THE LOSS OF THE BREST.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1809, 8 December 1879, Page 3

THE LOSS OF THE BREST.

Mr H. 0. Rothory, tho wreck coramiseionor, lias given judgment as the result of his inquiry into Ihe stranding of tho Cunard steamer Brest at Polborro Gove, Cornwall, on September 6th, the steamer having 130 passengers on board at the time. He said it certainly appeared that tho boats at tho time of the accident were got out with great expedition—within ten minutes from the stranding of tho ship or of the order being given. Some little confusion, no doubt, did arise, as might reasonably bo expected on board an English vessel with moot of tho passengers foreigners of a low class. Tho result was that some fell into the water. Three were picked up, but whether any were drowned or not there had been no evidence before the Court to show. It was trua that about thirteen days afterwards a body was picked up lying under the port side of the vessel, but whether or not that was a body of one of the passengers did not appear. Something had been said about the body of a child haviugbeondiscoverod in the Cove, but whether that also was one of the children who had taken passage in tho Brest they were unable to say. On tho last voyage the Brest, after leaving Havre, was kept longer on a N.W. course than on tho previous vojege, thus giving her more northing before she laid her head down the Channel. The captain said that as it was hazy ho kept her on a N.W. course to give the French coast a wide berth j and there could have been no possible objection to that, provided that when ho laid his course down the Channel he had made allowance for tho fact that he was farther to the north than on the previous occasion. Then, was the master justified in taking the course he did P It seemed to tho Court quite clear that the master was quite justified in laying the course he did, seeing the position in which ho was at noon. Then was the master justified in maintaining the speed at which he was going ? Upon that point, seeing that an extra man was pnt on the look-out, and that it was stated in evidence that it was impossible to see more than ten or twelve yards at the time of the accident, the Court was of opinion that the speed of the vessel was too great, having regard to the safety of herself, of those on board, and of other vessels. Was the master justified in not using the lead ? In their opinion ho was not, He knew from the experience of the two preceding voyages that when he had run 193 miles by his log he was, or outfit to have been if on his proper course, close to the Lizard. Ho admitted that at 8 o’clock he could see l wo or three miles, and if he could see objects at that distance ho 'would have been able to see a strong light like that at the Lizard a much greater distance, and, finding that he did not see tho Lizard, he ought to have at once hove tho ship to and taken a cast of the lead to ascertain his true position. Whether ho ought not to have done so at seven o’clock might be a question, but there can be no doubt that he should have done so at eight. Had ho at any time during the hour and a half before the accident thrown tho lead, he would have found that he was in less than forty fathoms of water, and the instructions in the “ Channel Pilot ” were, that in thick weather vessels should go no nearer the Lizard than forty-seven fathoms, which depth of water would be found six or seven miles from it. In the opinion of the Court the accident resulted, not from any error of judgment, but from gross recklessness. What object the master could have had it was not difficult to say. He had been newly appointed captain of the vessel, having been for eight years in the Cunard Company’s service as mate, and there could be little doubt that he was very anxious to make a quick passage. It was probably the intention of the master to make the best of his way and shave the points as closely as possible, so as to save the tide at Liverpool. But a master when he had tho lives of 160 persons at stake had no right to make close shaves. The assessors were of opinion, and he concurred, that the certificate of the master should be suspended for six months. They had no doubt that he was a careful and attentive officer ; and they thought it would do no barm if ho were to go in the position he had recently occupied—as first mate—during the time his certificate was suspended. They would, therefore, under these circumstances, recommend that he should have his mate’s certificate returned to him if he wished it.