THE WRECK OF THE PELHAM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1315, 14 August 1886, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE PELHAM.

Invkkoahgili., August 14 The enquiry into the wreck of the b.b. Pelhrm is now proceeding before the R.M., Mr McCulloch, and Captains WyL >rn and Priest, nautical assess- is, Captain Grengen, after, detailing the voyage from (ireymouth, said that *h Pelham Thrived off Dog Island at 1.36 B.m. on the Othinst Stopped tho engine' till 6 a.m. when be went slowly towards the Bluff He was then about three miles off the harbor in a southerly direction. It was getting light and he could make out the land clearly. He steamed on till within a quarter of a wdlw eff the land between the Bed Buoy and tho shore. Ho then stopped the engines to'wait for pi’ot, tho vessel drifting ■lowly up the harbor on the last quarter flood. Thera was a light easterly wind. Ho whistled six oriseven times for a pilot, and wrr watching the semaphore for signs'* but none were given. In the meanti xo the pilot boat appeared, but gave no signals. It palled oat from the shore in a direction r c 'on channel and remained still for a time. He whistled again and not seeing boat coming towards him he went dead slow ahead, pointing, if anything, a little outside of the boat, keeping it on the port bow and watching for Signals from the semaphore, but noue were made. Immediately after that t’ 3 vessel struck. He put the helm hard a-port, and went h'lf speed ahead, and immediately after full speed ahead and blew the whistle, the vessel meanwhile striking heavily The pilot boat cams alongside immediately after. The vessel "was still steaming full speed ahead, but did not move. He was on the upper bridge from a quarter to six am. Captain Tyson, Harbor came to Irm on the bridge, and witness asked, “Why oould yon lie there still and see me go a bore” ? Tyson replied “ I’m not going out to be swamped. See lam wet now." He aided that he bad cnly two men in the boat and could not come out. Wlness ceked how he came then, and Tyson answered that the less Slid was the easier mended Witness rsked why a sign'd was not made from *he boat, and Tyson said that be d : d so. Witness replied *• Yes, after I struck.”