TYRONE WRECK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 33, 9 October 1913, Page 5

TYRONE WRECK.

THE INQUIRY.

CHARGES AGAINST OFFICERS. [Per Press Association. | Duncdin, October S. Tlio nautical inquiry into the wreck of the Tyrone was continued to-day. Gladwin Parry, second officer, said that it was his watch when the vessel left Akaroa. It was a fine, clear night, and those conditions were maintained until nearly 4 o'clock, when it became a bit hazy. At 1.20 he sighted the Moeraki lighthouse and got a hearing, and then again at 1.55. About 2 o'clock he lost the light. The captain came on deck and witness worked out the position at 17J miles (about) from land. He did not chart his distance either from Akaroa light . or Taiaroa heads. The ship remained at full speed till 3.50 when an order- for half-speed was given, and five minutes later "dead slow." They did not get any light from the land side. There seemed to be a dark, heavy patch ahead, btit it was clear around the ship. The lookout man reported breakers ahead after being relieved at 4 o'clock, but not from the crow's nest. He had just said to witness that he thought he heard breakers. The order full speed astern was at once given. It would not be right to describe the fog as dense. There was a dense fog all over the land, but the ship did.not get into it. Evidence was also given by Walter Gardiner (chief officer), Charles William Worth (third officer) and Charles Herbert Tinker (fourth officer), all of whom corroborated the previous evidence that the fog round the ship was not dense.

George Wright, chief engineer, gave evidence as to the speed. He received an order for half speed at 3.50 j dead slow at 3.55, and full speed astern at 4.7. He went to the bridge on account of having received no verbal orders, it being customary for the captain either on arrival in port or at an anchorage to send an order down, io that steam could be reduced before the ship was stopped altogether. He kept the engines going till he received the order "finished with the engines."

The steersman gave evidence bearing out the .the captain and officers. ~. .

Duncan, master mariner and pilot at the heads, said that he had been out very.;often a mile, to,,a mile and a half when the fog signal working, and had not heard it. Witness thought that the chart was 'inaccurate with regard to the vicinity. ,ofs the, wreck. Duncan McDougall, ~,/djiief , pilot at the heads, said that if tlio ; qhart was correct, the Tyrone would not be a quarter of a mile at sea. Fog signals wore certainly an aid to navigation, but ho would have used the load. Other boats had got round into a sea position. John Ding, assistan t\ marine, superintendent with the Union Company, said that observations. made by him would place Wahine Point about'half a mile outside the Tyrone^

The following charges were made in respect to Captain MeLaughlan:—(l) Whether" or not the casualty was directly or indirectly caused 'by the careless navigation of the master—, (a) in not charting the proper distance on the chart from Akaroa light to Taiaroa heads light'j.(b) in not taking soundings to verify the vessel's speed when the vessel was within the radius of Taiaroa heads light and Moeraki light was shut oat; (c) in not taking soundings and veering' the vessel's head to sea when he heard tjie first fog signals. The. following charge was made in respect of the second officer: Thai being in charge of the ship from midnight till 2 a.m., and on* duty from 2 a.m. till 4 a.m., was it not his duty to find out by charting the position of the vesel when taking over the watch to find out the distance he bad to run to Taiaroa heads, as he knew he was running on a straight course for Taiaroa heads. The inquiry then adjourned.