THE WRECK OF THE PELHAM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1544, 19 August 1886, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE PELHAM.

Ths Pelham enquiry was resumed at Invercargill on Monday. Captain Tyson, harbormaster, deposed that about 6.21), a.in, on August 9th he was at the pilot station watching for the Pelham’s lights. A few minutes, after he observed the ateamer’a.three lights. It was quite dark, but it appeared from the lights that the steamer was steering straight for the point. He sawthrough the glasses that it was the Pelham, and ordered out a boat. He went to the steamer as fast as possible by first pulling into the stream and then setting sail to make for the vessel. As soon as they opened the point be saw that the vessel was too far in and waved her out with a flag Bft by 6ft, but those on board did not seem to take any notice. He did not believe they could see it because of the darkness. A few minutes after the vessel struck. A bout this time the whistle oouftmenoed to blow. From the time the pilot left-the ways until he got alongside the Pelham was between 15 and 20 minutes. .She struck 20 minutes after he first saw the lights, at which time he judged her to be a mile from the point when he first went on board. The iDaptain asked “Why didn’t you come ol, t to me before I got my ship ashore 1” Witness replied that he came out_ as , quick as it was possible to do after making -Jput the lights. He added that there was , a heavy sea on the beach and the boat was "half filled going off the ways. He asked • the captain why he came poking there in the dark, and the captain replied that he %)6ugbt he was fuither off the land, and that the darkness of the morning had deceived him, Watch was kept at t he Station all night and there wag no reason wfif the watchman should not have seen the steamer’a lights when off Dog Island .between 2 and f a.m. unless she was more

thail two miles off,'or lying with her 4 ern |o Starling Point. A steamer was signalled from the hill at 6 a.m., but they did not know what vessel it was, AS the M an ?- pour! was expected he only had two men in the boat, but did not think he would ‘have reached the Pelham sooner with a / full crew, A prudent master should hare, ,f till daylight. '*■ Other evidence of a somewhat contradictory nature was taken, and the Court reserved its decision till Tuesday iporping. The Court found that the loss of the P.elhajn was paused by the default “of Captain Greager, suspended his certifi cate for three months, and ordered him to "pay the costs cf the enquiry, £25. The steamer has now entirely broken up. Th® wrec£ gear aqd fjttirigs were "sold separately on Monday, The former was bought by Mr Bradshaw for £2O. Tire Ifliter realised in all £147.