THE WRECK OF THE BRUCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3951, 23 October 1875, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE BRUCE.

Th« magisterial inquiry into the cause or the wreck of the s.s. Bruce was continued after we went to press last evening. The following witnesses were examined James Carpenter said he was a seaman on board the Bruce. He was on the first mate’s watch When the vessel struck he was sitting in his bunk lighting his pipe. Jfe had been there about an hour. Edward Donkin, also a seaman in the chief mate’s watch, said he was at the wheel at one o’clock. He looked round when ho got on the bridge, but could boo nothing at allowing to the dense fog. 110 saw nothing till the ship struck, Regular watches were m.t kept on the ■trainer, but one watch took half-way from one Bort to the other, and another watoh the other half. I!e«rgd Milne, coxswain of the pilot boat at Tala oa Heads, said that Friday night last, the 35th inst., was very foggy and dense. He frequently went near the lighthouse. He only observed the rays once on this occasion, at about 240 a.m. on the loth, The light could not be seen on the land side. Captain Jones, re-called, said he did not obthe regulations isgardiig fog signals on the night in ques'ion, as they would not have served him. He had never yet had an answer from the lighthouse. Air Stout contended that all the. loss of the vessel could be termed was a mishap. Everything possible was done after she struck. A mistake was evidently made in the log. In giving the decision of the Court, Mr Bathgate said the loss of u passenger steamer was always a very serious matter, and one requiring for the protection of the public searching inquiry. _ It was to be feared that our almost immunity from accidents on this coast was not owing to the owners of steamships, whose laxity was likely to be followed some day by signal disaster. In this case it was much satisfaction that there had been no loss of life. There was, however, sufficient in the existing circumstances, looking at the complete destruction of the vessel, to justify the Bench in thinking it one of great importance. He (his Worship) was of opinion—in which the Nautical Assessor entirely concurred—that the loss and abandonment of the Bruca had been caused by the neglect of the master, Frederick Jones, in neglecting to take sufficient soundings to ascertain his position, and neglecting tho regulations otherwise provided. Tho regulations Hot only required tiiat signals should bo sounded on foggy nights, but also that a moderate speed should he recognised, Tho vessel, after the soundings wsie taken, should have been wholly under the mister’s control, and ho should have taken care that half speed was not exceeded. Tho CV rt having now come to that conclusion, the t. ry painful alternative was left for them to consider what, in their opinion, was au adi quale fin l ling in regard to the certificate of thoraaster, There were two courses j i escribed by tho Act—First, cancella ion of the certificate ; nnd second, suspei sison for a time. Fortunately for ths master there had been no loss of life, and that so far was an element for consideration in his favor. However, there could be very little doubt, ii there had been loss of lifjj or injury in such a c-ise as this, that tli-z beitittcate would have been wholly cancelled, 'ft was their duty to take into consideration the Whole circumstances, and therefore they were inclined to tape the more lenient course of suspending for a certain term, and (hey came to the conclusion of a fixed term which was just and reasonable for the master for hi,-:, default The Bench had come to this conclusion ; that they could not suspend for a less period than twelve months. The Naufcal Assessor concurred'with mrp tnat the mate was not fiee from Maine in this mailer. The mate tfpjj ordered to go easy ahead. The mate in a thick Ipg m.-ftr the bud ordered the vessel to be put on at full speed. In doing so h j? did not exercise that caution necessary under me circumstance;?. The masler choukl have fulfilled that duty, hj« being on deck at the time. Til 8 mato i therefore, ha dug been udder the control of the P» l ?h was not culpable to the same extent; bur fie did t kv upon hj knee If to do what he should d°t have done. Tlie Bench could not pass that over, and they must, marl: (heir souse of it by suspending his certificate for three months. A word of caution to the owners. Tho examination thac day disclosed a want of disc’pUno exceedingly reprehensible in a vessel canning passenger a. It had been admitted in the witnesubox that tho men were bo overworked and the vessel so improperly manned, that the officers could not trust the men. If a loss of life should en ue, the owners are liable to be indicted for manslaughter. In the ease of injury or death, lu the Home country, be hftd no hesitation in saying that officers wore held liable for serious responsibility. The remark he had addressed to the part where a company had only any feeling—f,he pocket, He trusted the company in this case would ensure to tho t-avidling public the utmost amount of security which care, overflight, and caution could possibly effect.