THE SURAT INQUIRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3403, 17 January 1874, Page 2

THE SURAT INQUIRY.

Saturday, January 17, ; The inquiry concerning tho wreck of the ship Surat was continued at the old City Police Court this morning, before Mr Strode, R. M., Mr Fulton, R.M., and Captain Thomson, .Nautical Assessor, when the following additional evidence was given : John Booth, cabin passenger: I kept a chart of my own while on board the ship, on which I marked the course of the vessel. (Chart produced). I obtained my information from the figures kept on board the ship, as also from the mate’s log. The dot nearest to Stewart’s Island was marked by Captain Jobnsou, at noon on ,the 31st December. I may say that the chart was frequently checked by the captain, and found correct. At the time the vessel struck I was standiug at the foot of the cabin leading to the poop. I had been in the saloon ten or fifteen minutes previous. About half-an-hour before this three ladies were invited by Capt Johnson to have something to drink, it being New Year’s Eve. After the vessel struck, I stood at the foot of the poop until Captain Johnson came up and spoke to me. Just as he was passing me, ho said, “Good God, Booth, ‘ what’s up ?” and 1 replied that she, had got on to a rock. I also heard him say to the second mate, “ What the deuce is up ?” but I could not hear the reply. I only felt two distinct bumps; the last was the heaviest. There seemed ! to be besides several sensations as if the vessel was grating oyer the rocks. This was previous to the bumps. The vessel was off the rocks, and was. hove-to when 1 went on the poop, and the pumpsstarted. My time had been occupied cool, ingthe passengers. 1 remained with the captain more or less from the time of the vessel striking until the time she was beached, except the time between the vessel striking and my going on the poop. I heard some reports made to the captaxn during the time I was standing by him. The carpenter reported to the captain that the ship was dry, and had no more water in her than she had when leaving London. This was the first report. About halfran-hour afterwards he reported that there was three or four inches of water. Some time after there was a report of betweeri ten or eleven inches. They seemed to be keeping things quiet, and did not wish the passengers to know. I only learnt this by listening. At this time the captain seemed to be rather excited, and as though he had had a glass or two. I remember on one occasion losing sight of the captain for ahput three-quarters of an hour. I saw him last go into the saloon. He was drinking a glass of gin at the time. 1 Kelly, tho steward, served it. Kelly had been in bed , with a sprained ancle forborne time previous. The captain gave orders to him that all who had been working at the pumps should have a drink. On going back to the pantry I found Kelly beastly drunk, giving liquor to anyone who asked for it. I remonstrated with him for doing so, and he told me he what his orders from the captain were. I mg.de inquiries for the captain, but could not find Jxim then. I next saw the captain on the poop, where I held a conversation with him. I said to hjm something to the effect that it was a bad job for hipx the ship striking, and asked him if he thought she was damaged much. He said that it was impossible to say just then, and added,. “ I would rather have given fifty pounds than it should have occurred. I asked him if he knew whereabouts she had struck, and we proceeded to the cabin and looked &p the captain’s chart. There was a cross made, and he said it was opposite to that cross. [The chart was produced, witness showing where the cpoSa had originally been, but saying it had been erased and a fresh one made.] There is a faint mark between 26deg, and 23deg. on the soundings, that is where the cross was made. It is opposite to slope foint. I remember a steamer coming in sight; I was on the poop at the time. The oaptain seemed in an uneasy state, and was wandering about, first going on to the poop and then off again.. I reported the steamer to him several times, but he took no notice of it. He seemed - to be in a drowsy state, and as though he did not care about anything particularly. At first the steamer seemed to be bearing down upon us. It was not until alter we saw her hull that we found she was going into the shore. I asked the captain to signal her. He said, “-Oh, never mind j we don’t need to signal ner,” I asked

him his reasons for not signalling the steamer. 1 He replied, “ There’s no danger, and there- 1 fore we don’t need the steamer’s assistance.” < I said, “There is no doubt the ship is in a ; sinking condition, and I think you ought to ] use every precaution necessary to save the i lives of the passengers, seeing you are in a ; -sinking ship. ” He said, “ I shall just’dp as ’ ; I think proper, as I am master of this ship.” He also • said, “ I; have got a revolver in i my pocket, and I intend to havo my own way.” I said, “ Captain, if you allow the steamer to pass us there’ll bo a terrible row on board with the passengers.”'. The conversation then ended. About an hour or an hour and a-half afterwards I found the captain on the poop, and asked him to signal the steamer. He refused. I then asked him “ where the powder was ?” and if ho would allow us to fire a shot from the .guns. He, said “Mind your own business.” The ensign was- afterwards hoisted. Myself, Mr Isitt, the sailmaker, and others hoisted it. As the captain was carrying a revolver with him we w«ro all afraid of hoisting it. (Mr ' Haggitt: I see you wauted to divide the shot.—(Laughter.) The ensign was not allowed.to remain up long. The captain took it down, saying he would shoot the first man who dared to hoist the signal halyards again. It was hoisted again in about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. ; No one gave orders to have it hoisted. It was a made-up thing between us. Myself and Mr Isitt, assisted by the sailmaker and M r Vincke, hoisted it. While this was being done thd captain had his back towards us. VVewerehoistingit in the ordinary way, when Mr Vincke and “ Sails ” reversed it, the former requesting me to keep my eyes on the “ old man,” meaning the captain. The second mate at this tiine was' astern in the boat. 1 gave instructions to him to go after the steamer, Kelly was at the wheel when the steamer passed us. He had been’ herb an hour or an ‘hour : and a-half. He was in a drunken slate and was quarrelsome. The captain-gave him orders in steering the ship. The captain gave some order with regard to the' steering, but Kelly turned the wheel the wrong way. The captain jumped round, telling him to turn the wheel the other way. Kelly was allowed to remain at the wheel after this. I spoke to the captain several times about tiring a gun. Mr Haggitt: Now, I ask you what state the captain was in at this time ? Witness; Well,.] can only term it drunken*riess. > Mr Haggitt; Now, what do you mean bythat ? Can’t you speak English ? Witness v "lt ;is hard to define the. term. He was drunk. If I may be allowed to explain, both ho and the first officer got gradually worse. The captain could walk about and talk, but he was quite -stupid in what he was saying. He seemed as if he could not reason, and was far from, sober. Mr Haggitt: Now, during this time you have not mentioned the first officer; what state was he in when the steamer passed ? Witness : He was drunk then. Mr Haggitt: Had you any opportunity of judging the second mate? ■>. Witness : Yes. He was also in a state of intoxication, but was. not so bad as the captain and mate. : Examination continued : After the steamer passed I and- other passengers -spoke to the sailmaker,. Ho was sober at this .time. I said to him, “ Now, sailmaker, you see the condition that the cantain and the first mate are in?” He said, “ Yes, Mr Booth, I do.” I said, “Well, sailmaker,; give me your candid opinion as to the state of the ship ?” He said, “ The ship is in a sinking condition.'’ I then asked him, ‘ ‘ How long he thought , she would live?” He said he could not tell exactly ; perhaps two or three hours. I then said to him, “ Do you think the captain and the chief.mate are in’a fit state to navigate the ship?” His reply was, “ Decidedly ,not.” We—i.e. the; sailmaker,: Mr Isitt, and myself—consulted then as to what would be tne best plan .to save the lives of the passengers. His advice was to beach the vessel at the first opportunity. I asked him ; if he would take charge of the ship, providing the captain did not intend to beach her. He replied that he would, providing that we took charge of the captain and hxs officer. The matter dropped by my saying I would at- [. tend to it and watch the captain’s movements. The sailmaker seemed to take charge of the i poop occasionally. The charge seemed to lie' i between him and the captain. At one time I wanted the sailmaker 'to beach her, which '. he consented to do; but the captain came on ’ to the poop and ordered her head out to sea. i There was an altercation on board and a ■ countermanding of orders. A few words in > an angry tone took place between the captain i and the sailmaker at this time. ‘ The captain ! was very contrary. He was so stupid in > drink that it was no use conversing with i. him. I conversed with him shortly after. > (Mr StoU.b: I’suppose your reason fordoing • eo was that he was stupid.—-Laughter.) l I asked, him bis intentions : whether he inl tended to beach her or let her go down. He said, “ Well, John, I’ll , trust to circum : ; stances,” I said, *• That’s a pretty cool ) way of putting it.” I said, “Well, Captaiq s Johnson, I’ll speak to'you now as you de-’ : servo to be spoken tri.” 1 said, ‘‘You see j the state of the ship : that she’s in a sinking ) state, and won’t last long. You cannot shut i your eyes to the fact'that the passengers » know what the boats astern of the ship mean. • If you don’t know' 1 I’ll tell you. It i is the passengers’ opinion that it is , yorir intention to run the ship under I and to save yourself and officers by those r boats.” I told him that if he would be adj vised by, me he would beach the ship ; and } I said the very moment he attempted to get ■ into those boats he would be a dead man.— x (Mr Stout: Had yon a revolver in your t pocket ?—(Laughter.)—No ; but I had some- - thing' worse, than a revolver.) There had x been no bloodshed yet; and the best thing I he could do was to beach her. He seemed . to waken up then—(Laughter)—and said he ) would beach! the ship at the first opportunity, 3 and land the passengers. I clapped him on. [ the back,' and told him he was beginning to > come, to himself again. Nothing material I happened with the- captain from this to the j dropping of the , anchor. 1 went, ashore at . Jack’s Bay, to report the ship. I changed I my clothes, "and meeting the captain on the x poop said, “T am now ready to go on shore x to report you. What account shall I gxve 3 of the ship?” He replied, “Well, John, ) you know best: you know better that I do.” i I then said, “Where did you strike?” He s said, “Somewhere on the coast of the [ Middle Island ; but you know better than T i do,” 1 left him just way. I By Mr Stout ; Tell me what was this I' ‘ ‘ something worse than a revolver” you had ? I' —lt was a larga ( butcher’s knife.—(Laughter ) i I got from one of the sailors. I asked him > for it. I got it time when the steamer r was passing, us—l should say when she was , abreast of us. I carried it. up my sleeve. I 3 was armed in fact, and prepared for blood-! i shed. I took no interest in the evidence bej ypnd talking in the way passengers would > talk. I haye commented, upon it to one or • twopersoixs; but have given no opinion upon s it. I have cfisc.ussed the evidence of. the 3 other witnesses, ris published in the papers. ) I spoke to the captain about hiving seinep thing worse than arevolver before the long- > boat was launched.' The steamer bad passed 7 some time, and the second mate had left, b Have you paid your passage yet?—l object • to answer, simply because I have received a i threatening letter from you. I acted as I schoolmaster on the sh p, and it was agreed 3 that I should be allowed LlO off my passage ■ money for so doing. I gave the captain a I promissory note that I would'.pay him

T.lO if he landed me in Dunedin. I have also become surety for another passenger for Llo. That sum is still due. (Mr Stout here asked questions about liquor supplied to the -witness, but the line of examination was objected to by Mr Haggitt, and not pressed.) I saw Kelly give liquor.to three or four sailors and/passengers ; one glass to myself, ami one to the'captain. T saw him give no more, but that.in not why I am led to the conclusion that Kelly was giving liquor to anyone who asked him. I heard so from Mr Isitt r' that is the only statement I make on hearsay. I asked Kelly if he knew any of the men were getting liquor a second or third time, or if he knew whether they were getting intoxicated. He told me he was acting according to the captain’s orders, and threatened to kick me out, ami look off ■ his- coat to- fight me. Perhaps it served you right ? You would not have thought so if you had been on board a sinking ship. I knew the name of the point off which the vessel was supposed ito strike before [ came, hereto-day, I knew it was Slope Point before 1 looked at the chart to-day. How comes it then ,that you wauted to see the chart before you gave, the name of Slope Point?—l wanted to sea if the cross corresponded; with what the captain gave. The captain was sober when the : vessel struck. I first noticed him uot to be sober when the steamer was coming into sight. I can’t tell you that he gave any improper orders, because ho did not give any orders at all. I can’t specify, any.“unreasonable” answer, because he answered nothing properly or improperly. (Laughter.) Then ho didn’t speak?— But he did speak, I but I could make nothing of what, he said. Then tell roe something he spake that you could not make anything of. —•[ Laughter.). —That would be a matter of difficulty. No one when I spoke, to the oaptainabout reporting the ship. I noticed when we were, going round the point in Jack’s'Bay, that the sailmaker had had a little drink, but I did not think he was at all incapable. I think the second mate was fit to go after the ship. : ? y Frederick Isitt, a cabin passenger of the Surat : Spirits were brought out : by the steward some little time after the pumps were worked. I should say about: half-an-' hour afterwards. He was getting -‘‘ pretty well on when I first noticed him ;. I afterwards found that he was totally!incapable, through drunkenness of taking care of the grog—he let anybody, who wished have it‘and 1‘ reported the fact to Mr Booth. He ■ was giving spirits to two or three instead of serving it out equally. It was not until after daylight, , just beforo the steamer hove l iu sight, that I first noticed the captain, war not sober. 1 consider he was incapable of taking charge p£ the vessel at that time,, ,1 noticed be would not give orders ; he.staggered in his gait; stood with his hands in his pockets, looked at me with a drunken glare, and I smelt his- breath when near him. When I spoke to himand asked him to show his capabilities by giving orders, he looked at me with a vacant stare. When the steamer hove in sight I asked the captain to signal her, but got ho answer. I was then requested by some of the passengers to go for - the ensign, and I did so. It was then: attempted to have it hoisted, but the captain interfered a id would not allow it to be done. I then suggested to get the captain into conversation, and hoist it by stratagem. That was done, and the ensign hoisted. On the captain turning round, the ensign was hoistedagain after-being down a few minutes. Several passengers on the poop wishing to have a gun fired, I said X knew where part of the ammnnition was, as I had seen the mate go to that drawer for it. I did not care to go for it, as the steamer was passing very rapidly. Ido not know that T had any reason. The steward at the wheel, who was quite drunk, jeered us, and said, “Would you not like to know where the powder is?” I then went on to the forecastle to help to lower the only boat left, and discussed with Mr Booth the best means to induce the captain to land the passengers. The first mate came forward to interfere in some ; way with; launching the: boat, and a scuffle ensued between him and two sailors, who, took his revolver from'him. He was drunk at the time. I next saw him trying to stop the pumping by getting in the way ot the handles as they went round, and being a desperate case, some of the passengers cried piifc,“ Knock his brains put if he does not get out of the way.” Before that, I' and others asked the sailmaker, ‘ who came on the poop, to taka charge of the vessel. (To Mr' Stout)': He was speaking as he came up the steps. He said the sails were all aback. I saw the chart .almost every day, and, helped Mr Booth to keep his chart. I did not. assist in hoisting the ensign a second time, as stated by Mr Booth. I know it was being, hoisted, although I do not know by whom. If the sailmaker said “I found the ensign and hoisted it,” it is not true, —By Mr Booth; I landed at Jack’s Bay to report the ship. ''■■■’ -: •o- , ; William E. Shury, detective officer of the Otago Police force, proved serving notices on the captain and two principal officers of the ship on the sth January. Mr Fountain, recalled by Mr Stout: lam forty-five years of age. I made a statement that I was only thirty-eight when 1 made application to the Immigration Officer. Mr Haggitt thought he would; only be wasting time by attempting to reconcile.the trivial discrepancies in the testimony pf the witness.

Mr Stoat addressed the Coart,at. considerable length. Ha raised two, points—first, that the Court only sat as Justices, of the peace, and had only power to decide the cause of the ship’s loss. They had no power to suspend or. cancel certificates, as there was no proof of the appointment of Nautical Assessor, appointed by either the Governor or Commissioner of Customs. Even if a . Nautical Assessor had been appointed, there could be no suspension of certificates, unless there had been some wrongful act or default committed. No wrong, ful act of commission or omission before the ship struck was attempted to he proved.' For any charge of drunkenness there was a proper mode of procedure—trial by jury for a misdemeanor, as provided by the Merchant Shipping Act. Service of the statements on the captain, as contemplated by section 9, had not been dune, which was also fatal to the power of the Court to suspend certificates. [Left sitting.]