The Inquiry.
[BY TELEGRAPH.]
Auckland, To-day. The inquiry into the wreck of the Triumph was resumed to-day. The Crown Prosecutor stated that since the Court last sat a new phase of the case had arisen, in the fact of the steamer having been got off the rocks, and brought into the Auckland Harbor. He therefore proposed to re-examine the chief officer of the Triumph in order to have the facts connected with the floating placed upon record.
Thomas Owens, chief officer of the Triumph (re-called), deposed that since the date of the last sitting of the Court he had been employed on board the Triumph assisting in operations to get her off the rocks. As a result of these operations the vessel was yesterday got off, and during the night she was brought iuto the harbor, where she now lies. No external aid or apparatus was used to light the ship in the shape of pontoons, lighten or other appliances of that kind. Pumps were employed, but beyond that nothing was done except taking out the cargo and lightening her as much as possible. By Mr Hesketh: I was employed by Mr Fraser, the purchaser of the ship. Capt. Brotherton has not been employed In these operations. Mr Fraser is an iron founder and shipbuilder, and he had tb’e assistance of Gouk, Capt. and others, and' had unlimited command of tugs' and boats. Three pumps were' used—two centrifugal and one' pul|cjmeter, the [ ower of which was very great. The pumping had to be kept up nearly all the way into the .harbor, I know wher§ the vessel lies. She was afloat an hour
ago, when I left her, but ad a stem ' bst to starboard. That shows she must have a lot of cargo in the forehold on th it side besides water. Re-examined by Mr Williamson: If these steps had been t-ken at first, when the steamer went aground, would she have been got off as readi’y ? I believe so; that is before she -hifted her position.
1 his closed the cas* for the Collector o: Customs.
Mr Hesketh said the course he proposed to take w r aa as follows. On behalf of the captain he proposed leading evidence to prove the cause < f the Captain going to sleep on the night of ihe disaster. He should call evidence to rebut what had been several times suggested by Mr Williamson, though never directly stated, to tho effect that the captain on that niiht was the worse for drink. Ho had witnesses who would make that, immediately clear, and who would also show that the captain had for some nights previou-ly been suffeiing from an affection regarding which several witnesses had spoken. He would prove this by disinterested parties unconnected with tho ship, and who had no motive for stating that which was untrue. Besides these witnesses he also hoped to have evidence of a local medical gentleman, who would prove that he had been consulted by Captain Brotherton for the same affection while in port. This medical gentleman (who might, however, be prevented fiotn attending to give evidence) was a’so prepared to state that from the nature of the Captain’s affection and its effects combined with the work in which he was engaged, he would not be surprised from a medical point of view at the Captain going to sleep on the bridge. Harry Parker, Tide Surveyor and Boarding Officer of Customs, said that he performed his duties on the steamer Triumph. While in port he became acquainted with Captain Brotherton. He saw him about two minutes before the steamer left the wharf and then converse: with: the captain and saw nothing unusual in hia manner. Did not appear to bo suffering from drink and was perfectly sober. He did not know the captain till he came to Auckland Did not know whether he is one of tho?e persons who Oan stow away a lot of liquor without showing it.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1041, 4 January 1884, Page 2
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662The Inquiry. Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1041, 4 January 1884, Page 2
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