THE KEILAWARRA COLLISION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1438, 22 December 1886, Page 2

THE KEILAWARRA COLLISION

Sydnbv. December 17 The enquiry by the Marine card m o the Keilawarra collision is proceeding. The chief officer of the Keilawarra in bis evidence stated that there were five boats on the vessel properly fitted up. Th*-v were rushed. The officers were told off for each boat. The crew did not rush any of the boats. The crew obeyed the officers so far as he saw, and the men did everything they could to save life, bie never saw 'he captain af«er tho sh p was struck. The witness Sav- d himse f with a lifebuoy which had not been taken off the cleats in front cf the bridge. The man at the wheel at the tme of the collision heard the 1o k out man make a report to the c'oie' office-*, and the n-xt thing was an order lo go a'tero, the t he heard “ Hard a port.” Bif 're thd. iha chief (-fitter s*id he onui i smell smoke It was only a sh ut tme between the

giving 'he order to hard » port and the crashing of toe ship’. Ho saw n i hiog ahead, and hsird no wh’.s’le from either boat. It was not a dark ui.-;'*, as he cmild be seen a good d'stancs tway. Tee look out man, who was on the br'dge. reported what he th-nwht ei'her sm ike or lan ito the chief ' ffirer ! ha latter said it was sai' ka He c-"ild sen Eo -moke. The c.plain subs qualify cune on deck and give the order “ Hirl a port. aw the capiaiu teuoh the string aud heard the widitle. Be heard no whistle from the other boat. The first he saw f ttoHelen Nicoll was when she struck the Keilawarra. None of the other witnesses belongin/ to this s e -mer stated Hut no lights Were seen before the collision. Captain Fraser, of the Helen Nicoll,

said the evening was moderately clear, with a moderate breezs from the 111 E. He was in th = cabin at the time, and heard the hell go two, which mean that there was a light on the starboard bow. The next thing was the second officer c»l ing him, saying, ‘ Oh God, Ciptain Fraser, there is a fallow coming right into us.” Ho rush'd to the tele^rapi*o stop ho ship. Their conr e had been previously south, The KeiUwarra cut across her bows almost eastwardly. Hhe+rd no whistle whatever blown at the time of the collision. He could not tell how he was steering. Two passengers were in his cabin, but there was no card playing and no drink When he heard the two bells denoting a light on the starboard bow he did not leave his cabin. The second officer was on deck, and had been on duty twelve or fifteen hours. Only ten bodies have been f- und, and they are not reco n : °ed.