LOSS OF THE WHITE JACKET.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3309, 3 October 1871, Page 2

LOSS OF THE WHITE JACKET.

The following is the official report of the Muuritiiiß Marine Board on the loss of the White Jacket, which took place on a reef off Rodrigues on the 22nd May, on liei* voyage from Bombay to Uull. The White Jacket wiß well known in theee colonies, having formed one of the White Star line of vessels. The report is dated 21st July, 1871 : — Tho White Jacket, of Liverpool, a wooden vessel of the burden of 1148 tons, twelve years old, and classed Al at Lloyds, left Bombay under tho command of Mr Michael Johnson on the 30th April last, bound to Hull, with a cargo of linseed. She appears to have been tight, stanch, and seaworthy when she left Bombay, and to have continued so up to the night, of her loss. Tho island of Jtodrigues was sighted at one p.m. on the 23rd of last May. The conditions in which the White Jacket "was placed ab this time were such, as almost to preclude the possibility of danger or accident, fine clear weather, steady, moderate, fair wind, emooth water, and a weather shore j

notwithstanding which she was run on the reef on the north side of Kodrigues shortly after eight p.m., about two and a half miles from the shore, and in a few days became a total wreok. Out of a valueable cargo of 18,000 bags of linseed a very small portion was saved. The master was asleep on deck when the vessel struck, and tho second mate (ft young and very inexperienced officer) had charge of the •watch from 6 to 8 p.m., when he was relieved by the mate ; the course of W. b N. would have taken the ship clear of all danger, but nt 7 p.m., or shortly after, the yards were braced sharp up on the port tack by order of tho master, and tho vessel hauled on a wind to the southward, making a course varying according to the wind between S.W. b S. and W.S.W., the ship being somewhat vaguely steered " full and by," whioh may mean any course ; lights were seen on shore by the second mate and tho men on watch ; voices were heard, the roll of the surf was audible, if not visible, the |land perfectly clear, but " full ana by" the White Jacket was steered till the reef brought her up. It would be difficult to find a parallel to this extraordinary nnd inexcusable wreck. The Board of Inquiry suspended tho certificate of Mr Michael Johnson, the master, for eighteen months from the date of this inquiry, and the certificate of Mr Murdo Mackenzie, second mate, for six months ; at the same time severely reprimanding Mr M'Gibbon, the mate, for the careless and irregular manner in which he kept the ship's log-book, and for the want of decision and promptitude evinced by him when relioving the second mate shortly before the vessel ran on the reef.