THE LAUDERDALE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 867, 13 July 1910, Page 8

THE LAUDERDALE.

CAPTAIN 'CLARK EXONERATED. WAS THE TUG SERVICE EFFICIENT? (By. Telogranli.-Prcss Association.) Greymouth, July 12. The inquiry into tho wreck of' the Lauderdale oh Grey Eoa'ch lias .occupied four days, and yesterday afternoon tho following finding was givciy— "The Court' finds that the Lauderdale, when crossing, tho Greymouth bar. touched the bottom slightly, which caused-her to take a sheer, ami,, before she could be straightened up or her way checked, she ran ashore in the river between the north breakwater.'

'J.uac evtry means was taken by the master to . extricate the. ship, from licr position, mul while going ' astern the stern of Hie Lauderdale was (iciv-ui across the river towards the south, ■ ami the port side of the ship struck on sumesun-m.crged-.obj-irt,. which pierced her bilges and caused her-to make water rupidlv. Whether or not tho object that was 'struck,'which caused tho damage to Hie' Lauderdale,. was a portion of the wreck dl the Hawea, .the Court is unable lo say. After, getting tho ship oft', and inning that she would' not answer her, helm, the captain (acting on orders from the- Harbour Board officials, who called out from the south tip-heud to go.'full speed'.astern')'-succeeded, in backing her out. past, the south tip-head. This must bo accounted .far by the harbour, officials' statements that there was deeper water off thei south tip-head than on the line of beacons. .; , ,-..,.: . .

- That' reported .requests,, both' verbal and. by signal, were made, bv the captain of the Lauderdale for " assistant*:, and, finding that the signals were against him, again entering the port and no appearance of- the .lug coming to stand by him, the captain decided, to anchor hi* ship Hi a safe position, and as close to tae shore as possible, so that in tho event of the ship filling or capsizing there, might be a. chance of saving tho crew. .About, noon, after being advised that no assistance could, bo. given, anil getting, the signal to. slack away, his cable to let the ship come closer in (tho weather in. the meanwhile not having improved, and even, getting worse), the. captain decided to baachV the vessel. This was done,' and ail" hands got ashore/! safely, by. the rocket apparatus, .supplied and worked by the harbour official*.

■ That no.blame is attachable to Captain William IWkv. Clark or his officers for the loss .of the vessel,, but,. on the contrary, the Court is of . opinion. that: tlie.y, did all that could possibly be done' under the circumstances. '..

"It is regretted that'ah-'hour elapsed 'from: the.time that the .order-was given by. Captain M'Pherson (deputy-harbour-master) to get tho tug ready . for, sea, before the fireman got on'board,..owing, to.him living, so.far ,av,-av,-and although the Court is not prepared to hold that, at. 3 a.m. when-the tug was ready, it. ■ would, in the, events that happened, "have b;.?n of assistance to the ship, yet the Court thinks .that even at ■ that hour the tug should :have been sent out on the offekance of. being able to render assistance,.the harbour officials.not.being then aware of .the extent of the'damage to the ship;

AVe are also of opinion that; could the tug have been got in readiness within-half an hour's notice, the lauder-dale'-might have been brought safely into port, iiiid the Court--emphasises the: fact that, in view of. the. many accidents which have happened' at the port in re : cent-years', it is, in their, opinion, imperative in the interest of shipping and the public generally that' a fireman should :be kept on. board.the tug night and day, so that she might be got in readiness at short notice." .

The , main issues before the Court iverei-(l) Whether the said striking and stranding was attended, by anv net of incompetency or neglect on the part of .Frederick William Clark, master, of other persons;:ami, if so, of whom? (2) Whether the proper steps were taken to save the Vessel and tho lives of those on board. These mwstions were answered as follow:-(!), $6; (2), Yes. -