WRECK OF THE ERROL

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 24

WRECK OF THE ERROL

*» ■ I SYDNEY, August 22. . The Norwegian Consul-general has held, an inquiry concerning the loss of the barque Errol, which was wrecked on the Middleton Reef. Mr Johansen, one of the survivors, stated that the captain told him just before the disaster that he estimated the ship's position to be one degree south of Middleto-n Reef. No observations were obtained for. two days owing to overcast weather. No intoxicants were used either before or after the wreck. The captain was a good disciplinarian. j Several witnesses stated that Palmer had the captain's ring. Palmer, in giving evidence, at first denied this, but afterwards stated that Lawrence- gave him the ring.- It- was the , mate's watch at the time of the disaster. Lawrence stated that ne found the captain's ring- near the captain's body. He might have given it to Palmer. The witness recounted the deaths, and stated that he put the bodies overboard when life was extinct, except those of the two children They were missing one morning, and their mother must have thrown them overboard during the night, as the youngest child was tied to a deadeye with a strand of rope. He thought the mother was crazy.