WRECK ENQUIRY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2842, 4 May 1882, Page 3

WRECK ENQUIRY.

An enquiry was held this morning (before Mr 0. B. Cooper, Collector of Customs, Captain McDonald, of the ship City of Perth, acting as. Nautical Assessor) into the recent wreck of the barque Duke of Sutherland. The enquiry was held under-the Wrecks and Casualties section of the “ Shipping and Seamens’ Act 1877.” ’ The following evidence was taken Henry Rowlands, master of the Duke of Sutherland, being duly sworn, gave full particulars of his nautical status and the classing of his vessel, and showed that he bad had to make several complaints to the Harbor Board as.to the delay in loading bis vessel. He. said that at the time of the accident the vessel was drawing 181 feet of water—her ordinary draught,'when loaded, being 19 or 20 feet, The sea was high at this time. He felt the ship strike about 7 in the evening, consulted'the mate, hove the deep sea lead over the taffrail, and found 4| fathoms. He thought she had been struck by a spar. When she began to bump heavily we manned the pumps and found her making water rapidly and sent boats off for help. We found that the stern post had started. I made preparation for shipping. We had 3 thirty hundredweight anchors out. She had plenty of chain and coir hawser. She wanted 2000 sacks mo:e to fill up. Alexander Mills, harbormaster, deposed that ho had placed the vessel in a place ho believed safe. Ho had always found her well governed onboard. On seeing signals from the barque ho had sent for the Rocket Brigade and ordered a whale boat off to the ship’s assistance. He went on board himself, slipped the cable, and got her clear of other shipping She had, when witness left her, 16 feotof water in her hold. There was 32 feet 9 inches water at f flood which would give 28| at low water. No vessel ever touched ground there before. The wreck now lies in four fathoms of water. William Collis deposed that ho was a diver to the Harbor Board, sometimes acting as boatman. Ho hud been 16 years at sea. Witness went to the landing service at 9 o clock ou 2nd Inst., and launched the whaleboat at Captain Mills’ bidding, to go off to the aid of the barquo. Witness left. 11 1 0 beach with a crow about 9 o’clock, in charge of tie boat. Witness met tho Ca itain close to tho Breakwater slops, in a ooat; tho captain did not go with witness, but got into another boat to return lo the sain, and followed witness’ boat io tho ship. Witness went to tho Duke of Sutherland, and reached her at about

the same time as the Captain. Witness told the Captain who he was, and asked him if ho could give any help forward. The ship had a lot of water in her. Witness found this by opening the lazaretto batch, and could see the water running in in several places. Witness and tho Captain had a candle. They felt the vessel striking heavily. Witness came ashore at once to report to Captain Mills, after being a very short time aboard. Captain Mills thought it best to take a number of hands on board, and ho and witness returned to her with sovoral hands. They tried to keep her free by using both pumps, but failed. They got a winch and tried to lighten tho cargo from the after hatch. They were at the work till 4 next morning. Previous to leaving tho ship witness took a lino from tho Benvenue tp tho Duke of Sutherland to give her a cant so as to clear the Norwegian barquo lying near. After that we took off all hands left on board and left the vessel. Witness went a second time down the lazaretto. Tho carpenter had cut the skin. The water could be seen coming in, but the hole could not be distinguished. When witness left tho vessel she was bumping heavily. She was lying then pretty well on the ground. The carpenter unshackled the cable, but did not slip it until tile line bad been got from tlie Benvenue. The cable had been slipped before Captain Mills left the ship. William McGowan, captain of tho Benvenue, said he had been 23 years at sea, 12 years as master of foreign going ships. He had been in open roadsteads in Madras, Algoa Bay, Trinidad and Demarara. The anchorage was no better than here. Witnes’s ship lies a quarter of a mile further N.N.E. than tho position then occupied by the Duke Sutherland —in five fathoms of water. The Benvenue’s draught is when loaded, 19ft Gin. Witness did consider her in a safe position, but he did not now and meant to move her further out before loading. Witness saw a blue light about 8 on the evening of May 2nd, from the barque—ho had just told his chief officer to give the ship more chain as the sea was getting up. Witness heard calls from the Duke of Sutherland. Then witness, seeing another blue light, hailed the barquo and was answered, “We’re striking.” Witness then asked if they were making any water, and the Captain replied “No.” Witness then asked “ Shall I send a boat ?” A quarter of an hour after witness heard the Captain call that they were then making water. Witness then sent off a boat. The sea was very heavy ; witness went on board himself in tho boat. The witness had to stop half an hour watching the sea for an opportunity to get on board, the sea being so very heavy. Tho Captain said they had been pumping but bad left off to lower the boat. When witness went on hoard most of tho crew wore in tho boat. Tho Captain and officers remained on board, and the rest of the crow got into witnesses’ boat. Witness consulted tho Captain, but the carpenter having gone away, no rod was found. Witness thought that tho crew were afraid to come alongside in their boat and so sent them ashore. Witness then managed to find the rod and sounded the pump and found 5 feet of water in her, perhaps more. As nothing could be done, and the barque seemed to bo in imminent danger, witness thought it best for them to go ashf'e. Before this, witness found 7 or 8 feet of wat ;r, and the barquo was bumping so heavily as to shake the masts. It was about 10 p,tn. when they loft. Captain Rowland went away with (he pilot, and Mr Tennant borrowed the boat to send the volunteers off. As tho volunteers appeared to bo disorganised witness took charge himself and found the harbormaster and Captain Rowlands on board arranging about the pumping and discharge of cargo. Witness remained on board till nearly five next morning. The cargo being thrown out the barque appeared relieved, but witness traced that rather to the rising of the tide. The harbormaster and Captain Rowlands were doing all they could. The landing service carpenter did everything he could to get at the leak. The stern post appeared to be altogether started, and the witness was several times down the lazarette where the carpenter was looking after the leak. They found it impossible to stop.the leak, as the water .was running down from the wood ends. The pumps were going all the time, and cargo being got out. About two o’clock a lighter came alongside and the officers, steward, and a seaman came and tried to save some of their effects from tho ship. Most of the crew were ashore and could not be found_; they were engaged in describing the catastrophe to the people ashore. Witness was sure everything was done to save the barque. No effort could have saved her from sinking. Witness knew nothing of the insurance. Tho barque was worth, perhaps, £SOOO. John Thomas,- Landing Service carpenter, said ho had served seven years’ apprenticeship to that calling, and had had eight years’ experience as a ship carpenter besides. Witness went off to tbo Duke of Sutherland about one in the morning of May 3, for the purpose of helping to save the ship. When witness went on board ho asked for the ship’s carpenter, but he was not on board. Then witness asked for tho mate, and enquired for a sounding rod. - There was 13ft Gin of of water in her. Witness took the mate aftandlookedforthelcakinthe lazaretto, being at tho time nearly up to his neck in water. Witness advised the cargo to be thrown overboard, he found the wooden ends started from top to bottom by bumping. It was impossible to stop the leak. [Loft sitting.]