THE ELINGAMITE WRECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 688, 6 December 1902, Page 3

THE ELINGAMITE WRECK.

.TIIE ENQUIRY;

[(Per Press Association^

AUCKLAND, last night. At the Elingamito enquiry, Mr 'Pole •said there was auparently a conflict between the engineers and those on deck in regard to the position of the vessel -aid her capacity of going astern He suggested that they should call all the men in tiie engine room. Mr Wetlierilt, an important witness is extremely ill. The Magistrate said they would have a thorough investigation, and would take the evidence of passengers. He would adjourn the enquiry if necessary Vine, the chief steward, said wnen the vessel struck he ordered the stewards to close the ports and Keep the passengers quiet, arid to servo out lifebelts. Three or four minutes inter similar instructions were issued by the captain. Mr Vine, continuing, stated that as

near a.s lie could remember the captain said, “ (lev some provisions out/’ He did not remember if tlie captain gave more minute instructions re provisions lie told the second steward, now dead, to send on deck all the biscuits. They passed up seven thirty-pound tins. Witness told the second steward to hand the biscuits to the mate. Witness handed three bottles of wine to another steward. He satisfied himself by examination that all the nerths were empty. lie did not know what became of the biscuits and wine. Cross-examined, he could riot say if there was any rule of duty in sum an emergency. He would make efforts to provision the boats. The Magistrate said that Mr Vine seemed to have done well in some respects, hut he wanted to know why tie did not get more provisions. Mr Vine replied that the ship was hnocking about, so that it was unsafe to keep tile men below any longer. The Magistrate remarked that there ■wero only 150 pounds of biscuits for UM people. Mr Vine added that lie was going helow to get more when he was Washed overboard. Later tic found himself clinging to the funnel, and women and children floating about. He assisted several before lie himself was picked up. There were no biscuits in the boat that picked him up or in the dingy. There was water in his boat, but none in the dingy. Mr Campbell, solicitor, stated that it would lie shown that one tin or biscuits was put in No. 0 boat, which Capsized, and the other four tins were in the missing boat. i Mulcahey, a fireman, stated that , ■there was no humping or grating ne- : fore the telegraph hell rang. Half a minute later lie heard a rumbling and , grating under his feet.

CONTINUATION OF EVIDENCE.

By Tolograph—Press Association. ■ Auckland, last night. Continuing his ovidonco, Edmond Mulcahy, fireman oti tho Elingamito, said about half-a-minuto after tho telegraph rang ho hoard a grating noiso underneath vhoro ho was. Tho telegraph rang two jr throe times before. Ho heard that John Rouwick, trimmor, said ho heard the telegraph ring, and a minute or a minute and a-half later he felt tho vessel bump. Tho tolograph was immediately answorod from tho ongino-room.

Wellington, last night. Tho Elingamito Belief Fund, opened by the Mayor of Wellington, now stands at j£969.