THE ENQUIRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 2919, 31 January 1884, Page 8

THE ENQUIRY.

Auokland, Job. 4. The enquiry into the wreck of the Triumph was resumod to-day. The Crown Prosecutor stated that since the Court sat last anew phase of tho case had ari3en m the fact of the steamer having been got off tlw recks and brought into Auckland harbor. He therefore proposed to re-examine tho -chief officer of tho Triumph, m order to have the fasts connected with her floating placed upon record. Thomas Owens, (thief officer of the Triumph (re-called), deposed that sinoe the date of the last sitting of the Court he had been employed on board tho Triumph assisting m the operations to got her off the rockf . As a result of these operations the vessel was vasterday got off and during the nijjht she was brought into the harbor, where shenowjes. No external aid or apparatus was used to lift the ship m tho shape of pontoons, lighters or other appliances of that kind. Pumps ware employed, but beyond that nothing was done except taking ont the cargo and lightening her as much as possible.

By Mr Heaketh : I was employed by Fraser, tho purchaser of the ahip. Captain Brothorton has not been employed m these operations. Fraser is ait ironfounder and shipbuilder and ho had tho assistance of Mr Gtonk, Captain Farquhar, and ethers, and liad nulimited command of tugs and baits. Three pumps were used — two cer.trffugal,und one pulsometer — the power of which was very great. Pumping had to tie kept up nearly all the way into the harbor. I knoic where tho ves3e! lies. She was afloat an hour ago whea I left her, bat had a. strong li3t to starboard. That shows ahe must have a lot ol: cargo m the fore hold on that aide besides water.

Mr Williamson : If these steps had been taken at first when the atoamcr went aground, would she have been got ofl: so readily f Witness : I believe so — that, 5s before she shifted her position. Thia closed tho case fcr the Collector of Customs.

Mr Heskath said the course ho proposed to take waa aa follows : — Or. behulf of the captain he purposed luiuling evidence to prove the cause of the captain, going to steep on the night of the disaster. He ahordcl sail evidence to rebut What had been several times suggested by Mr Williamson, thongh never directly stated, to the effect that the captain on that night was the worse for drink. He had witnesses who wouli ms.to that immediately clear, and who would also show that the captain hnd for some nights previously been suffering fram an affection regarding which several witnesses had upoken. He would prove this bj- diaixriercsted parties unconnected with ihe- ship, and who had no motive for stating that which was untrue. Besides these witnesses, he also hoped to have the evidence of a looU medical gentleman, who would_ prove that ho had been consulted by Captain Brothorton for the Bama uffection while m port. Thii medicai gentleman (who, might, hoirever, to prevented Irom attending to give evidence), was also prepared to state that from the natiini of the captain's affection and its effects, combined with the work m I which he was engaged, hf wbxild not be surprised, from a medical piint of view, at the captain going to sletip on the bridge. Harry Parker, tido suneyor and boarding j officer of H.M. Customs, saic. that he performed hiH dntiei on tho stettmer Triumph while m port. He became acquainted with Captain Brotherton. He saw Turn about two minutes fcofore tho steamer Inft the wharf. He then conversed with tho oaptoin, and siiw nothing unusual m his mannei.'. He did not appear to be suffering fpjm drink. He was perfectly Hober. Ha did not know the captain till ho catae to Auukland. Hs did not know whether ho was one of thosso persons who could stow away a lot of liquor without allowing it.

Archibald Granforson, carpenter ; T. J. S'aderson, shipping and C(iston.house clerk to L. D. Nathan and Co.; George Henry Cotterill, a pasannp-er by tho Trimnph from London ; Captain McKenjrie, Deputy Harbormaster : Glover Clark, tlio purser, ard Dr ,Menzics, tho surgeon of t'le Triumph, gave evidence e-i to Captain Brotbertan being sober on tho night: of the wreck. The latter said that the Captain wM then Buffering from neuralgia. Ho had. seen the Captain that day working m the hold with a capstan bar. If neuralgia was severe it waa iccompaiied by deprivation of sloep. Hairing lost his night's sleep bcfore,it wa« very likely that the captain should have gone to aleopon the bridge. Thronghont the voyage Captain Brotherton displayed qualities of attention to duty and good tseamanship. Witness ajver sailed with a better skipper, and he had travelled m mnny Hhipa beaidoß the Triumph, , and once as surgeon. Ho «aw no reason to donbt tho statoment that he hatl <rono to blooij on tho bridge from worry and oxiianaticn.

By Mr \Villiannon : 'Brandy a,nd other alcoholic stimnUnts nre of ton resorted to for relief m neuralgic complaint?, bnt ho never prescribt*! thorn for Capbiic Jlrotherton. He wok m tho saloon readme whon tho ship ntruck. Ho could not gay wfiat gent Thompwon, the poisaougor, to sleep oti the bridge. Lawreaco David Nathan, of the firm of L. D. Nathan and Co., agents for tho Triumph, tsaid he remembered the 29th Novombor last. Ho saw Captain Brotherton sovoral times I;hat <iay, tho laat time m hit own cabin abotit a quartet past six. Vp to tha- timo there was not tho least t.pjwarance of drink abont the captain. Their m^orvievg thim and earlier m tho day \roro on business ;na.ttors of saeh a Irind that he -jronld he.vo been nble f» gauge whether or not tho capfaun wai Hot»er. He noticed that tho captain seemed concerned or troubled, as if he had 'Aomatlring on hss mind. That was partionlnrly on the aftwnoctt of the 39th November. After the ies»el strtiok he saw that he had hit fiicc batdagad up and he prevailed on him to oorao to tnm and neo Dr Haines. That gentleman extturtod a tooth at onco and gave him a sleopiau draft, aftor a shock of an olectrio battery. By Mr Williamson: He had had a communication with the 'ownors of tho Triumph, on behalf Of Captain Brotliorton. Ho could, not say a syllable ait m the aniotjit of insorahces on her. He made no inquiriuii. Tho mUi did not take place ty dirocttjn ox with the knowledge of the o-iraers, bat a;, the reqnotit of Lloyd's agontc, and of the agont for tho Ag'.ociatccl Inxure.nco Companies of Nnv/ Zealand, en the report of Captains C/aylon and Wottp. The iai»tttwtions 'urow

to sell as soon tis possiblo on behalf of whoui it might concern. The captain was told by Dr Campbell to follow the instructions of Lloyd's agent and sntveyor ((Japtairi Clayton), or otherwiso'ho would have been blamed for any accident thilt might havo occurred m carrying out these instructions. Captain Brotherton applied to witD ess for frmtla. appliances, &c, which he had supplied all (ilong. Thcra won some difflculty about divow. J£e was sorrj' to say ho hatl not the agreement with the diver with him. All ho could say was that ho wis on the stranded ship when a pigeon despatch v/as 3ent ashoro by the captain asking for a diver among other things. That message was delivered to witness' shippiiig' olerk who did not well know what to do, but made some private agreement. When he left for there, Captain Rearing asked witness to send a diver. Ho asl:od him who,t he should pay, and he said £2 per day. On landing-, witness' olerk said the diver would not go for less than £30 a day. The diver was putting bis things on board the steamer, but h<! at once stopped him and told him there waa a great difference between £2 and .£3O, though he wonld not object to pay ,£4 per dny. The divor went to consult Captain Haddook, who threw cold water on the matter. He quite expected his offer would bo accepted next morning. AftevwardH ho made a mora favorable agreement with thij diver to take out cargo, at so much per bar and bundle.

Captain No;iring, recalled and examined by Mr Heskoth, deposed to assisting to get the Triumph floated. Captains Clayton and Worsp were there and about fifty laborors. Tho men retrained onboard with witness till the day befo.ro the Triumph was sold, and used every endeavor to got hoc off. Every moans that ccnld be got was used, with the excoption of divors. Mr Nathan offered witness and Goulc .£SOO apiece if they succeeded m getting the vessel on. They jravo np their efforts to lloa'; her because they had done all they couM, <md the tides got bad, while a north-oast gfje altered the position of the ship. Mr Williamson :, TVero not all tho appliances which wore afterwards used to bo got m Auokland at the time yon woro working on the vessel ?

Witnoss : They woro hoto, but could not bo got. People who have those things aro no % willing to lot thorn out. I applied for n pnlsometer pump and could not get ifc. t This closed tho evidence on behalf of Cuptaiit Broth9rton.