THE WRECK OF THE ALEXA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 207, 6 September 1901, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE ALEXA

PKR PRESS ASSOCIATION. ■Sydnev, S p emb t 4. At the Mirine Court, of Inquiry into the wreck i f the Alexa, Captrn Wot bling depose i that the vessel struck e-.ry in th m morning befoie daylight,but tin mvm \v;s shining brightly. Tbe mate van in charge at the time, he bavins gone below a minu f e or two after giving an or ier thut a Bharp lookout should be krpf, When the mate oalled hirn he saw breakers under thai 'now. He tried to round the vessel bu*". 'liT'- w■» a nasiy sea and the vessel! stuck h avily. Ac:ording to tbe ,eh it tti-re \va3 a current running a knot an but witness d t'-at it was four knots. Tin lookou "• man deposed that he Faw broken water a mil- nlv ad, and h • gave w rn-i'-f.', Two 'oth r witness s gnve evirl | enee that they heard no warning. The i Court found th-t, assuming the Captain's account wr.s corr< c , he exercised doe o-i.re an t mhs in no way to blame, but wa« deceived by the cm rent. However, in th absence of the mate and lur her GV'dence as to the strength of th" cur ent in would exp-ess no opinion with regard to tbe navigation of tbe vessel. It was very qufstionab'e, according to his own account, whether *he lookout man was propet ly doing his duty before tbe vessal struck.