THE PENGUIN DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 23 February 1909, Page 2

THE PENGUIN DISASTER.

THE ENQUIRY

CAPT. NAYEOR’S EVIDENCE

Wku.,ington, February 22

Captain Naylor in his, evidence stated that before leaving Picton at 6.20 p.m. on the 12th he could not tell what the weather was likely to be outside. The average speed of the Penguin was knots. On coming out of Tory Channel there was very little sea. The weather was overcast, the wind being from the south-east.. The current at the head of Tory ' Channel ran rapidly as a rule from one to three knots. When the boat emerged from Tory Channel witness set a south-east a quarter east by east course from 8 o’clock. At 8 o'clock he went south-east by east again and stood on that course till 20 minutes to ten. The ship by that time had steamed 22 miles; he reckoned she had done 18 miles; it was miles from the Heads to Toms Rock. Witness in his calculations had made allowance for currents. According to this reckoning he would have been just past Toms Rock at 20 minutes to ten. At nine it was raining heavily and squalls continued, and. between 9.15 and 9.30 it became very dark. He did not alter his course till 20 minutes to teh, nor did he take any soundings. He noticed the tides in Tory Channel were not according to the book. The tide was running in on the south and out on the north. Witness had expected slack water. To meet this difficulty he had steered a south-east by east course and this would keep the beacons in line and so enable him to clear Toms Rock. He considered he was on a good safe course. At 20 minutes to ten he reckoned he had passed Toms Rock and was a good three miles off it and at that hour he altered his course east by south and-ran her for 20 minutes. This should have put him past Sinclair Head, He could see (practically nothing in shore. Counsel: “ I put it to you that soundings should have been taken.”

Witness : To take soundings with the lead I should have been courting danger, because I would have had to stop the ship and that would have been dangerous. For the same reason witness said he did not slow down.

Counsel; I put it to you after you came out of Tory Channel and lost the Brothers, you did not know where you were ? Witness: I set a course that would have made me absolutely safe under normal conditions. Continuing he said the ship struck at two miuutes past ten. At that moment he was putting the ship’s head out to sea. He did so because if he ran on much further he would be at Baring Heads. He had never experienced such a “set-in” in the current as he had that night. Capt. Naylor said the boats and gear were in good order, and four would have been ample if 'no damage had occurred. The last time boat drill was held on the ship was at Picton on January 13. Evidence was also given By Capt. A. H. Fisk, master of the Aorere, second engineer Luke and fireman Walter Maiden.

The enquiry was then adjourned until to-day.