THE TYRONE INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1875, 8 October 1913, Page 8

THE TYRONE INQUIRY.

COURSE OVERRUN. THE CAPTAIN'S ADMISSION. WjHAT MISLED HIM. (Ey Telegraph.—Press Association.) DunEdin, October 7. The nautical inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the loss of the Tyrone near Otago Heads ou September 27 began this morning in the Magistrate's Court beforo Mr. H. X. Widdowson, S.M., and two assessors, Captains Sundstraim and Hunter. Mr. J. F. M. Fraser, K.C. (Crown Solicitor), appeared for the Collector of Customs, and Mr. J. H. Hosking, K.C., for the master (Captain M'Lauchlan). At tho timo of tho wreck the vessel was endeavouring to make Otago Heads after a passage from Lyttelton. She overran her course, and struck at Waluno Point, some distance south of Taiaroa lighthouse. Andrew M'Lauchlan, master of tho Tyrone, said the vessel left Lyttelton at 12 o'clock noon ou September 26, and averaged just under 12 knots from Akaroa Heads. Her speed was never, to his knowledge, altered from full sjieed ahead. His estimate was to reach Taiaroa Heads at 4.30 at earliest, but this was based on the assumption that she would run at 11.5 knots. The ship had never before travelled at a speed just under 12 knots, and, in addition, she was burning bad coal. Ho gave the log records and course set. At 1.20 a.m. witness was called, and a report given to him was that Moeralti Light (the last coast light on the trip south) had been picked up. Witness stated the bearing of the light at ttio time, and also described tho . course which was then set with a view to picking up Otago Heads. Tho bearing of Moeraki Light exactly coincided with) what he expected, and it showed him to be on the right course. The log then showed that 118, miles had been run. "I Mado a Mistake." Without further examination the captaiu read a statement which included tho following:—"I want to tell the Court that 1 made a mistake, and that this mistake (combined with a series of abnormal circumstances later on at Otago Heads) led up to the catastrophe. About 3.40 a.m., when the log was showin 146 miles. I told the second officer to have it hauled in with a viow to getting ready for anchoring. About 3.50 a.m. I heard the fog signal on Otago Heads, and I felt satisfied that I was a good distance off, having once heard the detonator from as far away as Duncdin (14 miles) myself. I waited for a second detonation, and this confirmed the first. I therefore slowed down tho engines, porting the helm with a view of picking up an anchorage..

Loom of the Land. j "By this time it was after 4 and the chief officer came on the bridge and asked mo if we wcro going to anchor. I told him to go top of the cliart^room —tho standard compass was there—and give mo tho apparent bearing of tho 'next fog-signal. About eight minutes to 4, when the chief officer was still on the chart-house, I heard someone say 'Is that breakers, I hoar?' Without, as far as I. can remember, hearing them myself I turned the. engineroom telegraph full-speed astom. About this timo the fourth officer said, 'There's a light,' and I said, 'Whore?' He pointed somewhere on the beam. Meanwhile tho lead had been got out, and it gave tho first indication that I know that sho was ashore. I 'could see no land, but I -got a report of 24ft. of water on tho starboard bow. Tho engines had been going full-speed astern for some time, but tlio ship did not respond. With this light (reported by the fourth officer) in my mind, and 24ft. of water on the starboard bW, I then ported the helm and went full-speed ahoad, thinking I was on the Spit at the Heads. I presently saw land on tlio port quarter. A cap of fog over tho cliff was shrouding everything but tho bluff running out to sea. \ On the Rocks. "After seeing this land I realised whero I was, and determined to go full-speed astern and try to get out tho way I had coine in. The vessel 'then struck. Tho engines were kept full-speed astern. As the tide roso (about 10 o'clock) sho began to show signs of coming astern, and I had worked her about 2ooft. astern, when tho Plucky got a rope on to the starboard quarter. We worked slowly astern, But the' Plucky was not sufficiently powerful to keep her stern to seaward, and she finally fell down on Wahine Point. . . . We had been 12} hours on tho trip from the time of passing Akaroa to slowing down. Tho distance (149 miles) showed an average speed of just under 12 knots —tlio quickest speed that the Tyrone has dono under my command, and this with inferior coal. I liavo had experience on this coast for over 15 years, and I have always thought that it was accepted that any current or ocean drift in this locality proceeded north from the Bluff.

, How Mistake Was Made. The mistake which I made I only discovered last Wednesday. I measured tho distance from Akaroa to Otago Heads as 149 miles. As this was not the distance that was impressed on my mind by over six miles, 1 discovered that something was wrong. I would state that every seaman (and I think t'hat t'he assessors will agree with me) would hold that tlio easiest point of departure to set courso., from, when bound from Lyttelton to''Otago Heads, would bo Akaroa lighthouse. I have found from tho NauticaK»Ainianac that tho distance montioued thisre is not from Akaroa but from Flat Point. After tho course was set I turned up a copy of this Almanac, which I look upon as a standard book in certain positions, and all I can see now (holding the book in that position) is that the Taiaroa Head light distanco is 155 bn. 7 miles.

This distance got very firmly fixed in my mind, and, when I came on deck at 2 o'clock and received tho information given mo by the second officer that according to bearings wo were 17£ miles off at the second bearing [of Moeraki light], I brought that calculation back to tho first bearing, wliicli left mo 37 miles t-p run. ... I had no fear of going at full speed, knowing that, with tho assumed distanco that I had to go, it was impossible for tlio steamer to liavo got within seven miles of Otago Heads at her liigfliest speed. I considered that I could see Taiaroa,Heads light seven miles off at 3.30 a.m. According to tho Admiralty Chart hero the steamer as she now lies is a good half mile off tlio land.

The assessors, after examining tho chart agreed that this was so. Continuing, Captain M'Lam.hlin said that ho had been in command of steamers since February, 1890, and, during a nautical expcrieiico of 225 yoars, this waa bis first accident.

The inquiry was adjourned till to-, morrow. TENDERS CALLED. TO UNDERTAKE SALVAGE WORK. (By Tclesraph— Prees Association.) Duncdin, October 7. Mr. G. L. Dcnniston, local agent for Lloyd's, to-day received a message in connection with the Tyronfe, and tenders are now invited for salvage, on the basis of "No cure, no pay." The conditions of tender refer both to the vessel's fittings and her cargo. In connection with taking up tlio Tvrone's running, it is understood that the Now Zealand Shipping Company's Waimato lias been chartered by the Union Company. The Yi aim ato will proceed to Australia, w'.hcre she will load for San Francisco and Vancouver. The position of the Tyrone is said to bo growing now more precarious, and the list to seaward is said to have increased. Tho Customs officials at Port Chalmers are exercising keen vigilanco over tlio vessel, and also over the launches that return from her vicinity. MARKET LOSS. ' ESTIMATED AT £140,000. "Times"—Sydney "Sun" Special Cables. (Rec. October 7, 7.40 p.m.) London, October 7. Tlio stranded Tyrone was quoted at 45 guineas per cent. on Saturday, for reinsurance, but becamo uninsurable when tho position ivas fully known. The market loss is estimated l at £140,000. (Rec. October 7, 11.25 p.m.) ' London, October 7. The Tyrone has been reinsured at 95 guineas per cent.