NAVAL DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 412, 22 January 1909, Page 5

NAVAL DISASTER.

COURT'S FINDING. \ THE LAUNCH WRONGLY STEERED. DTOJMORE'S MASTER,BLAMED. ' (BY TCLEGRAI'It—riIESS A33OOUTIONr~C()PVUiaUT.) (Rec. January 21, 10.55 p.m.) - Sydney, January 21. The Marine Court of Inquiry.. into the collision between, the steamer Dunmore aud the Encounter's pinnace (which resulted in tho . death of fifteen bluejackets) found that the collision was canßed by the wrongful act of Samuel Bryant (who was in charge of tho launch with the pinnace in tow) in improperly crossing the bows of the Dunmore, and by the wrongful act of Captain Hansen, of tho Dunmore, in iiot keeping a proper look-out. The Court called on Captain Hansen to show cause why . his certificate should not be dealt with.. . :'' . Hie Honour said that by the exercise of ordinary foresight, and by keeping a proper looli-out, the coxswain in charge of the launoh mu6t have seen that, by shaping the course he did, he would v put the launch in the position of crossing the Dunnnra's course. The Court was of. opinion that this was primarily the cause of the mishap. The fact that the launoh bad something in tow in no way prevented its coxswain from takings safer Course. While this was.so, the Court 'was unable to acquit the'master of the. Dunmore of blame. If he had , acted differently the accident might have , been avoided. In manoeuvring, he clearly ought' to have intimated that he .was changing his course, to starboard..' Although-there was this omission, it did not contribute to the acoident; but- there was no proper look-out kept on 'the Dunmore, and if there had been the accident might have been avoided.