LOST VESTRIS

Southland Times, Issue 20648, 21 November 1928, Page 5

LOST VESTRIS

INQUIRY RESUMED

EVIDENCE OF THIRD OFFICER

SEVERAL LEAKS DISCOVERED

(United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) New York, November 19. Captain E. P. Jessup, of the United States Navy, retired, has been selected as the American expert for the Vestris investigation.

John Smith, of the Marconi Wireless Company, testified regarding communication between the Vestris and the Voltaire, her sister ship, which was nearby, but was unable to proceed to the assistance of the Vestris owing to a broken propellor. The Voltaire repeatedly sent queries to the Vestris throughout Sunday until just before the S.O.S. message was sent. The Vestris answered: “Have nothing to communicate.” The radio log of the Radio Marine Company’s Chatham station was presented by Arthur Costigan and revealed that the Italian ship Giorgio Ohlesn was apparently within 35 miles of the Vestris and relayed messages from the stricken vessel, but did not explain why it failed to go to the assistance of the Vestris.

The testimony of the third officer, Mr Welland, cleared up the question regarding the weather when the Vestris was sinking by decoding messages to show that the wind was blowing a moderate north-east gale. The mystery concerning Captain Carey’s communication with the owners was not cleared up. Costigan testified that no message bearing a slight resemblance to such a communication had been recorded.

The radio records showed that the Vestris told the Voltaire it had nothing to communicate as late as 4.56 on Monday.

The third officer, Mr Welland, testified: “Several boats did not have proper officers in charge.” Three of the four boats he launched reached the water safely. He said nobody could give an accurate idea why the Vestris sank. “There is general opinion, however, that the packing worked loose from the port door on the coal bunkers, thus causing leaks into the engine-room,” he

said. He discovered several such leaks and conferred with Captain Carey, who once remarked: “The situation is serious. The Vestris must be taking water from some places besides the leaks,” but a search failed to reveal the places. The hearing continues to-morrow with survivors giving testimony.—Australian Press Association.