S.S. STAR OF CANADA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1493, 16 July 1912, Page 4

S.S. STAR OF CANADA.

INQUIRY BEGUN.

CAPTAIN & OFFICERS CALLED,

THE STORM DESCRIBED.' (By TeleerapU-Prcfs Association.) Gisbornc, ,luiy 15, The magisterial inquiry into the strand" iiig of tho Star of Canada opened la,s morning before Mr. Barton, S.M.', and Co.ptr.ins I'ost and Chrisp (ats:s,*>rs). Mr. !•'• W. Nolan represented the Colledor oi Customs, Mr. 31. Myers Captain Hart, mid Mr..T. Alston Coleman tlia Oisbw-ao Harbour Board.

Captain Hart Called, Captain Hart deposed that he anchored iu tna usual anchorage lor ocean learners, which he had used repeatedly inr m'oir',',,' ll^' 8 , find v* a Mm £ giound. On Sunday, June 23, the wiiia ccamc squally after neon, bit tnc •'<£ us moderate, the steamer lying quielly. Ih i squalls increasing at 7.4 p.m. t c aa t oners for tho * nncho »'"'' **» icidy; he.also culled the chief engineer m ,a,d ,t would take half an ho a h.vs then already up to 1801b. pressure Witness continued to watch the a » ait'i-Itimf'i,, 1 ' 1 ! 11118 / 1 ' 1 casi, y- witl > »o oilwaljou in her bearings. At 10 30 ha I lf,.d <lOC u i ° r - il ''?' »o»e»k lM the third olhcer m charge. At 10,10 trie officer called out that there' was u black squall coming down. Witness returnld to the -lock and decided to proved to wa ill ere was no increase in the wind or sea, bit no ieared, with the confined anchor! flic, that ho might lose liis bearings and no be oblo to find his way out. legave immediately! 6 CWef "" * &AS Mr. Myers: Was there anything to alarm •on as- to the safety of the ship?-"No-thing as to her riding at the anchor." And at 11 o clock this violent squall came along?—" Yes." ■ ■ . Could you give us any description of "•. t wou d call it a hurricane force squall- for about eight minutes." . All marks were obliterated F-'Tes, during those eight minutes." Had you known that the vessel was dragging could you have done anything? — Ao,. unless I had. known at the outset. : ! , Would it then have been anv use to put down your, anchor seeing that'you had decided to go to sea?-"No." ■Had you at 10.10, by getting the port anchor ready, and getting the engines warmed up taken all steps that nrudenct demanded in order to meet the difficulty? —"Yes." During the squall, was there any nois« or commotion that would account-for you not hearing the noise of the ship drag. Riug had there been any—''No. Had there been any symptoms I would have heard. 1 was keenly ou the alert." It must be a natural inference that the anchor gave way or did drag?— "Yes." . ' " ' And the cause being?—" Through tho violence of thc squall." , ' 3lr. T. Alston Coleman: In your previous experience in this port had there boon any symptoms of the boat dragging iU anchor?—-' Not to my. knowledge." Then it is your own personal experience also that it .is tho,best and/safest anchorage that can be found in the road-' stead?— Yes." ' Up till the time that the squall struck you, at 11 o'clock, with the conditions prevailing, had. the, suggestion been nwdo to go to sea, Would you have gone?—"l had no reason to go to sea—my ship waa riding so well.". ■ . Had the harbourmaster advised you. would you have gone to sea?—"l would, have done so." ' , . Captain; C'krjsp: I presume yon say .that with tho understanding that the harbourmaster had some knowledge that you had not?—" Yes.".. i ' . . ,Bn(j.,jh,THl tJiOj-harhonriiMsler'. .posseted only the same information as yourself?---"If (lie harbourmaster had been in' my position, Idon'tthink ho would have gone, to sea." . .:. -,■.' .-_;. ,- ; '. 3lr. Barton asked' if any attempt had been made to settle the question as to whether the onchor had parted. Mi". 3fyers observed that they were anxious to have that point cleared up, and had done everything possible.

The Chief Officer. .Tas John Patterson, first officer of the Star of Canada, deposed that lie hold au extra master's certificaU' At 7.40 p.m., on Sunday, June itf, ho had instructions to heave the port anchor out clear of the hawse pipe so that, it w.ould be ready for letting go. Ho carried out the order. Ho remained on watch until 8 o'clock. The vessel wis then riding quite easily. He was called at 10.15 p.m. by the third officer, who stated that Hie captain was going to put to soa as'soon as steam was ready, and he (the chief officer) was to go on the bridge quel see him before going forward to hesve up He reached tho bridge shortly afttv 11 o'clock. _ A heavy squall was passing just then with heavy rain, and he could not sec tho shore bearings. He was told to let go tho perl anchor,' but tho vessel took the ground before he got forward. Captain Hail instructed him to hold on to tho port «»- chor and heave on the starboard cable. They could not heave in any of the starI uoaid cable, but, about a, quarter of au hour liiter, they got in about three fathoms. Mr. Barton: How was it that you could not "get mere cable?—" There v;ns " too much weight on it." Ditl that give:you the impression that tho anchor was holding ? —"lt must have boon holding at that time." Continuing his evidence, the chief officer said that, some time after midnight, lie had instructions to let go t'he pert ' anchor. The vessel was at this time hard and fast. When he- had gone en to tho bridge at ]1 o'clock to see the captain, the vessel's head was actually swinuine. Mr. Barton: Did you think that the was dragging, or that, the anchor chain had parted —"She was not dragging. It had parted." ~.,'. Continuing his evidence, the chief engineer went on to say thot he lied found Captain Hart'even more careful than other masters under whom he had served. Captain Hart's ship was always his first consideration.

Third Officer. [ G! B. Heddinott, third officer, staled that he wont on watch at 8 p.m. Tho steamer was then riding easily, .lust after 11 u'clock a very heavy squall struck them, and obscured the marks. Witne.'t, was sent to hurry the fleam up, and when lie returned to the bridge the hearing's had altered a good deal, and a few minutes later, before the port anchor could bo let go, they struck. Evidence was also given by Herbert Grcshmn (fourth mate), Thomas Claude Brook (chief engineer), Horace George, Cook (sixth engineer), Ait tonic Hendriekf.en (A.8.), and Victor Andarien (carpenter). ' Gisborne Harbourmaster, Captain Gumming (Gisborne harbourmaster) said that, up to the time lie left duty (10 p.m.), there was nothing to compel a nion on the Star of Canada's anchorage (;> go to sea. Ho had <-een big tcs-ris hanging on to their anchors, in such weathrr. About 1 1 o'clock on Monday morning witness was, c?.V.'Ji by the. sH'g.Mnl of police, who said flint it was reported that the ship was sending 'up distress signals. Witness went out in tho Hipi to see if he could do any good, and spoke to Captain Hart, cut there. The Court r0.%? Nt (i o'clock. It is ex. pect?d that the inquiry will, conclude tomorrow.