EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN AND PILOT.
THE USUAL 1 CUSTOM. In the course of his evidence before the Marine Court, Captain Hugill stated that the vessel struck, once very heavily. The pilot then ordered the engines" to stop. Witness said, "Whafs the use of stopping; full speed ahead." Shortly after this he believed the vessel struck a second time. Witness then took his bearings, which showed the vessel to be about a quarter of a mile to tho north-eaat of Edith breaker.
Frank Binstead, a pilot holding a license under the Queensland Government, said that he had piloted boats for over 25 years, and had frequently been through the inner passage inside Seal Rocke with vessels of 5000 tons and over. Shortly before the Satara struck, witness observed the Peak Rock.- The vessel was heading between that rock and Seal Rocks, slightly towards Seal Rocks. Had the' Satara struck Edith breaker," Peak Rock would have been right ahead, but as it was, Peak Rock was over tho port bow. Witness was satisfied he was quite clear of Edith breaker, and that he had been on the same course previously. Mr. Robison: Under what authority did you assume charge of the Satara?— Custom. It has been usual for Torres Straits pilots to take ohargo of vessels before entering thoir own waters. _ For what reason?—To ascertain comDass deviations, and to discover how the vessels act.
Captain O'Beirne, master of the Tunourry, said that an uncharted, submerged rock existed seaward of Edith breaker.
His Honour: Even assuming there are uncharted rocks in the vicinity, and that the Satara struck one of these, a master irould naturally cxnect to find them in such a danc;erous locality.
The Court found that the loss of the vessel Satara was brought about by the wronrful act of the master, Charles Alfml Hugill, in recklessly, considering the state of the weather, navigating the vpssM by Allowing a course to lie set which eventually brought her into dancer, amV caused her to strike Edith breaker, and subsequently founder.
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Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 810, 6 May 1910, Page 5
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338EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN AND PILOT. Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 810, 6 May 1910, Page 5
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