THE KIA ORA WRECK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 4 July 1907, Page 2

THE KIA ORA WRECK.

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. UIAIiCKS 01'' DRUNKENNESS AND CALLOUSNESS. ClllKF OFFICER AIUtAICiNED. ALLWiKD DISGRACEFUL BEHAVIOUR OF CREW. Pet Press Association. j Auckland, July & ( The Kia Ora inquiry was resumed at ( 10 o'clock this morning. , Sir Hays, solicitor for the Crown, asked fur an adjournment of two hours to await the arrival of the witnessMor ris, who was at the wheel from 10pan. to midnight on the liiyht of the disiis- ! tor. Mr Alavs said later development made it more essential iliau ever t/iat this mail's evidence should be taken us soon as possible. Mr Mays added : "The state of things is almost indescribable—something fearful; and 1 am anxious to take the evidence of Morris the iirst minute he arrives." Mr Mays said, further, that he wanted time to serve amended notice of investigation on behalf of the chief ollicer of the Kia Ora and on tne Northern Steamship Company. Oil resuming Joseph Morris was closely questioned as to whether lie had had a conversation with anyone concerning the wreck, lie said he lnid not until lie spoke to Mr Knecii in Court. This was followed by questions by Mr Mays, solicitor, and Mr Kettle, S-M., as lo Morris's sobriety. Morris replied that he had not drank anything for a month. Though warned of the punishment for perjury, Morris persisted in the statement that he had not spolwu to Kneen before he Ciime into court. Morris was closely questioned whether he had said that the cliief oflioor left, the bridge at any time while he was on watch. Morris replied that the chief olliier left the bridge for a second or two. Forbes and Partridge came on the bridge, naid the chief oflieer escorted thein to the lower deck. Morris denied having told two passengers—Taverny and Mcintosh—that he was in De Wolfe's watch from 10 to 12, and that De Wolfe was off the bridge nearly two hours while witness was at the wheel. Morris was asked if De Wolfe had had any drink on the day of the wreck. He replied: ''lie may have liad two or

three glasses, but was not the worse lor liquor. He was not half drunk.' Later Morris said De Wolfe's conversation did not show that he had been having any drink, and still later be said he had noticed no signs of intoxication on De Wolfe. Morris said he could not account for the K.ia Ora getting into the position that caused tlv; wreck. Later. After the evidence of Morris, the man at the wheel at the Kta Ora inquiry, Mr Earle suggested that Mr Petersen, the 'chief steward, be called. . Mr Mays: He ia going to he confronted with a very serious allegation indeed, and I will give him a chance of hearing them first. Petersen then said he was quite prepared to answer any questions put to him now. tie stated that the Kia Ora had a packet license. The bar was run under the company's rules, the liquor being supplied by the company, and witness receiving" the profit. On the night of the wreck he lwd only opened, the bar once, and, as far as he recollected, only three passengers had drink. He did not serve any of the crew. "X do not remember serving any officers." Mr May: Will you swear there were 110 signs of liquor observable on De Wolfe when lie went round for the tickets. Witness: Well, you got me down to the police station before the Inspector, aiul told nie if I repeated the evidence T had given I will he charged with perjury. ilr Earl: Wliat'i That is a most improper thing. Witnesses arc being intimidated, and told they will be prosecuted for perjury. Mr Mays: You are taking the witness' words as truth, lie explained there had been 110 intimidation. At 11.30 p.lll. <lll Saturday there suddenly came word from witness that De Wolfe was muddled with drink. As Petersen was the only man who had been asked about the sobriety of crew, he therefore, as a favor to him, let him know the nature of the evidence he proposed to call, and impressed upon him that he was liable to be charged with perjury if he adhered to his former statements. He was not in any" way frightened or intimidated. Mr. Kettle: Ilns the interview caused you in any way to amend your statements? • ■:' i Witness: Only that T would not swear positively (hat I did not serve any officers Hurt night. One of the men I served might have been nn officer. Mr Mays stated the evidence of the. passengers whom he would call seemed to prove beyond a doubt that the chief officer was intoxicated, and was off the bridge any time from 9.30 fill midnight. All the. witnesses, Mr. Mays continued, said De Wolfe was drunk when he came for the tickets, and was unfit to be in charge of the ship. Some of the witnesses declared that in the boat De Wolfe said, "I don't know where I am, niul I don't know what to do." He and Uaggstroni got lost in the bush next day, and when found by three passengers did not recognise tliem, barefooted and battered as they were, as passengers, hut told them the startling news that the Kia Ora was wrecked. The story of what took place on the beach was a terrible indictment. The passengers got

little of the food froyi Alarakopa. One of the crew snatched a blanket fvom a hall'-clad woman, and they made a shelter for themselves with it, leaving her out iu the cold. The amended notice of investiture served upon the first officer, Mr. T. 15. De Wolfe, stated that the. following question was to be submitted to the Court: "Whether the loss of the said ship and the consequent loss of life was not due directly or indirectly to gross acts of misconduct, drunkenness or default upon your part?" Thomas Cavagah, of Afarnkopa, who was a passenger, said he saw De Wolfe staggering. He saw Be Wolfe and Baggstrom in the saloon, the former with two bottles in his hand, and the latter with one. They were whisky bottles am) Jinply. They had them filled, and started drinking. Alter the wreck witness found himself in the water oil a bag of chilli] He ?ot hold of the boat in which others ivere, and heard voices say, "You can't jet into the boat." The voice appeared ;o be the chief mate's. There were then wo dogs in the boat, and tliey were kept u it and lauded. Continuing his evidence, Cavanagh said le. was "disgusted with the whole irowd." There was 110 fog at eleven I'clock, and none when the vessel struck, ilis cross-examination was postponed t counsel's request. ill' .Liaggstroni (engineer): May I ask i-liut religion this gentleman belongs to ? The magistrate: Yes. liaggstroni (to Cavanagah): What reigion are you? Witness: Roman Catholic. Baggstrom: .liow call you, on your nth, ilien, syear to such ungodly lies? The magistrate said such a style of uxluiuation could not be allowed. In further reply to Baggstrom, he said i' adhered to his statement.

To Petersen: Cavanagh said ho gave him a bottle of whisky at Waitivra. To the Bench: AVitnoss said lie was sober when he. went ahoaid, and remained so the whole lime. Another passenger, AVilliain Md'ailanc Alelntosli said Do Wolfe was iu a muddled state, and was not ill a lit state to take charge of the ship. The weather was not foggy when the vessel struck. Witness was afterwards taken into the boat. He saw Cavanagh swimming alongside, and Do Wolfe told him not to get iu. There were then two dogs in I he boat, and several protests were made about keeping them in the boat. Do Wolfe made no reply, but Cavanagh was taken into the boat inter. Do Wolfe said on several occasions that he didn't know where he was. and could not find the compass for a ipiarler of an hour. llr Mays: Did Petersen speak to Do Wolfe? AMtnosss: No: but f heard him say: 'I said to myself as soon as she struck that's Do Wolfe.'" Did Ihe crew offer the women and diildii'ii shelter alter landing? AV'ilnoss: No; they were, not asked for t. One lady was iu the shelter, and ny wife and Mrs Cavanagh wore out iu ho open all night. Have you any fault to find with the revisions ? Witnesß: Yes. Wc had a terrible hard inio. The lioat was uoi properly promat m, > ■a.mmxam '