DRUNKENNESS AT SEA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 984, 25 February 1881, Page 3

DRUNKENNESS AT SEA.

A remarkable incident of the coasting trade is detailed in the Board of Trade report of a formd investigation into the stranding of a steamship called the Times in Belfast Lough. It appeared that the reached Belfast on October 27, at a 11 a.in. Her crew were discharged at once and her cargo unshipped; Another cre>v were engaged, and a Pew cargo taken on board, and on the Same night, although there was a gale of Wind hlowdng, she left the quay at Belfast All the seamen and firemen on hoard, together with the second engineer, were new hands. The vessel was struck by a gust, and, not having enough steam do td keep her course, stranded. The master had previously sent the second mate with a message to the engine-room, aiid o’h going down found that the first and second engineers were intoxicated, had got the second mate into a corner, and were heat ing him. The repo-t adds “ A more clearly defined picture ofgrfeedand gain; and of recltleSsheaS in dealing with property and life, it would he difficult to imagine” ; and goes on to say : “Though at 11 pin the master was hunting the quays, and the chief engineer was suppose 1 to be doing the same, in search of firemen—men upon whom a steamer’s steaming power so gredlly depends; though luit a short time abetwants the chief engineer was brought on boUrd frortl a public house, where he had been drinking ; though the m ht was dark; arid the wind was blowing a gale ; thoitgh the channel was narrow, and, tinder the circumstances difficult; though the master knew his chief engineer to lie under the intiuence of drink ; though he knew nothing about his second engineer; though he was aware, or ought to have been aware, that from the hour at Which the firemen had been put on Board, and Wdth thg coal in size, sufficient time .had not elapsed to hiish and sustain a sufficient supply of steam power yet. notwithstanding all these most adverse circumstances. iße master proceeded to.sea at 1 am, thereby risking tho lives of everyone on hoard. It was said that in thus shipping a crew in this hasty manner at midnight, this semiring the quay side at such hours in sca-ch of firemen and others, the custom of the coasting trade was followed. If such lie tho case, tho Court has no hesitation in declaring it to be an extremely bint custom.” The Court supeuded the certificates of the master for three months, of the chief engineer for three months, and tho second engineer for six months. Tho Court severely reprimanded the chief officer, and cuudelhued th-.- master in cos’s.