THE ELINGAMITE WRECK

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 583, 29 November 1902, Page 2

THE ELINGAMITE WRECK

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY

EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN ATTWOOD. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, yesterday. The Elingamiie enquiry opened this morning. The Crown Prosecutor said that the enquiry could not be too searching, because the judgment would nut only affect the parlies to this wreck, but possible lead to legislation to minimise such disasters in the future. Counsel, proceeding, stated that the captain said that lie gave the order full speed astern," and that the order was not obeyed. The signal had to lie repeated. Almost simultaneously with the delay in reversing or in giving the order to reverse, the vessel shuck, There was no complaint as to the lifebelts. The conduct of Captain Altwood and officers and crew, said counsel, worthy of the highest praise, but regarding the lifeboats and rats, and their want of provisions, there was room for very serious and possibly a

grave charge. It- appeared that the regulations were not complied with. It was understood that the boats were not fit and ready for use. Very serious difficulties and delays in launching tiie boats were alleged, and it was stated that they had to he washed off the vessel after the falls were cut. Apparently no water, compass, ot lamps were in the boats, and the whole of the life-saving appliances were apparently devoid of the requirements fur the preservation of life. CAPTAIN ATTWOOD,j Captain Altwood deposed that lie had been master of the steamer since July oi this year. He was previously master of a sailing vessel for PJ years, and officer in various steaiueu-. lie had ton about two years trading on the New Zealand coast, llis compasses were correct on leaving Sydney He found no fault with them. Nothing was wrong with tho steering gear. The official log hook was saved. The draft log was lost in the wreck, tin leaving Sidney lie steered south 88 degrees cast. He endeavored to maintain that course throughout the icni ago. At noon on Saturday, he was ff'tid miles from the Kings. The patent log was used, hut on Saturday afternoon the log fouled, showing 40 miles instead ot -18, The mate cosrectcu it immediately. The weather was clear at noon on Saturday. The vessel steamed full speed, at 12 knots, until iff a.m. on Sunday. At noon on Saturday he was two or three miles out of his position to the northward. He attributed ibis to had steering rather than to ocean currents. The weather was thick all Saturday. He was called at (i a.m. on Sunday, which was earlier than usual because then were nearing land. ’Hie haze came down suddenly at in a.m. within n few minutes, lie knew wlieic he was at Pi o’clock, having worked it by dead reckoning. He ought to have b'.’u six or seven miles south of the south-west King when the fog came 011 . He sent for the chief engineer at three minutes to ten to tell him to slow the engines down, lie could h a ve telegraphed that, hut was afraid if the ci gines were suddenly slowed that he would not lie able, on account of the escaping steam to bear breakers, or log signals, or anything else. He did not expect to hear anything, hut one never knew what lie might hear in a fog. At ten o’clock the engines were slowed down to -1 or it knots. 'Hie length of sight was then two ship’s lengths ahead. He saw breakers on the port how, rushed to the telegraph ■rang full speed astern, and ordered the helm hard aport. Ile rang three or four times. The telegraph responded from below to the first ring, but the engines did not seem to move. lie went to the side of the ship. There did not seem to lie auv motion. He rang again The third engineer, Scott, came to the bridge, and reported that the engines would not move. Witness said that it was too late now. The ship was broadside on to the rocks. Jle told Scott to tell the chief engineer to bring up all his men—for them to save themselves. lie had not time to askwhy the engines would not move. He did not yet know why they would not move. Had the engines ton reversed . when he first gave the order the ship ' woukfliavc escaped. The fourth engineer was on duty at the time. The * rocks were about two ship's lengths ' away when he saw the breakers. The 1 ship was heading about when -she struck. I-Ic had altered the course two poihts'in consequence of the order hard aport. Four of the boats had not ton. swung out since he had been on the i ship. There was a beaker of water in No. 1 boat, but they had no pro- . visions. The after boats were lowered ■ at boat drill on Friday before the wreck. He had never seen 1-lie rafts disturbed since he was on the ship, ■ but thought there was water in the beakers on the rafts. Captain Atwood said lie lielieved the beakers were kept full of water. There were no compasses in the boats. Each boat had a lantern. They started to provision the boats just after tiie vessel struck. lie made a true course that should have taken him six or seven miles south of the Kings. WRECK ASCRIBED TO THE NORTH-EAST SET.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.] Auckland, last night,

Captain Attwood, continuing his evidence, said that there wero ample life belts for all. They started to put provisions in tho boats just after tho vessel struck. Thero was no special inspection of the boats by himself to see that they were properly provisioned. All the boats were out within a quarter of an hour. The minimum time in ordinary circumstances, would be four minutes. There was difficulty in getting the boats on the port side launched, owing to tho heavy list. Witness ascribed the cause of tho casualty to the north-east set, which deilected him from the. proper course. It was an exceptionally strong set. He must have been deilected five or six miles. The current he experienced was an unknown current. After further evidence witness stated that if placed in the same position tomorrow he did not think he would go so far as he did, or he would perhaps go outside the Kings altogether. The Court then adjourned,