The s.s. Triumph Disaster.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4669, 21 December 1883, Page 2

The s.s. Triumph Disaster.

Nautical Enquiry.

(Peb Pbbss Association.)

Auckland, This day,

The enquiry into the above wreck com" menced to-day before the E.M., and Capts. Frater and James, assessors. The Crown prosecutor opened by quoting authorities in support of the Court's right to withhold or cancel the certificates of the officers of a ship. He had received instructions to make the enquiry as searching as possible, in order that some light might be thrown on what appeared a most extraordinary and inexplicable occurrence. ;

Mr Hesketh, who appeared .for Capt.'' Brotherton, said his client did not seek to excuse himself on any nautical ground whatever; he would take all the blame on himself; he would not question the fineness of the night, nor the fact that he had received the right course from the pilot. G'apt. Brotherton would explain simply that owing to exhaustion from illness, work, and worry, he dozed off while standing on the bridge of his vessel, and was recalled to consciousness when it was soo late to save the ship. If that explanation would shorten the enquiry, he would be glad to have offered it.

Commenting on this the Crown Prosecutor^ said if the Capt. had dozed off he had witnesses to say that a few moments before the vessel struck they saw him moving about the bridge, and that they called to him. He also.,would like to know how the Capt. could account for the fact of the officers engaged on deck not seeing the light or being aware of the danger.. He would also call testimony to show that there had been a great deal of jollification before the ship left, in which the officers and saloou passengers took a part and that some of the crew were taken on before the Triumph left in a state; of helpless intoxication. " '_ The pilot deposed to taking the- Capt. out of the harbor, and giving himytwo alternative courses; one being a direct course, and the other to go by the east end of Tiru Three friends of the Captain's left the ship in the pilot boat, one. being the Captain's cousin. One was rather,the worse for liquor. He thought Capt. Brotherton was sober enough to take charge of his ship. He might for all he knew hare had a glass or two of grog. He did see him take a little brandy, but knew nothing beyond that.

The Crown Solicitor here commented on the hesitating,way in which pilot Burgess gave his'evidence. . The pilot further stated that the night, though dark, was clear, and there was no danger in the way of the safe uavigation of the ship. The lighthouse keeper deposed to seeing the ship run on the rock. The light was burning brightly ; and he could see three miles away. L