THE WOOLAHRA DISASTER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13480, 20 July 1907, Page 4

THE WOOLAHRA DISASTER.

NAUTICAL' INQUIRY. 1 ' _ , pi (Per Press Association.),. .> • * WELLINGTON, July 1& An inquiry concerning the wreckt.or the barque Woolahra a* Tdrswhiti^ra Sunday last was opened to>day before Dr. McArthtir, S;M.> Cfiip«aiiiß Larkftis and W. J. Gray assessors. ' , **i Alexander Foote, chief mate of the Woolahra, said that after the tug le!ft the ship at Wellington Heads on Sfjsnday, he was on watch until 8 o'clockrln the evening. He was then relieved ,";by the second mate. Captain Andresen was also on deck, and there had befen no difficulty in handling the vessel. $c went below, and was due on wa&h again at midnight, but about ten mmutos before that hour was aroused *y shouts of "all hands on deck," #d found the ship ashore. Witness tfien described the experiences of the crew on the vessel, and their escape to shwe in a dinghy. He tried to persuade the captain to leave, but he refused, saying he would remain till daylight. He could not account for the wreck. From the position the vessel was in when^he surrendered charge, her going ashore was a mystery, even in face of the ©hanged weather. . . _ „ William Gough, the second mate, said the wreck occurred, in ,)iis watch- He didinot see the chart, and although, he "knew the relative position of the light on'PencarVow Head, he" could not now i point out on the chart the position the t|hip was in when he relieved the mate. The captain went below at 9.30, but returned at 10.15, when the wind, which had been , northerly, changed s to the south. There had been no change ;m; m the course up till then. Land wa* rehporiecLta the .leeward, a$ the captain went to the forecastle head and changed the course. Soon after breakers were seen ahead,, ajnd the barque struck. The c»ptain< told witness, and the / crew to get ashore as^ best they cojiidi but he would remain for day•light; Witness was for gqjng .ashore j straight away, but tho,men §aid.: . No, we'll stick to the. captain." > Counsel: Did the captain give you ! any. of his things? Witness: Yes; his watch and about £136, to be given to his wife if I got ashore. He gave me these in his .cabin. ' Have yo\i anything to say against tho navigation?— No. . , To* what do you attribute the wreck f — tShe must have steered too close in. ', . . 3!HE CAPTAIN'S FATE. f Afiier the evidence of two seamen had been heard, a lad named Felton >r aged 18, an ordinary seaman, said he was the last with the captain. He went below 1 trying ta persuade the captain to get into the dinghy. Witness was pitting a lifebelt on at the time, and said to the skipper: "Come; you have got^ your wife and children to look after. The captain started for the deck, but turned and went down again, saying: "No; I'll stick to the ship." Witness followed him down trying to' persuade him to leave. Then he heard the men on deck -crying to-sheve ofh »*d ™ obtain said: "Go, my boy, and look after yourself. ¥&**•"' Witness could stay no longer* .and going on to the deck he waa pulled over,, the rail into the dinghy. He had previously heard the two mates trying to get Captain Andresen to leave. There was three feet of water in the skippers caMin when witness left him, and tiie captain walked info that and sat down on a settee. As the dinghy was shoved away, the vessel gavo a lurch, and the cabin filled. - ' ' ' The court will deliver its finding, tomorrow.