FERRY COLLISION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 789, 12 April 1910, Page 7

FERRY COLLISION.

CAPTAINS DIFFER,

■\ !THE; BXJCHESS-CqBAS INQUIRY. The/magisterial./inquiry into the cirfcumstances connected with the collision ;«-hiclr occurred off Point Jerningham on the evening of March 30 last between the , ferry : steamers Duchess '.and Cobar, was opened .yesterday morning; before Mr. W. E.:Haseldeh, 5.M., , and Captains E.Stott and W. J! Grey, assessors. ~ Mr. Dalaiell appeared for the Wellington Harbour "Ferries, Ltd., owners of the vessels ; Mr. Gray" for Captain Jones, master of. the Duchess; and Mr.! Herdman for Captain Williams, ;master of. the Cobar. Mr.-C. S. Nixon, Collector of Customs, appeared in person, while the: Wellington ' Harbour^,Board was represented by Mr. IWeston.- ' ;- : '-'..". ■'■ -.-.■'.' '.':■. >■'-■;■;, ;.■':, It was.agreed.that the examination of the witnesses from the/Duchess be taken first, that '..the-', vessel; might -remain in ;commission.... .;■ •■ .-■■. . ; ' Mr.-Haselden : at this stage observed that he had ;been shocked at the number of witnesses who had been subpoenaed! He. also:. remarked > that he. had twice gone down'to: inspect the; Duchess, but had been uiiable to find her. -,' .-•' : : ;.' Captain Jones Called. Mr. Nixon called Captain Jones. Under examination, the witness stated that the Duchess left the bay shortly. after 6 o'clock on the evening of >the occurrence, and ..proceeded- on her usual course to towp. It'was customary to make for.the red buoy near Point Jerningham. He observed the Cobar backing out from the Ferry Wharf when his, own vessel was about half way across the mouth' of Evans Bay, about a,quarter of a mile from the: red buoy. , The Cobar, after turning round, approached in his direction, showing her green light. He i thought. that she might have , a message for him! Messages were sometimes exchanged by the steamers.: when passing each other. '•-. Just before the collision ocenrred, thi Cobar sounded two Blasts of her whistle. It was- customary for him to • deflect: his course to the south, ■soon after passing -the,buoy,'-and to-keep the red lights on,the south end of the Queen's -Wharf about one point on the I starboard bow.'.. This' he , did. -'v; ; .l-.,: ; .;|

Mr'Haselden: How far 'was the Cobar from you when she 'gave the' two blasts? '-Witness: "About four lengths.". ; . yfas she going in a straight line past y6n 7 !> -r?She was makings towards:me." ': Did you alter your course?—" No."■' Not at all?- ,r No." Did you alter, ybiir helm .from the'red tuoy?—"No;:; After w passed the, buoy, aid.before I noticed the Cobar bearing j very, closely, I altered .the' course to be in: line with the south end of the Queen's .Wharf.": •.-. ..-..:;:.■•■>;; ■-.■■. ■ ■ :■'■': :■■ •..■' HrHaselden continued: Did you make toy sign: or, signal to the Cobar?—"No." .You just kept on?—" Yes. The Cobar 'struck.a little .forward of amidships. At the moment of collision the Cobai's three iights were -risible, ■ but up immediately, before ' that. only., two—the :green light and the masthead light—were visible.";.- : ■..■.-.. :■ •..-.'■'..-.-, ■.•,-;. .-.■■•;■ • ' Why did you not alter your course ?— .'T.did;not think-she was goingto run intOi.us.fj. ■::,;..;.,. -;i. ~v.V, • ::--.-.: •.-■:■:.'.■:■':.. ~- Were_ you.; relying .on some. Tule of. navigation that you ice'pt on your course ? — - Myj starboard; light could be seen quite blearly." His signals to the engineroom,, he continued, .were "Stand by" and ."Slow," the latter- being; given, about, a minute after the "Stand by" signal. He did not.stop, as he saw the Cobar proon . her ' way, . apparently uninjured. Hβ did not become aware, of the fact thai ehe had been damaged till he, reached. home, when Captain Williams (rang him up; The Duchess steered well." '..The witness, in'explaining why. he had 6et his course for the; south end.of the. ■Queen's Wharf, -eaid that it. wasrc'ustom-! ery.for inoomingfeny boats to keepovertowards for, if the Duchess came '■ straight ijjt between ' the.i-north. end.of :the.',Queen's; Wharf -.and the-Railway Wharf, she could.not tum.into the Perry .Wharf.. Every night,, as'on .this occasion, he. steered for. .the •. south .end of the Queen's Wharfj so that -he 'might sweep iito his berth. ;.;.'. ..;;';■ :'.■/. ;■ '.

: To .Mr. Nixon: The Duchess yiia: out-ter-rigged, registered at and her.registered tonnage, ■.wa9-.-9i.62. tons.. There were eeven passengers;' no lives were; lost. The ferry'steamers usually •kept outside the buoys when coming from Day's Bay. ' ;:- "■'■ .' ;v '•.••'■•' Mr. Nixon: Have yon had .any; reprimand from the-, company for carelessness? •-Witness: ,"No." ..V , .;■ ;• ■:■ ■ i.'. Have you ever been suspended?—'fTes." '■How long ago?—" About .three , years Bgb." .■■';■ ;■ :',,.. : V:,-cV;- /:\ . What for?—'! don't.know exactly what ■it was,for.".' ;: ; ' :''-"a :."■: '.':■■ :■'■■"''."■'<■.:■ : '■•■■ ;;The president of thevCourVhere "; : expressedthe • opinion that such questions ighould. not be asked in examination. -\ :"'■'{■ \. Hjs First' Accident. ; To Mr. Gray, Captain Jones.Baid that ae.had been for 13 years in command *of the Duchess, and, prior to that, ho had teenin charge of the Duco. .For 25years le had been working in Wellington Har]bou¥; towing ships, etc., and hehad made thousands of trips between Day's Bay and ■Wellington...This;was his first accident. His practice of keeping well into the bay when coming across was, : he thought, known to Captain Williams, whoregularly followed the same course..' He was certain that, on.this night,.the Duchess's green light was visible to the Cobar, whose Keen light.was showing to the Duchess. Not'until the .Cobar was right into the Duchess didhe notice that the port light had become visible. Meeting the Cobar H™een red buoy and the Queen's iWharf at night, he had never had the vessel on his port side.- When he heard the two blasts of the Cobar's whistle, that steamer was fonr lengths away, her red light was not showing, and she was apparently going right past on her Day's SBay course. :' ' . J

_ Cross-examined: by Mr.' Herdman, Captain Jone3 stated that the captain of the Cobar, leaving the Perry Wharf ehonJd steer straight for the outer point If he went within a ship's length of the black buoy with the red light, off Point Jerningham, he would be steering a S! o^. 0 ! ,11 * , , He was on the bridge of the Duchess after Point Halswell was passed, but he did not hear a prolonged Blast of the Cobar's whistle. A Previous Suspension., Mr. Herdman: Were you not down in the cabin talking to some ladies immediately before tha accident?— Witness• • Ad. . . •• : ; Were you in the after cabin at all, talking to some ladies?-"Yes, but that was on the other side of Point Halswell." _Mx. Hordman pointed out that a Ion" blast was an instruction, to'the master of an approaching steamer to be on his Buard. Two short -. blasts ■ conveyed • "I am directing my course to starboard." Ihree short blasts meant, "I am soinc istern,"- ■;■. .. . .. . .-b. • b Mr. Herdman: Were you under the inHuence of liquor that evening?— Witness:

Had you anything to drink that dav>'TSTot m the afternoon." in the morning ?-"I had some at din-ner-time. ' ' '.The. witness, in reply to. further questions, said that he had not left the budge dnnng the whole of the previous trip across to the bay He did not talk to ; Mr. Button, Mr. Collins; Sir Kers ley, or any others, so that there emild be no truth in their statement, if made that he was'under tho influence of liquor. He denied that, at . the last minute, he suddenly attempted to cross tho Cbbar's bowv Mr. Herdman: What was the reason for: your suspension from the service of the company for seventeen days?— Witness: "because we wei-o going over one night, and Captain Williams was trying to zig-zag, cutting round our bow: Of course, X blew two or three whistles. They gave me a warning, and I think they warned Captain Williams, too; we were warned to keep out of each other's road." , .' ■ ■ ' .'■■"' Was ■ Captain. Williams suspended ?•— "Nβ. "I was not suspended either." what happened ? Were you dismissed?—" They put me on board the Conntess." ■ Air." Haselden: Did yon run the Countess during that time?—" She was laid up for 'overhaul." ■ , ■. And you did not run her?—" No."

Mr. Herdman: Now, I want a straight answer to a straightforward question. Is it not. the case that you'were suspended because you were drunk?—" No." Do you. remember going into tho wool wharf, instead of into the ferry wharf, mistaking the lights?—'Tes, wo were on the wrong.side of the ferry wharf, not the wool wharf at all."

Mr. Gray: It has been suggested, Captain Jones, that you were loafing in the bubin, talking to some ladies, and neglecting your duties. Is there any truth in that?-Witness: "No." :.. Continuing, Captain Jones said . that, at •dinner-time, he had had tlireH glasses of English beer, and he had had nothing more to drink during the afternoon. Mr. Zohrab' himself, and a college girl, were .'.with'him on: the. bridge on tho trip across to Day's Ba_y. .Exhaustive inquiry was 'here commenced by, the president of the .Court, who ; elicited the evidence that witness hiid dined at Palmer's, and then had three drinks at the Occidental Hotel, with Captain Williams, who invited him to drink. Hβ was at the hotel for about three-quarters ol an hour. .-'.-' Captain Williams's Version.. Captain J. T. A. -L. Williams,- of the Cobar, was called next, at the request of the Court. He stated that the Cobar left the Terry Wharf 'after G. 30 o'clock with 35 passengers. He steored for the red buoy.off Point Jerninghain, .and, after getting well on to the course, he saw three lights, which he took to be the lights, of the Duchess. She was. well off the- Cobar's port bow. He kept straight on for the red light on the black buoy. A' deck-hand, Hellsten, relieved him at tho wheel, but he remained on the bridge. In a minute or two,, the green light of j the Duchess only was seen. A little later, the red light was shown again, giving witness the impression that the Duchess was porting- her helm. In a moment the green showed again, and witness expected that-the Dnchess would pass on her proper side: She -was the vessel which must give way, and he stood right on his course. ..- . /.., ' . \ Changing Lights. Mr. Haselden: Why did not you starboard yonr helm?— Witness: "Because it was not my place- to do so." . Mr.' Haselden: I think : that is the whole trouble. If you 'met a -vessel showing alternately red and green lights, and occasionally .a}l three lights, what do, you conceive your duty to bo?—"To follow the rule of- the road; to stand on my course. If I were showing my red light j to that vessel, she should give way." . , Did you think, when you saw this variation of the lights that there was any risk of a collision?—"Tes, I did; just for a moment, and I would then have starboarded my helm. But she brought her red light to bear on me , again, and I continued ' on, giving a long blast of the whistle." . ■'■ . ■■ ;---; : You would have broken the law?—"I would; have broken the rule, but would havo : avoided a collision. I "would have had time to do it" ' . .-" Captain Williams -went on. to say. that the lights of the Duchess. visible to him changed from red; to green, and twice from gTeen to' red, within two or three minutes.. -.;... : ' . Mr.''Haselden:' Did you alter your speed?— Witness: "No, sir; until I saw that-she .would run us- down, until within a.minute of the collision.". :

, Then what did you do?—" 1 rang 'full speed astern,' gave three.'short blasts pf the whistle, and told the man to put tie helm over to starboard." And then : you struck her?—"Tes." ""'• Water in the Engine-room. ' - Continuing) the witness eaid that tile Cobar struck the Duchess at an angle of about 45, degrees, and glided along her side. Witness ■ proceeded ahead at half speed until it was reported that the,vessel was making water fast, both forward and in the engine-room.' There was Bft. of water in the fore cabin, and witness decided to beach.the vessel at Thorndon, which locality he knew well. The fires were "out when ho beached her.. All the passengers got ashoro safely. , ■ To Air. Nixon,! the captain stated, thati it "was his intention, .on that night, to pass inside' the black;buoy, because.a;s,tiff: southerly was Wowing. Hβ was 35 yearsof age, and had been in chargo of the Cobar for-four'years. ■'.■'.. To Sir: Hasalden; he. replied that, he , had one-drink of schnapps at the Occidental -Hotel with Captain Jones. The; other drinks.. were nou-intoxieating. . '~.■..;'* The Crvix of the Matter. During. Mr.-'Herdman's cross-examina-tion of the witness, the president of the Court remarked that the crux of the question appeared to be that Captain Wil-. liams would have it that the Duchess was. much farther over towards the Kaiwarra Bide of the. harbour than. Captain Jones had said.

When it was put to him by Mr. Herdman, Captain Williams said that, as 'tlie ;Ducness'was on his port bow, and had plenty, of room to the northwards,'.she could have continued on her course and. passed safely, instead of trying to cross the Cobar's bows. When the Duchess was returning from Day's Bay, she usually passed on the north side of the Cobar, "which was bound for Rona Bay. In : reply to questions put by Mr. Gray, Captain. Williams: said that the Duchess followed a fairly regular course on her trips across the harbour, but on this occasion the southerly would tend to send /her; out towards .the middle of the harbour. ■■•■.■.■ Mr. .Gray: ' You do not suggest that Captain Jones was under the influence of liquor that day ?—Witness: "That was not my suggestion." ; .! The refreshment he had with you had no more effect uDon him than it had upon you?—"I am. quite sure of it." ■•■.,■'.' Cutting Things Too Fine," Captain Williams, in the course of further cross-examination, said that he had been reprimanded by the company for coming in too close to the-Duchess at the Ferry Wharf, and for.cutting things too fine; He had damaged the dinghy of a_yaoht at Kardka Bay, repairs costing him 15s. It , was riot, correct to say that ae was trying to " live up to his reputa:ion for smartness." He had never been blamed by the Harbour Board staff for erratic, steering. . . Captain Dawson, of the' pilot staff, stated that the regular course of the Duchess from Day's Bay was direct from Day's Bay to Point Hnkwell, from that point to Point Jerningham, thence sweeping- round, and heading for the Queen's Wharf, to bring her alongside the Ferry Wharf easily. This was the best course that could be taken by such a vessel as the Duchess, which was hard to slew. All ships coming to the wharves from Point Jerningham took a sweep towards Uriental Bay to assist them in berthing. Witness had reported Captain Williams three times to the harbourmaster for cutting things too fine. On one occasion Captain Williams, in.Oriental Bay, coming towards M'ellington in tho Cobar, had brought his boat up on the port side and under tho boivs of the boat which -witness was commanding, and which was also coming-to Wellington. He had known Oaptam Jones for twelve years, and had never seen him affected by liquor. Captain Johnston, harbourmaster, was asked as to the reports that had been made to him as to Captain Williams cutting things too fine," when the president of the Court interrupted. Mr. Haselden: Do you know anythingof your own knowledge thai would tend to lessen your confidence in, Captain Williams?— Witness: "I do not." Estimate of the Damage. ■ Edward Goodwin Zohrnb, manager of the Wellington Harbour Ferries, Ltd.; doposed that tho Duchess, which was uninsured, had suffered damage to tho extent of £25. Tho Cobar was insured for ,£4OOO against fire only, and that vessel had been damaged to tho extent of probably .£l5O. On tho trip across to Day's Bay, prior to that on which tho collision occurred, witness -was with Captain .Tones on the bridge of the Duchess, with a lady passenger. Witness took the wheel for three minutes, While tho captain went below. There was no sign of liquor about Captain Jones. It was a bad trip, and tho fact that Captain Jones had "n lurchy walk, like a crab," might have misled some paople. To Mr. Herdman, Mr. Zohrnb said that ho went on to the bridgo because ho was a bad sailor, and 'desired to be out in the fresh air. It was not "an extraordinary or unprecedented thing" that he should have gono on to the bridge. Ho had steored on other occasions. Mr. Haselden: There was a lady there. Mr. Zohrab: Sho came up afterwards, your Worshin. (Lnlighter.) Captain Shilling, senior pilot, described the courses usually followed by

the ferry steamers. Hβ had had complaint to make about Captain Williams « i? B , thlugs to ° fiue - wil M out in tho Harbour Board launch, ho had noticed Laptain Milliams como very close. Being small," lie said, "they think we are nothing."

An Eye-Witness's Account. „ William Meredith, night-watchman in tie employ of the Harbour Board, stated that Uβ.watched the movements of tho two ferry steamers that night from tho Queen s Whatl. The Cobar seemed to bo going over into tho Duchess's course, and he thought that tho Cobar was about to giro the Duchess an order, as was often done. He saw the Duchess's green light, after the vessel had rounded the- buoy, passing ontside.it, showing that she was on her starboard helm. The vessels met— no could not say whether they collided— and then parted, proceeding on their respective courses. Ho thought that, the Lobar had passed-under the Duchess's stern. During the examination of this witness. Mr. Haselden said that the members of the Court were perfectly convinced that tho proper course for a ferry boat going ont was a straight line from the Forry wharf to Point Jerningham. Coming back from the Bay, a ferry boat, after passing Point Jerningham, -would take a sweeping course round Oriental Bay, so that she might readily berth at the wharf. Each of theso vessels had taken a perfectly proper course, supposing there had been no other vessel about. The further hearing of evidence was adjourned until 10,30 o'clock. to-day.