THE STRANDING OF THE CHIMBORAZO.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2876, 4 May 1878, Page 3

THE STRANDING OF THE CHIMBORAZO.

The official decision of the Marine Board was that the stranding of the Chimborazo was caused by the wrongful act or default-of Captain Vine Hall in navigating the ship too close in shore. The third officer is also declared in default, and both are called upon to show cause next Thursday, when the full inquiry takes place. la his evidence yesterday Captain Vine Hall stated that the weather at the time of the accident was hazy, with a light breeze from the north, the sea smooth, but the weather was thick. The bulkhead saved the vessel, which at the time she struck was going 12 knots. About 10 on the morning of the accident the third officer, who was in charge, sent word to him the course the ship was steering would bring her close to the land. He ordered the course to be altered half a point, and shortly afterwards the officer sent word to say she was close to land, and he had hauled out. A short time afterwards in going to port side to see how the vessel was going along the coast, he noticed at once that the weather was thick, and saw a dark-looking mass forward. He hurried to the bridge, and as he reached the top of the lad^gji,. saw land, with the sea breaiingi«lpnst the cliffs, and right across theDOw of the vessel. At the same time the hand on the forecastle called out " Breakers ahead." The vessel's helm wa|, put hard-a-porfc, the engines were reversed full speed, and almost immediately the vessel struck. He considered that the third mate knowing the ship s was near the land, should have apprised him that the weather was foggy, and stationed another look-out on the forecastle. The third officer deposed that shortly before the vessel struck he sent to the captain to report the position of the ship, and got no answer. The fog came on two or three minutes before he saw the breakers. He could not haul the vessel out without the orders of the captain.—Australasian/