The Wreck of the Wairarapa.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 121, 17 November 1894, Page 2

The Wreck of the Wairarapa.

CONTINUATION OF THE ENQUIRY.

(PBE PRESS ASSOCIATION) Auckland, November 15. Henry Baker, A.B , gave eridenoe as to the officers and men doing all that could be done to save life and get the boats out. Three quarters of an hour after the vessel struck he went on to the bridge but he did not see the captain there. It was light enough to see it he had been there. Robert Laing A.8., said it was Captain Mcln tosh's custom on all occasions to slow down in a fog, when on the coast, and use the lead The Captain's count on this oocasion was quite different from what he had done before. John Sinclair, clnef engineer aaid from leaving Sjdney the spaed of the. engines was not altered till she struck the Barrier. The telegraph indicated full speed ahead. The whole time the average was 12£ knots. On the vessel striking he ordered the second engineer to switch on the light all over the ship, which was done. He started the donkey eugine pumping cold water into the boilers to drown the noise of the escaping etoatn, which would prevent orders being beard which was done. He also ordered the watertight doors to be shut but did not think the engineer sue* ceeded. He told them not to return but try and save life and themselves, He got the first order full speed astern and the last at 12.20 to slow astern and a minute after stop engines. The Court exonerated the Engineers,. they bad done their duty and certificates would be returned. The Chief Engineer bad stuck to his post at the risk of his life and Dunlop behaved in a brave manner. That was all that would be said until the bringing up of the finding of the enquiry, Wellington, This I}ay. Mr W. F. Wheeler, local manager of the Union Company, was examined before the Magistrate in connection with the Wairarapa disaster. He was asked if he knew of any instructions to the Captain to make fast passages in view of opposition. He replied he was unaware of any, and stated the Company thought so little of the opposition (there being only one vessel running) that he did not think any instructions would be given. So far as he knew the general instructions of the Company to Captains provided for blowing the foghorn in a fog. The general manager would be the proper gentleman to examine as to instructions. Witness had known Captain Mclntosh for 10 years, and regarded him as a careful and capable officer. Witness declared that whether tho captains made fast or slow passages did not effect pro. motion.