GREY RIVER.

West Coast Times, Issue 311, 21 September 1866, Page 2

GREY RIVER.

High Watee This Dat v—6.40v — 6.40 a.m.; 7.5 p.m.

OFFICIAL ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE EXCELSIOR.

(FKOM TUB GKEY' BIVKU A.UGVS, SEPT. 20.) > At an official enquiry into tbe circumstances of the wreck of the schooner Excelsior, held bjr 1). Johnston, Esq., the evidence of the captain and mate of the schooner, of the captain, mate, and engineer of the Persevere, and of the Harbor-master, and the Signal-master, was

taken - Captain Coulson, tho Harbor-master, was first examined, and lie gave it as his opinion that the wreck was occasioned by the insufficiency of the power of the tug. When he first saw the schooner she had sails set ; when she got into the break of the bur the tow-line parted, and the vessel drifted on to the beach. He thought that the mate of the steamer usad every effort in order to stop the drifting of the schooner, and that the master of the schooner could not have done more than he did to save his vessel. The Bchooner made for the bar at the top of high water. When she attempted to take the bar she was on the steamer's weather quarter. Had the tow-line been cut then she might have got to sea agaiu, or else entered the river safely. Captain Iwerson, master of the Excelsior*, stated that he hoisted signals for a tug at 11 o'clock on Wednesday morniug, and the \Perscvere came alongside, and took tbe vessel in » tow. First foimd the vesßel iv danger when outside the break, by her touching the ground. He then set the mainsail to get her more up to windward. The tide was setting slrongly to the southward, and the tug had no _ power to get the vessel to the northward. Believed that the tug took the grand, and that then the captain cut the tow-rope. The. vessel then drifted on to the beach. When the tow-rope was cut, he tried to get out again, but the vessel would not stay, on account of their

being no way on her. He considered the cause of the schooner's going ashA-e was the insufficient power of tho tug. Samuel Phillips, mute of* {he SxieUior, stated that when tho line < was throfen from tho tu§(, tUo rtwipor drifted - astern of the ttehoonai* btfovo tlwy coulft" jwaty fast. TUo §$©&nw \\m tot fl» Itot m »ltyptd Muftort

air(kraijo43!|ty tho steamer. Came up agmn to'gct TtUo rope aboard. "When close to tlio bur, tho tide was setting very strong to the southward, and when on tho bar sho grounded oil tho 'outer spH. They then hoisted the mainoail, trying to make lor the channel, but tho vessel made little* way. They were inside the main* channel when the- tow-rope parted, •id the vessel was then alloat. When they triod to wear, the vessel would neither wear j\or stay. J)id not think that when they struck on tho outer spit they could have got to sea again if the tow-line had been cut. Captain M'Mcickan, master of tho stea^mtug Persevere, stated that when he went to the schooner he did not consider the sea too heavy for taking the bar. Whgn he got alongside tho schooner the current was running strong to tho southward, and a. strong northerly breeze was blowing. They could not manage to haul the live on board the schooner, and sho slipped her anchor and sailed after the tug and took the rope aboard. lie tola them to make all sail and to keep to windwtird as far as possible ; but instead of sotting the after-sail they set. the head-sail, which caused her to drift to leeward. After they got into the break they attempted to hoist the mainsail, but could not succeed properly. Tho result was that 'the 'schooner hauled the tug so far to the south that it was impossible to make headway against ,the sea and current. "Witness then cut the tow ropo, the Bcho'oner being in. the channel between the beach and the outer break. The schooner would not wear. Tho tug grounded before the tow ropo was cut, and the sqhponer went t ashore. Her going -ashore was caused by the heavy current and sea ; nothing more could huve been don* io save the vessel. ...The mate of the Persovere corroborated thy

evidence of Paptain M'Meikan.

The signal master at the flagstaff stated that the bar was favorable, and n good channel at the time in question, but the steamer could not get to wiudward. and the schooner also could not do so. The schooner went to the windward of the stc.amer, and if ,the rope had been cut tho schooner cbuld have got safely into the river. When the steamer went out the weather was not' favorable for takingHa vessel in tow. The schooner could have sailed in safely.the wind being from the north; ■west. The . cause of the schooner going ashore was the insufficient power of the tug boat.