PYRAMUS COURT MARTIAL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8862, 12 July 1907, Page 2

PYRAMUS COURT MARTIAL.

Press Association.—Copyright. . Sydney, July 11.

At the final court martial in connection ■with the Pyramus, Commander Fitzmaurice was arraigned and charged with negligence Or default. The prosecutor. Captain Cowper of the Psyche, said he would not allow a warrant officer to keep watch inside a barrier reef and if it was impossible to anchor at night he would prefer to take charge himself if no commissioned officer was available. In open waters he allowed his own warrant officer to keep watch. Lieut. Braithwaite stated that until the course was altered by Collingwood ho had never known it to be done without the commander’s permission or knowledge. Collingwood had frequently kept watch inside the barrier reef and Hurst stated ha instructed Collingwood to tako the watch without reference to the commander. He said deipito the regulations he considered he was justified in leaving the bridge as the course was the longest and clearest they would have throughout that day. The commander knew nothing of his leaving 1 the bridge.- The vessel was kept running night and day to enable the Governor-General to keep an appointment.

Commander Fitzmaurioe in his statement said he placed the ship on a safe course which if maintained would have cleared the danger by eight cable lengths with a clear run of fifteen miles by which time he would have been on deck again. It was impossible to foresee that Collingwood, who was reliable, should have altered the course without informing him, especially as he was in the chart house within a few feet.

The court martial found Commander Fitzmaurioe guilty of an error of judgment in leaving the bridge without giving an order that Hurst should remain on the bridge until C reef was passed. It expressed appreciation of the seamanlike abilities of the whole crow in refloating the vessel.