INQUIRY INTO THE WRECK OF THE KETCH CONSTANT.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 719, 27 August 1870, Page 2

INQUIRY INTO THE WRECK OF THE KETCH CONSTANT.

An inquiry was held yesterday, at the Custom-house, before H- F- Andrews, Esq., Collector of Customs, into the loss of the ketch Constant, on the bar, on Wednesday last. The following evidence was given : — John Pascoe : T am the master of the ketch Constant, which wrecked on the Grey bar on the 24th August, 1870. She was seven years old, and she was registered in Hobart Town. Ido not recollect the official number. She was ketch-rigged, and built of wood, 13. tons, and carried a crew of three men, including myself. I have no certificate of competency as master. I had a general caigo. I sailed from Charleston, bound to Grey mouth. The weather was fine when 1 started, on the 23rd of August, at 7 a. ra. high tide ; weather fine j wind, N.E. The casualty happened inside the bar, at the mouth of the river. She was capsized by a heavy sea; ' one struck her after she was on her beam ends, and took the mast out of her. The next one turned her bottom up. I had told the man at the helm to watch her, and not let her broach to. J know no more after I was thrown into the water. I account for the loss of the vessel by a heavy sea strikiug her inside the bar. When I crossed the bar, the direction of the wind was about W. to S.W. —a fair wind for crossing the bar, and the weather was fine. The tide was about ' half-flood ; and the time about 5 p.m. The principal part of the cargo was saved. The ship was totally lost. Her value waa about L 200., She was not; insured. The value of the cargo lost was about LIOO ; it was not insured. Two lives were lost. I was re3cued by a boat's crew.' I was steering a fair course up the river, about N.E. Her draught of water, loaded, is about 4ft Gin. I had a chart on board. I hove the lead outside the bar, and got 7 fathoms. She was fully manned and found in all respects. I had two anchors. The compass was in good order, and I had sufficient boats to carry my crew and passfenger3. I was at anchor about a mile to a mile and a-quarter off the bar. A heavy squall came on from the S.E., aud I could not see any chance of getting to sea, and the bar appeared to be workable. It was light at the~ time. I knew there was sufficient water on the bar, and thought that my only chance was to take it as the sea was rising, and I was afraid her anchors would not hold if the sea got any worse. I anchored close to the bar in hope of getting towed in in the morning. I was in eight fathoms. I swear I did not attempt to cross the bar with the view of saving towage. I hoisted my flag for a tug in the. morning. I did cot consider it risky to anchor so close to the bar. The names of the men drowned were Petei Shields, aged 25, a native of Liverpool; and James Carr, aged 60, born in Scotland. The accident took place about fifteen or twenty yards inside the bar. I paid no attention to the signals, but ran in because I considered myself in danger. I have been on the West Coast five years, and have crossed this bar under sail before. I.am aware that there is risk after crossing the bar. If I had been anchored further off the bar I would have had a better chance of getting to sea. I was perfectly sober at the time of crossing the bar, and so were the crew. .James Stalker: I am signalman at this port. The bar, whea the ketch. Constant anchored outside, was very fine, but there was occasionally a heavy swell. Tlie Magnet crossed the bar in the morning. I signalled to the Constant "Stand to sea," She took no notice, and seeing she was determined to cone in I went to the semaphore and tried to guide her over the bar. The master could have put to sea when I signalled to him bad he tried to do so, but he did not try. lam a nautical man. I have been thirty years at sea. I consider he was not too close to the bar when he anchored. James Allardyce : I am harbor-master at the port of Greymouth. I remember the evening of the 24th August. I remember the ketch Constant crossing the bar, I have heard the evidence of the master of the Constant. Ido not consider it risky for a vessel of her size to anchor so close to tho bar, as what she loses in power she gains in handineas. Prom my knowledge of the craft, I believe that if the master had stood to sea when he first weighed anchor he could have made an offing. lam a certificatedmasterof the Board of Trade of fifteen years standing. Most seamen, I think, would have taken the bar under the circumstances. I would have done it myself, if I had been used to small craft. : ' The following is the decision arrived at by Mr Andrews :— Underthe circumstances, and viewing opinions of the harbor-master and signalman, it is not. my intention to bring the case before the Magistrate. Had the evidence shown that the live 3 had been lost by unnecessary risk or wilful neglect, the case would have been serious, but as it appears an offing could have been made I can come to no other opinion but that the vessel and lives were lost by no error of judgment on the part of the master.