THE KIA ORA WRECK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 11 July 1907, Page 2

THE KIA ORA WRECK.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Per Press Association.

Auckland, July 10. At the Kia Ora inquiry Captain Altwood, assistant superintendent of Mercantile Marine and Surveyor of Ships, said he surveyed the Kia Ora on April 18, and had satisfied himself that the requirements of the law had been complied with.

William Hayues, second steward, denied that the women and children were left out in the open on the beach. He had heard nothing of a blanket being removed from a lady passenger. He saw no drunkenness aboard' the Kia Ora and no bottle of liquor taken to the ollicers' cabins. CAVANAUH FURTHER CROSSEXAMINED.

Cavanagh was further cross-examined by Mr Earl. Then Mr Mays asked him about the cheque incident. Did you bear any malice against Do Wolfe i Witness: No. In fact, he had done me a good turn by allowing me to travel down. He (witness) did not complain to the police about De Wolfe when he notified them that he had received .€8 short change. Mr Earl talks about you having fourteen porter-gall's. Can you give us a more accurate estimate?

Witness: I may not have had one. I was perfectly sober on the boat. Continuing, witness said ho took his wife under shelter at a quarter past one on account of a particularly heavy shower of rain. He had had no quarrel with Baggstrom, whom he had found a thorough gentleman. He had no grievance against the Northern Company. He saw nobody in the saloon when the bottles were filled with whisky. He observed no signs of illness in De Wolfe. Mr Mays: In what condition were you after the wreck? Witness: Well, I had two nasty falls ill the boat. I was drawn under with the suction, and swam for an hour with a bag of chaff. Then I was three-qua;-ters of an hour hanging on to the boat and chaff. I was sick and could not mo re my arms from my side. CONTRADICTING MORRIS' STATEMENT. Mr Mays intimated that he intended to call a witness to state that Morris had given him a different account of the wreck to that he had given ia the w'it-noss-box'.

Mr Earl entered a strong protest against any witness being called by tho Crown to contradict Morris. Though he was their own witness, they were, disj satisfied with his statement.

Bruce Morrison, bookseller's assistant, Auckland, said he knew Joseph Morris, having been introduced to him a few nights after the wreck. He met Mm in Queen street, near Wyndham street, and a conversation ensued between Morris land James. Morris said they had had | an awful time; that somebody was jdrunk, and somebody was off the bridge. Mr Kettle: Have, you no idea of what the name was ?

Witness: I cannot swear it. Mr McGregor: What were his exai words ?

Witness: T have told you as near as I can. He said that the mate—no, I could not swear'it was the mate. Mr McGregor: Did you ask how long the officer was off the bridge? Witness: He said about two hours. DE WOLFE RE-EXAMINED.

De Wolfe was again put in the box. He said he only had one shandy in the day, and a rum ashore at night. Cavanagh's statement was untrue and utterly false. He had not that night, nor at any other time, gone into the saloon to get bottles filled with liquor. There was nothing to justify the description of the Kin Ora as a drunken ship. Under cross-examination by Mr Mays, he said teetotallers were no better than I others who took drink. He had no row with Cnranngh and couldn't understand his motive in saying witness was drunk. He only knew .of one dog beiu" in the boat. The women were screaming out for him to Save it, and lie did so. If anyone else had come along the dog would have gone overboard.

-If' Jl,,ys: If your absence from the .bridge, or your alleged drunkenness did not account for the wreck, what did?

De Wolfe: I cannot say any more than I did at the opening of the enquiry. Mr Mays: No theory? De Wolfe: No theory, unless something went wrong with the compass. He admitted he made an error on the beach in not staying. The first tiling that entered his head was to get assistance. "I did every mortal thing that mortal man could do," he said.

HE WOLFE AND THE DOGS. As De Wolfe was leaving the box after cross-examination this afternoon he said, "There is one tiling I would like to say, and that is about the dogs.' I feel proud 1 saved them, for I think their lives mo more honorable and more truthful, and might be more useful iu future than some of (he lives 1 did save."

The enquiry adjourned till Friday afternoon.

SECOND OFFICER'S STORY

Auckland, July 7. The second officer, Mr Robertson,, examined by Mr Clayton, said he did not see Mr de Wolfe ashore at Waitara at all. Witness never went into hoteds, as he was an abstainer. At nine o'clockhe went on board, and went to De Wolfe's room to see if he was there, and he was lying asleep in liis bunk. Witness called him and said, "It's nine o'clock, shall I give the first whistle?" and De Wolfe replied, "Yes," and then got up. What was his condition then?—l saw nothing wrong with it. It was normal as far as I saw. I supposed I would have noticed had it been otherwise. Was his_,voice clear?—lt was: Mr Kettle: Can you swear that as far as you can judge he was perfectly sober?— Yes, sir, I can swear. The witness also said he didn't see I)c AVolfe again prior to leaving Waitara. When witness' watch came at midnMit he went up on the bridge, and De Wolfe and Morris, the steersman, were there. I)e Wo]fo gave witness the course, the time to call the captain, and then left. A\ ilness could swear that he then showled no sign of liquor. The captain had just left witness when the boat struck. The weather was very thick. slr Kettle: AVas tlie comfort of the women and children sacrificed ii| any way for that of the men?— No. I saw nothing I could object to. The witness, evidently suffering uirjfer great stress of excitement, then turned to (lie Bench, and in an indignant tone of voice, said, "Do you think that men, do you think that. Lister or myself, would have sat there in that shelter and seen that sort of thing going on that Cavanagh says? I was in charge of those men, and do you imagine that I would have allowed anything of tlie kind?"

Mr Mays: You were in a different place.

Mr Kettle: ITe says, "Do you think I am a man to allow that sort of thing?" T do not think that either the witness" or Lister would be the sort of men to allow any ill-treatment of women and children.

Mr Mays: As far as Mr Robertson is concerned, there is no blame whatever, lie gave up his oilskin coat to the women and children and sat out in the rain all

s night himself. Witness: T think Mr Lister suffered more than anyone else. He saerlllccd i himself for the comfort of others, and - worked hard for them. To .Mi- AlcCrciror: When I went up on 1 the bridge, Do Wolfe was looking ahead, • and apparently alert on his duty. Mr Keltic: Have you ever'seen ])o Wolfe under the influence of'.HuuQr?— , No, never. 1 knew that he took drink, hut never heard that he took it to ex- ■ cess. Did you ever see him in a condition that you thought if would not be safe to 'cave the fillip to him?—No, never. Would you any (lie ch'in«e of cr,iiv-"e could not have occurred in the first watch?— Certainly it could; it could have occurred in the first watch or the second either. As fnr ns vou are concerned, did it 0"cur in the second?— No. .Arc vmi positive about that?— Yes, J am positive. Mr M'-ivs: \V'is til" find siv miles off

when you saw il ?-- , rhen 1 1 bought il 'wns. but now T know «•? ivi-t hive ben 'closer, stmrliir north nu>v|.i- .■■i=|. I Mr Kettle: To what do you now asI siirii the wreck?—ll, must hive been j through the displacement of the comipnss or the set of the current. Was De Wolfe, in your opinion, a fit i mid proper person to be placed in charge I of ii ship'-Yes. ' "■ I Mr Ketl'e: Of course there are first mates ami first mates, d Witnessj. And I believe that better

have the devil you know than the devil you don't know. All things being equal, you would j have no hesitation in nutting De Wolfe in a position of trust?—No hesitation at all.

To Mr Mays: Witness could swear De Wolfe had never occasioned him anxiety about the safety of the ship. AN EMPHATIC DECLARATION. 'ifle chief engineer, Mr llaggstrom, called by Mr Earl, said the Kia Ora j was taken down Waitara river at halfspeed. After crosßiujftho bar the usual signal was ".Full speed ahead; aU clear," and that night it was received at 9-1)0. The vessel went ahead at from seven and a half to eight knots per hour. He had discussed ttie question of Ihc bottle of whisky in saloon very forcibly since it was brought up in court. If it -hid been true he would have been pkuued to acknowledge it, but it was not. He went down into the saloon, made himself a sandwich in the pantry, and then, utter entering up the log, went to bed, the captain looking in to bid him goodnight at 10.20 p.m., when he went to sleep. Mr.Earle: Did you go down to the saloon at any time after 10 o'clock, except with reference to the incident you have already told us?— No. Vott did not go there to get whisky? —No.

You have heard the story that you and the chief officer went into the saloon, and that the chief steward filled/ one bottle of whisky for you and two ' for de Wolfe, and that you went away together. What do you say to that? Way it as forcibly as you like. Witness: t would like to say something. Mr Kettle: Say it then. "UNHOLY AND FIENDISH* Witness: The lie is so absurd, so disgraceful, so unholy, so liendish, that I cannot express my feelings unless 1 could have a ring made which would bo more to my liking j although I am a Swede, I learned that art in England. When a Roman Catholic would staid hero and swear on this Book of Holy God such awful lies I cannot expresß my feelings. 1 have never had one drink in Cavanagh's company in my life.

A INCIDENT. I defended him against accusations in Waitara. At Kawhia lie came on board and offered Mr do Wolfe a cheque for £SB 12s for his passage, and Mr de Wolfo said: "1 caiJnot change this, and I will hold it until you redeem it in Waitara." In Waitara Mr Cavanagh came aboard again and said lie had been given £8 short on his cheque by a man in Waitara. I told hiui to go back at once to the police, and tried to help him in the matter. I thought he had been ill-treated, but since lhave heard him swearing on this Holy Book that he saw me and de Wolfe getting bottles filled I now believe that the man in Waitara didn't cheat him at all. Mr Earl; Won't get excited; you have denied it. ' Witness: On my oath. Mr Karl: And 1 think convincingly. —Abridged iioin "Herald." CREW'S DENIAL OF ALLEGATIONS.

A FIREMAN'S STATEMENT. ' William Dunning, a fireman on the Kia Ora, Baid when he first saw Mr De Wolfe he was quite sobei**and quite capable of taking charge, Mr Do Wolfe had a swaying walk. After the vessel struck :. witness went on deck and assisted in e getting the boat out. Witness did not - take any particular notice of De Wolfe, y who seemed to T)e in an ordinary state. t Witness sank with the ship, and after o swimming about was picked up by a s boat, lie was picked up before Cave anagh. When he got up lo the boat he had to wait until the boat was trimi, med and made safe. He was hanging a on to the boat for about half an hour. v The magistrate asked Mr Mays whed ther he was making any charge against :. Do Wolfe for not taking Cavanagh into

e }£he boat before a member of the crew. t Mr Mays: While he liad dogs in ths f boat, yes. S CREW DID ATX THEY COULD

Wllnuoe, w ,c,-l,r C„ forther QlieStiOlll, j put by Mr Earl, Said he heard no one complain about the dogs being kept in the boat. When Cavanagh came up to the boat the chief mate told him that he would have to wait until the boat was trimmed hefovc he could get in. From the time witness got into the boat to the time be got to land he did not " ri notice any sign of incapacity on De -■ Wolfe's part. Mr De Wolfe "stood up the whole night holding flare lights over his head all the time. He appeared to have all his wits about him and to recognise his responsibility as officer in r charge of the boat. The object in gelting the raft ashore first was so that the ' men eon Id then assist the women | ashore. Witness carried Mrs Cavanagh v ashore, and her husband afterwards : thanked him for it. The crew lit a fire, all those who were able assisting. Cavanagh. however, did not help. The crew did everything they could to attend to the comfort of the passengers, more particularly in regard to the women and children. There was no truth whatever In the allegation that the crew collared the shelter themselves and left the women and children out iu the cold all night. About eight o'clock Cavanagh ' brought his wife over to where witness was, and she sat down on a log beside 1 him, and remained there with her head on his arm until three o'clock in the morning. His reason for not having offered to give his place to Cavanagh was because he had only a shirt and trousers on, and Cavanagh was fully dressed. Cavanagh came over several times during the. night and asked how his wife was. Mr Cavanagh upon each occasion replied that she was.all right. Mr Karl: Now a statement hSs been made that Some time after the settlers arrived on? of a group of four pulled a blanket on" Mrs Cavanagh. What have you to say to that?— Witness: I never heard anything about it. Mr Mays: No, Til state it again in open Court, so (hat everyone may hear. We don't impugn your conduct, Dunning, in the least. The passengers and everyone a 1! agreed that if any man did his duiv. you did. Mr Keuiv: Looking Irick at (he whole thing, was there nnv conduct on the part of tb.. crew y tii.-h you could take exce'ition to? Witness:* No, (I "re was not. I never hcaid any complaints AXOTHIH! I'TRI'MAX. Walter Hodgson, another fireman, testified to De Wolfe's sobriolv. At 11 o'clock wiinrw saw do Wo'fe'pacing the bridge. There was nothing peculiar in lie Wolfe's walk beyond that of an ordinary seaman. Witness did not notice anything in I),. Wolfe's conduct that night which would have led one to be-

I Hove tint hj- was mil sober or capable of carrying out hi* duties. The assertion that (he crew tool; t| ie sheitor anil lclt the women mill children mil in the cold was n'!<sii|iiluly false. i le ] ieai . a

ot no ,r.i!ii].li.u:ils until |,o saw thepi in the papers. Up know of {he incident in which a blanket was pulled from II rs ('-.vmnigh while ]„.,. husband [was drying her clothes at. (iu- lii-e. All except Cavanagh helne.f in nmki'n,, the fire. During Hie live vc:ir,s ])<• Wolfe hail heel) oil Ihe K'in Ora witness 1,,,,) never seen him in (he slightest dc'i'ec under Hi- influence nf liciuor. Witney lind never at any time h-.ul a drink on the ship.

CAI'TAIX XOIillUnV 1\ TIIR BOX. (1 ('apluin \orbury, of the Enrawsi, gave il evidence of the attempted rescue, d .Mr Clayton: You say that it was very plucky of the doctor to have gone ashore n at (ill then? I, Witness: Yes, only one man in fifty would have gone, and I should he justic lied in refusing to allow any of them to - go nt all.

Witness, continuing, stated that the boat got hack after a very hard struggle, and reported to him that the passengers were being wel' all ended to on shore, being properly housed and having plentv to eat and drink. This being the case ho did not deem it necessary to send the boat ashore again. If lie had the

'boat would have been upset and all ■ 1 " "1- "" til- Wt. If it lnd got ~,lioro v'nld 1,.,,-e h«d to vmii" (h"re. >li- vi-i"i'!- I"> ! n« =n roiiorl.i. "' f °' v ""' v ' n "w tW were in ~ v ,i t,,„,i,* i"ih IK , , f thorp i,.-l i,„- n miy ii-".l t „.„„!,, ]m , o fl]]6(] ".„ '—.,< „,i q,,,] Sfin (; ], er aSnoro>

, ,f " TW '- Now, after all vn'u have ,';.'"' -'•''";'"': "in you say that noMi o" ::■-?, left undone so far ns you can wit'-e-s: Nothing S o far as know.' MvJMt-e (to Mr Mavsh What eomnlaints have von to make against the 'Riirawi. Sir Mays? I Mr Mays: I n m not making any ' jeharires against Oantain tforburv. T ' i should he the Inst in the world to do J1 Iso. • , ( Mr Kettle said, the Qourli »Disjflt«oi ,t

Mr Mays had some complaint to make against the Rarawn. Mr Mays said if there was any man on the coast who could do the right thing - ' it was Captain Norbury. The witnesses came forward and made statements, and he saw no good in stopping, believing that it was better for them to be thrashed out in open Court. Cavanagh and Mcintosh, recalled, in reply to Mr Kettle, said they had no ■? complaint whatever to make against the Rarawa about the relief which was sent.