THE WRECK OF THE LIZZIE BELL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 173, 3 August 1901, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE LIZZIE BELL.

ENQUIRY. j The Magisterial enquiry into the of the Lizzie Bell was resumed at the Courthouse on Friday morning by Mr. R, L. Stanton, S.M., and Captains Hood and Adamson, nautical assessors. Mr. Kerr again conducted the procee'l- - tigs on behalf of the Marine Department (represented by Mr. Bedferd, Collector of Customs). Mr. Govett, with whom was Mr. Miller (Mr. 0. Samuel) represented Captain Rees and! the chief mate, Mr. Birrow. The| first witness polled was !

James Butterwortb, who said he had twenty years' experience with surf boats. By the instructiens of Mr. Bedford he visited the locality of tbe wreck, and found three boats all smasned up. There was nothing on the beach worth getting up. He considered the ciptain's gig would have b'en absolutely useless in the surf, as were all square stern boats. The lifeboat was 23 feet long by 5-9 beam and was as good boat as anyone would wish i o get into. A boat could come ashore better with a steer oar than a rudder in a heavy surf. Had a steer oar been used probably not a life would have been lost, as a boat can be riunded up vith a steer oar. That a life-boat was vhaleboat shapd would make no difference in steering with an osr. Had a s'a anchor bten used it would have prevented tbe bsat getting broadside on.

To the Court: Found nothing in the ] shape of ship's charts or papers among the wreckage. Should anything come ashore the Maoris, who knew witness well, would keep them safely. Did not think if tha crew bad been divided in'o m >re b>at« more live* would have been hhvi d. Would himself have taken the t-aina cours i as the captain and put all the men in the lifeboat, but would have usnd one of tha other bo»'s as a dra». D'd mt rotice if 'here was any trace of lanyards on the r iwlocks. Did so", notice any trane of a life line having b en fixed under th« gun'le. There was no mast or sail in the bo it ivhen witnesi saw it. The mast was found farther down tbe coast. Did no* notice any eyelets screwed into the boat for seeming a life li e, The lifeboat could be scenand overhauled.

Wm. Thoa. Claule Barrow, chief offic r of the wrecked vessel, said he held a first mate's certificate, issued by the Board of Trade. This certifbate, is W'-ll as all the ship's papers, were lost in the Joined the vessel Glasgow l ist February. When the -ihip li-ft We'ling on the crew were perfectly fuber, as they had been lying out in the stream for several days, and all liquor was under seal. The wind was south-east and fresh, the sea being aoderate. He tallied the ballast in, the quantity being 600 tons. Could not state the vessel's course, as the captain was- in sole control. It was not part of his duty to make himself acquainted with the fchip's ceu»e while the captain was on deck in charge. Saw the Brothers when the 'hip passed eight or ten miles off 1 , but could not state the time, nor the dis ance from Wellington. Had never been to New Zealand before. The optain told him the two rocks were ailed the Brothers. It must have been before 4 o'clock that witness saw he Bro'hera. Took charge of the watch at 6 o'clock. Could ssj the light it Stephen Island at that tim\ State of wind and sea had no 1 ; altered. The course of. the vessel as then given to him by the seond mate was N.W nngnetic The s'eering compass showed N.N.W.

Mr. Kerr: How did you ascertain the true course.

Witness; By the magnetic compasj Mr. Kerr: Was cos the steering compiss magnc-tx.

Witne-s: No The standard com pass is the magnetic. Every sor 10 ninutes he exim'ned the standard compass. Could see it from the poop 'eck, as it had lights reflecting downwards. The captain was with him on he deck n6arly all the time, only leav ; ng once to leok at the chait. While witness wjS on duty the vessel's cosrte wag not altered. Steph»n Island was between 5 and 6. The cap'ain told him the light was oa Stephen Island. Reckoned they were about 10 in'lfs S.E. by E. of the island. Could no "i say who was at the whoel. Mr. Kerr: Don't you t,biik that is rather a curious thing to have forgotten ! vho was at the wheel ? Witness: Not nt al l . There was ft iot of new men and he had not got into identifying them wiih their names. Want off Hu'y at 8 o'clock. At that tioin th- hb'p would he about 25 miles ff Stephen Island. Siuce hj« had been first officer of tha ship ho had checked r he compasses one against this other. H»d no 1 ; done so latelv as the captain bad attended to it. The captain took an observation between Dunedin and Wellington for the purpose of checking the correctness of he compass. On going off duty at 8 o'c'ock witness gave *.he steering course to the second officer, who quite understood it. The captain w»s still en deck. Knew nothing furher till tht» vassal struck. The only theory he could advanca to account for *he vessel getting into the position she did was either that there wi s a strong under-current setting in tbat direction, or that them was some special magnetic infl'ifiica pre *eu f . which affected the compass.

To the Court: Qotsunel his cartifimte last Januiry. Was aware of the ffect of iron on a sMp's compis", cirgi from Glasgow included tons of pig iron, pip'e, and iron btr-. Knaw that the more iron the icarried the more the compass wou'd Wo afftc'ed. After the iron wai discharged at Dunedin there would ba a different doviation to that shown before reicbinj Dunedin. Had takon an azimuth on tha standard compass, and found the deviation on east and north east very small. Mr. Govett here pointod out to tfie Court that only part of the iron cargo was difcharged at Daredin, the r.'mainder being t iken to Wellington. The wsather was overcast neirly a'l the time on the voyage between Dunedin and Wtllirgton, and therefor* witness had no opportunity of making Bn observation. Knew that observations could be taken from land ohjec's. Did not know what the deviation was aftnr leaving Duneiiu. It was no' oflsy to tak« observations in tha position in which the compafs wi s fixed. Tli# ship hid no standard compos. Tilt patent log was a " o'iubb," and had worked f tirly correctly, only losing about 2 or 3 pr Pest. Took th« braring of Stephon I-lnrxl S.E. by E. by the ship's comp>ss. Last saw tha light on that ilswii about 6 30. Did not take his bearing* at that time. Knew the importance of takif g a lost bearing. Made up the ship's log from the notes given by the captain. There was always a light ia the compass at night. The points wore marked yery plainly, There was no'hing to indicate i that ths ship was being drawn into a

N, coarse, instead of keeping the N.W., in fact, fcho Captain remarked that be hoped a current would not draw them in the opposite direction. There was no sail belonging to the lifeboat. The rowlocks were chained to the bost. The captain told witmess the ship passed Stephen Island 8 miles off.

Captain Hood: If you could see the point of land so clearly when you took to the lifeboat, could you give any reason why the captain and second-officer could Dot gee it before the ship struek. Witness: There may Ivive been & haze previously, which lifted. Had no conversation with the second-mate after the ship struck. Mr Kerr here stated that Captain Grant of the Takapuna had been subpoenaed to give evidence bat refused to leave the ship. After a short discussion on the matter tin Court decided t:> wait till after 2 o'clock b;fo-e decidiag whut course to pursue so as ti give Captain Grant an opportunity of being present.

Wm. 'D. Arbuckle, apprentice on the Lizzie Ball, said he joined the ship at Glasgow, Was on duty from 8 to 12 and was keeping the time. Heard no conversation betweeo the s»cond officer and the captiin. When six bells was struck at 11 he lay down for awhile, and abou*; 11.15 Simmons came aft and s»id there wa* land, Witness jumped up, but could not sie whether it was ltnd or a cloud. He told Simmons to report to the second ma'e, and heard Simmons shout" " Land close by." Shortly after tbe captain called all hands on deck, Had seen the second ante go aft during witness' watch, but could not siy how oft nor when. Witness weut down fo call the rest of the boys, and while d<;iog si the vrssel struck. Glen was ih<» look out man. Witness did not ht?ar him mike a report.

To the fours: Simanns said the lind wis to starb ard. Thi bel's were struck that night every half hour. Tha captain cnuld have heird Simmons sing ou 1 ! '• Land close by " if he had been on the poop. Thought the captain was below.

The Court at this po'nt took the mid-day adjournment.

On resuming the Oourfc enquired if Osp'ain Grant had appeared. The police stated tha captain had been served wi'h a summons but had nob appeared. The Court; ordered a mounted man to be sent to the Breakwater to inform Captain Grant that if he did not appear by 3.30 p m. a fine .£lO would be inflicted.

J. M. Tickell, an apprentice on the Lizzie Bell, was the next witness. He was on duty all day on 24th ult. till 4 p.m. At sis he went on agiin, being on the look-out till 8 p.m. He saw a lighi on the part bow, but could not say what it was or how far off it was. BLe heard it fetited it was Stephen Island. The wind was blowing aft, but ha could not say in what direction of '.be compass, because he did not know what cjurae was being steered. Th® wind was fresh and the B'a moderate. Witness did not koow if the log had bsen eximined. He did not see the captain while oa the look-out. While witness was oa the look-out hj saw nothing bat the light. After 8 o'clock witness remained in bis bunk till Arbuckle came and told him to get up as the ship was running ashore. He knew th« ship was bound for Newcas'le. Never heard any conversation letween the officers as to when Cape Farewell should be sighted. i To Captain Hood: Did not report any light to the officer of the watcb. [The man whom witness relieved told him he had reported the light. At 8 j'cloek th ■ light was about on the port beam. He could not say what distance off it was.

John Harding, an A.B, stated ho j linpd tlia Lizzie Bid at Wellington. On 24th ha was on du'y all day, till 4 p.m. He was a stranger to the coasts of Cook Strait. He was n»xt on duty from 6 to 8 o'clock, "standing by." Did not take any notice of a light, and lid not hoar Sfcaphen Island be : ng discussed by the officers. Did not knaw what course was being stesrfd, He w-s at the wh»el from 3 ts 4 p.m., *hen the course was K.W. by N., \ N. He took this course from the man (Simmons) whom he relieved. While witness was at the wheel tke captain cune of tea to see <vbat c >urs« w*g being steered, and was on the poop all the 'ime. Th» wind was frash, but he could not judge the rate «f speed the ihip made. He did not koow who was at the whsel between 6 and 8 o'clock. Witness saw no land during this time. He went below at 8, and wa» not on deck again till the ship struck. itness had been at sm t»n years. Th» ship was carrying two feve-top-s*ils, two maic-top-sails, foresail and maic« •■op-gallant. Did not sponny drunkenness on board, or any whatever. To Cautain Adam'on: Witness, while s-eering, stoid on the port side of the wheel. The wind was almost dead aft'. The weather was a little h zy. He could not say at what distance he could havesiea land, Mr. Ke r r said he bad no furth9r evidence, exo pt Captain Graijt. Captain Bees (re-called) to Mr. Gavstt; The lifeboat rowlocks were secured to the biat by small chains. So far as witness knew thera was bo difference between a pole c mpass and a standard compass. The pole cempiss had two nfedles, He had not wen a standard compass with one neelle, but hj« had as a steering compass. The lifeboat had sails, and all necHsairies; but Uufortuna'oly they were not in it. At the time of the accident the suds w.iie in tha canvass locker, where they were gemrally kept to be preserved. The boat wa-i lying gunwale up, in the ski-.ln, with cork chockr. If the sails whi e left in the boat en th« voyage they would be rettsd. Some of the rowlock* wete attiohed to the boat when she came ashore, as he saw them himself on S'inday last. To Captain Hood: Lost sight tf Stephen I«'and light at 7.30 p.m. To the Magistrate; Set the course N.W by N. just after losiog the light, To Captain Hood : Wl\«n las!; se»r> the light bore SK. by IJ. Could net nee h)w he could have taken a " fourpoint bearing " by the light while it *<*B in sight, unles* he had hauled the vi'psel up. When the Stephen Island light was picked up it was on the port bow, and it lost; on the port quar-

I In reply to Captain Adamfon witness I gave a technical explanation of standard and polo compasses. To Mr. Kerr: The ship had no 1 : been " swung " during ths pa<t 18 months. Witness was given a certificate by thej Custom? authorities in Dunedin, authorising Irm to adjust the compass,

I To Captain Adamson : Witness did not hold an certificate • he only held an ordinary certifirate. At this stage, Mr. K rr said ha had just received word from Captiin. Grant | that the latter could cot leave bis vessel in an unsa'e harbour without the coos*»t of the TJjjion Company and of

the Marine Departmant. Mr. Kerr (aid that might be so in ordinary casta, but ia a ease like this, of public importance, ha thoaght the captain could leave his boat, as the chief mate also held a master's csrtificate, and was competent to take charge. Mr. T7alker, agent for the Union S.S. Company, who was in Court, was called, and said Captain Grant had told him through ihe telephone that he would not leave his boat, as the weather was heavy, and he was afraid she might carry away her moorings. He (Mr. Walker) had no power to authorise him to leave the boat.

Mr. Kerr submitted that Captain Grant should be called upon to show cause why he should not be fined.

The Court said it wa« most important that Captain Grant's evidence 1 Bhould be obtained, in justice to Captain Bees. The evidence was net complete without this. The Court woa'd have to adjourn until this expert evidence could be obtmed. It waß suggested that the Marine Dapartment should be asked to eend up a > ompatent witness as to tides and currents in the straits and en the coast.

Aft» some discussion the Court said that with the consent of Captain Reas' counsel it would accept the sailing directions in the New Zealand Pilot as evidence, and would deal with the caie at once. Mr. said be weuld accept that decision. He then addressed the Ciurt briefly on behalf of the captain. At 10 minutes to 4 o'clock the Court adjourned, and intimated that it would if poisible give, its decision at 10 a.m. on Monday. MEMORIAL TO THE DEAD. BELIEF FOR THE LIVING, A pdblio meeting was held at Pihama on Wednesday to arrange for a suitable mooumeiit to be placed in the cemetery in meuaory of the victims of the lata wreck, and to administer the funds footributed for the sufferers. The chair was' taken by the Rev. A. W. H, Compton, Ic was reported th»t, at present, about £65 had been received, oat of whioh £2B 10s had been expended in advances to the survivors who had lost all their personal effects. Besides this, collections were being made in New Plymouth, Hawera and Manaia.

A vote of thank* was pvsed to Messrs. J. Duffy, A. Fieyrie, John I Barlow, and J. Harrop, for their [gratuitous services in digging the graves. Ii was decided to fence the graves in, and erect a gravestone with i a suitable inscription, a small a'one to Ibe placodes a mirk at each gave. Tbe following committee was appointed to administer the funds:—Riv. A. W. H. Compton and Mes<re. H. M. Good, J. Lambie, A. McK>own, and H. Wagstaff, The chairman stated th«t careful inves iga'ion had been made into every case, and tbe would see tbat help was given where most needed. It sras resolved to ask that all funds raised in New Plymouth, Hawera and Manaia, bs handed over to the a u ove committee to administer. All-moneys rareived are to be acknowledged through the Press. At the close of tbe meeting tbe committee met and elected the Rew. A. W, H. Compton chairman, and Mr. H. Wngst»ff (Piham-i) hon, secretary and tiensurtr, to whom any further contributiona miy be sent. The committor beg to acknowledge' with thanks several gifts of clothtg, i and the following contributions: I

8 ■£ d. s, t Collected at 0«> ... 13 7 0 „ Opunake .. 10 11 0 Sent io Oeo .. .. 10 10 0 D St. Mary's Church , ■ Hawera .. ■.. 12 10 9 4. Collect dat Otakeo .. 110 0 g „ Pihama .. 717 6 " „ Ceinetary .. 816 1 i £65 2 4 P T hey also desired to tnans Messi* B Btylis, Graham, and Hogan, all of t Pihama, for the loan of their expresses' . to carry the bodies to the cemetery oq i Sunday. 9 :