SYDNEY NAVAL DISASTER

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13810, 22 January 1909, Page 5

SYDNEY NAVAL DISASTER

THE COURT. OF INQUIRY,

THE - PARTIES BLAMED

Press Telegrapb-Copyrism Received 10.55' p.iu'.," Jan. .21st.

SYDNEY, .Jan. 21

i The Marine, Court,, of Inquiry into the naval disaster, found that the collision was caused by the wrongful act of Samuel Bryant, who was in charge of the launch with it!>e pinnace in tow, improperly.' crossing the bows, of the bunmpre, and by the wrongful act of Captain Hansen, ,of the Dunmore, in hot keeping; a .propter look-out. The Court called'on Hansen to.show cause why his certificate should not he dealt with; why he did not'exercise ordinary foresight .by keeping' a proper lookbut. The coxswain, in charge of >. the launch -must have seen that by. shaping the course he did that he would put the launch in •'.the'position' of crossing ihe vessel having the. othdr on his:-:star-board. r The -.Court., was of'.opinion that this 'was'primarily the cause of the mishap. ; The fact :tliat<.he' had something hi tow in no way prevented liim taking a safer course. -While this was so the Court.was unable to acquit the master of the blame.'".< If he had acted differently the accident might have been avoided. In manoeuvring he clearly ought: to have intimated that he was changing his course to. the starboard. Although there was this omission it did not contribute to the accident,' but there was no proper look-out kept; if there had been, the accident might'have been avoided.