the 27th March, 1890, the vessel was caught by a sudden gale from the N.W. The proper sails we're taken in. The jib and foretopmait staysail andforetopaail were blown to pieces. The vessel waa eventually brought to the wind nnder the two lower topsails. Shortly - afteftthis ihe became rapidly waterlogged. f-There*waa ao evidence to show a sufficient caus^for this beyond that of a stevedore, who was engaged in stowing the vessel after about a quarter of the cargo had already been stowed by the ship's company. Thin witness alleged that this first portion of-' the stowing. was improperly done,' inasmubh a« the end of the timbers were allowed to rest on the skin at either end of the vessel, and .also on the sides, which would pat an undue strain upon those parts by the' weight 'oif' 'the -cargo above. Believing this evidence «I- am ef opinion that the vessel being moderately old, nevertheless otherwise seaworthy, waa probably burst open owing to the lower part I of the timber being improperly stowed. The vessel was loaded with heavy pieces of sawn timber up to ten inches square, and 6$ various lengths. After becoming waterlogged the vessel fell ; oyer ..on. Jier broadside. The master and second mate and six of the crew were, drowned. < The masts fell The waterlogged hull righted^ and afterwards drifted about with the first mate and the three remaining crew upon it for some days. Eventually the vessel drifted to Stewart Island and became a total wreck. These four men landed on the Island and were rescued, but the first mate subsequently died from the effects of the hardships he had experienced, combined with other causes." To the above opinion /I have V'sjgpjfeded the following note :— fjjf, i^j^^Mm^fxtldi an inquest on the death of 'the firat mate at the Southland Hospital, in. which institution he died. As it had been rumoured that the vessel was rotten and unseaworthy, and tliat the charterer, marine surveyor, ,.,and other local citizens were more or leas to blame in the matter, I was proceeding to call witnesses befo/e the jury who might be abhv to give evidence respecting the condition of the vessel. The Collector of Customs, who was present, then informed me that a formal investigation respecting the loss ofthe vessel would at once be, held, when thai, question could be better gone into. ' OWitpis understanding I then confined the inquest to the immediate cause ofthe death of the deceased. The death of the first mate did 'not necessarily result from the shipwreck, for hia three companions have recovered frem the hardship, but apparently -from his ' imprudence in continuing tb* weaV^his sea boots, soaked with water, for many days in cold weather, the result being mortification of the legs. After the. Coroner's inquest it was discovered, and I was informed, that the. Emilie ' was_a foreign ship, and, therefore, not the subject for a. formal investigation under " The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877." As, however^we had been unintentionally misled, and' the desire of the Coroner's jury, as wellai'my own wish, had been -to inquire into the alleged unseaworthy condition Of the vessel (respecting which the public mind waa greatly exercised), and as, moreover, the parties before referred to wished to havo an opportunity to lay the facts of the case, ao far as they were individually- concerned, before the public, I deemed it^aavisable to hold the present inveatigationjevenialthough it may he considered as an un* official one." The Nautical Assessor, Captain Greig, concurs] in the opinion Ihave just read. Mr Borrie asked if, under section 45 of the Act, his Worship would make any order aa to costs. . c ■-, • < His Worship : No ; no order willTba made as to costs. ; " ' ■ -VI Mr Wade said there was one extraordinary circumstance upon wMchhe^couUL not help making a remark. It appeared " that the captain and ail the men responsible, for the stowage were gone ; the three survivors had had nothing whatever to do with it. Thia fact seemed fo him very extraordinary indeed. Mr Russell said he did not think it so very extraordihaty- since the bulk of the crew — eight out of twelve men — had perished.