THE TRIUMPH ENQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1042, 5 January 1884, Page 2

THE TRIUMPH ENQUIRY.

The following evidence was tiken yesterday : ' - Archibald Granderson, carpenter ; F. J. Sanderson, shipping and Customhouse clerk to L. D. Nathan and 00. ; George Henry Ootterill, passenger by the Triumph from London ; Captain McKenzie, deputy-harbormaster ; the purser and Dr Menzies, surgeon of the. Triumph ; gave evidence as to Captain Brotherton being sober the night of the wreck. The latter said that the captain was then suffering from neuralgia He had scan the captain that day working ia the hold with a capstan bar. 'lf neuralgia is severe it is accompanied by the deprivation of sleep. Having lost his night’s sleepj it was very likely that he should have gone to sleep on the bridge. Throughout the voyage the captain displayed the qualities of attention to duty and good seamanship. Witness never sailed with a better skipper, and ho had travelled in many ships besides the Triumph, and once as surgeon. He saw no reason to doubt the statement that he had gone to sleep,on the bridge from worry and exhaustion. By Mr Williamson : Brandy and other alcoholic stimulants are often’ resorted to for relief in neuralgia complaints, but ha never prescribed them for Captain Brothorton. Was in the saloon reading whan the ship struck. Cannot say what sent Thompson, passenger, to sleep on the bridge. Lawrence David Nathan, of the firm of L. D. Nathan and Co, agents for the triumph, remombared ihe 29th Novembar last. Saw Captain Brotherton several times that day; list time in his own cabin about a quarter-past six. Up to that time there wis not the least appearance of drink about the captain. Their interviews then and earlier in the day wore on business matters of such a kind that he would have been able to judge whether or not the captain was sober, Ho noticed th it the captain seemed concerned or troubled, as if he had something on his mind. That was particularly on the afternoon of the 28th November. After the vessel struck ha saw that he h\d his face bandaged up, and prevailed on him to come to town to see Hr Haines. That gentleman extracted a tooth at once, and gave a sleeping draught after a shock of the electric battery, to the captain. By Mr Williamson—He had communication with the owners of the Triumph on behalf of Captain Brothe”ton. Can’t ray a syllable as to the amount of insurance ; made no inquiries. The sale did not take place by direction or with the knowledge of the owners, but at the request of

Lloyd’s agents and of the agents f»r the Associated Insurance Companies of New Zealand, and instructions were to sell as soon as possible on behalf of whom it may concern. The captain was told by Dr Campbell to follow the instructions of Lloyd’s agent and the surveyor (Captain Clayton), or otherwise he would have been blamed for any accident that might have occurred in carrying outthair instructions. Captain Brotherton applied to witness for funds, appliances, etc., which he had supplied all along. There was some difficulty about the divers. Ha was sorry to say that he had not an agreement with the diver. All he could say was that he was on a stranded ship when a pigeongram was sent ashore by Captain Nearing asking for a diver. Among othjr things that message was delivered to our shipping clerk, who di 1 not well know what to do, but made some private agreement. When he left for there Captain Nearing asked mo to send a diver. Asked him how much he should pay. and he said L2 per day on landing. Our clerk said the diver would not go for less th in L3O a day. The diver was patting his things on board the steamer, but he at once stopped him, and told him there was a great difference between L2 and L3O, though ho would not object to pay L 4 per day. The diver went to consult Captain Haddock, who threw cold water on the matter. He quite expected his offer would be accepted next morning Afterwards lie made a more favorable agreement with the diver t) take out cargo at so much per bar and bundle.

Capt. Nearing, re-called and examined by Mr Heskoth, deposed to assisting to get the Triumph floated. Captains Clayton and Worsp were there, and about fifty laborers. The men remained on board with witn ss till the day before the vessel was sold, and used every endeavor to get her off. Every meant that could be got was used, with the exception of the divers. Mr Nafha- offered witness and Gouk LSOO a-piece if they succeeded in getting the vessel off. We gave up our efforts to float her because we had done all we could, and the tides got bad, while a North-East gale altered the position of the ship.

Mr Williamson—Were not all appliances which were afterwards used to be got in Auckland at the time you were working on the vessel?

W.itness —They were here, but could not be got. People who have these things are nqfc willing to let them out. Wo applied for a pulaomefcer pungp, and could not get it. This closed the evidence on behalf of Captain Brotherton. [UY TELEGRAPH.] Auckland, To-day. It has not yet been deeded what }s to be done with the Triumph, except that the coal cargo is to be taken out immediately. The list is caused by 200 tons of goal being stowed on the starboard side.

All the vessel except the forehold is kept dry. The cargo aboard consists of 200 tons of railway iron and 200 tons of genera? cargo. The vessel will be ready fur docking in about a month. Nothing has been decided re lengthening the dock, but it is proposed to erect a coffer-dam, and after the vessel’s condition is ascertained to send to England for the plates necessary to repair her, the vessel boin» left at anchor till their arrival. It is estimated that the purchaser has spent L 2,000 exclusive of purchase money in saving the vessel, and that including the purchase money she can be made as good as new tor between L 15,000 and L20.00J. Her estimated value is L 60.000 ; the ref rigerator, which was saved uninjured, is estimated to be worth L 6.000, was purchase! by the Auckland Refrigerating Company.