WRECK OF THE WHAKAPAI.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 242, 21 October 1901, Page 3

WRECK OF THE WHAKAPAI.

NAUTICAL INQUIRY

STORY OF THE SURVIVOR

(Special to Times.) A. ' land, Saturday. I At the MagistrateV ’ourt yesterday j before -Air H. AV. Dr mt, S.M., an. Captains J. Adamson a. Fernandez nautical assessors, an in._ v was com meneed concerning the cap 'zing of th< scow AVhakapai between Eas. island anc the mainland on September 29th, in which four of tho crew and Captain Bonner were drowned. The Collector of Customs (Mr A. Rose) conducted the inquiry, and Mi Earl watched the proceedings on behalf of the widow of Captain Bonner. James Bertie deposed that he was the sole survivor of the crew of the AVhakapai. He shipped on board the AA'hakapai at Auckland on August 22nd last as A. 8., and a few days afterwards tho AVhakapai proceeded from Auckland bound for Tokomaru with a cargo of timber. Tolerable weather prevailed until they arrived at the East Cape. There was too much of a break on the beach at Tokomaru, and they went on to Gisborne, and, having stayed there one day, left again for Tokomaru. The practice at Tokomaru was to beach the vessel and throw the timber Dvorboard. AVhon the vessel was going on j ;o the beach she bumped on the boulders, md leaked from that time. They then got on to a smooth beach and dis--•harged the cargo. A carpenter was employed to repair the vessel, and the .aptain thought tile repairs satisfactory, -here were two holes in the vessel, ne in the fore part on the starboard

l side, and the other amidships, on the j port side. After the repairs had been : effected they left the beach and got out the anchor to try the vessel, but as they could not kc-ep the water down they put the vessel back on to the beach next day, and set to work themselves to effect repairs. Finally they left tha beach to go to Gisborne to get the vessel repaired. On Sunday, September 29, between 10 and 1) o’clock they saw a steamer. AVitness thought tho steamer was six or seven miles off when they first sighted her. About an hour afterwards the steamer was within three or four miles of them. The weather was at that time inclined to be foggy, but was clearing up at intervals. They had the ensign at half-mast, upside down. When they first sighted tho steamer they wore abreast of Tuparos. Tho steamer did not in any way show tiiat alio had seen the signal. Just as the steamer got abreast of them it came down foggy, and when it cleared up again the stoamer was past them. AVitness was quite certain that those on board the steamer could have seen them if they had kept a look-out—that is, before tho steamer came ahead of them. They could have cad a good view of them then, as the scow was broad side on to the steamer,

which was coming towards them. After this they kept away towards the EastCape, for the purpose of beaching the vessel in a bay there. They took the passago inside toward the East Cape and inside the lighthouse. They got into a narrow passage, and directly they hauled tho vessel up for the purpose of beaching her, she gradually started to capsize. The mainsail, staysail, and jib wore then on tho vessel. Tho mainsail was partly lowered down at this time. The sails wore not reefed. Tho vessel was fitted with three centre-boards. The centre-boards wero not used ; they were jammed. If tho centre-boards hail been down, they might have supported the vessel for a bit, but not after they got up into the wind. The vessel could not have done any sailing with the centreboards down, and she would have gone over just the same. Immediately before the capsize, the wind was S.E., and she was running before it. AVken she capsized, tho vessel was about three-parts full of water. They had been pumping all the time sinco they left Tokomaru, but the water gained on them. He thought tho vessel capsized because ska was full of water. She had no cargo at this time. When they left Auckland, the vessel appeared sound, and steered well. After detailing the names of the crew, witness said he was washed overboard when the mast carried away. Fie hung on to tho bulwarks, and, when washed off that, ho got on to the top of the galley, and then he was washed ashore. Maoris came to his rescue, and helped him ashore. There was no “grog” aboard tlm vrwcnl

To Mr Earl: Captain Bonner was stoering the vessol at the time she capsized. When the vessel was going the captain said : “ It's all up with us. lads.” He did not, as far as witness recollected, say anything further. AVhon she was capsizing the captain went to lower the anchor to provent the vessel from running on the reef. The captain worked his utmost to prevent the vessel from capsizing. In the opinion of witness no blame could be attached to the captain. The immediate cause of her capsizing was her being hauled up to the wind.

To the Magistrate: After witness got ashore he saw two of the crew still clinging to the vessel. Frederick Irving, master of tho scow Hawk, said it was not usual to ballast empty scows. It was a common thing to place a scow on the beach to discharge provided the beach was good. He considered that the AVhakapai was a fine little sea boat. One could scarcely capsize an empty scow if the water was kept out of her.

Henry Peterson, master marine, said he was at one time captain of the AVhakapai. He had charge of her for about four years, and during that period he found her a splendid little craft. Scows did not require ballast. He did not think the Tokomaru beach was a fit place to beach a vessel. An empty scow would be more difficult to overturn than one laden with cargo. Captain Charles Bonner, father of the late captain of the AA'hakapai, gave similar evidence.

At this stage the inquiry was adjourned till Monday to allow Captain Lambert, of the Hawea, who is expected to arrive in Auckland on Sunday, to give evidence.