SENSATIONAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3034, 3 November 1908, Page 5

SENSATIONAL.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph

Copyright,

WRECK OF THE FIFESHIRE COURT OF ENQUIRY. ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE CAPTAIN. Received November 2, 10.35 p.m. SYDNEY, November 2. The inquiry was commenced into [ the wreck of the barque Fifeshire at the Gilbert Isands. Captain Nichol, master of the Fifeshire, in the course of his evidence, stated that land was first sighted seventeen miles away. Two hours after breaker* were reported six miles off. 1-Je kept away, but shortly after the barque struck. The vessel came off, but struck again, and remained fast, bumping heavily. He, manipulated the sails to try and get the barque off the rocks, but found it impossible to do so. In reply to questions, Captain Nichol stated thai; the log-book and chart were put in the boat wherein they escaped, and that was the last he saw of them. He had had charge of three ships in seven years. The first one was burned and the second was lost off Cape Horn. They all belonged to the same Company as the Fifeshire.

Richard Evans, who signed on as Bo'sun, and acted as second mate Jof the Fifeshire, deposed that he had had a conversation with Captain Nichol before he sailed from Newcastle. Captain Nichol said that he would make the trip to Portland in sixty-five or seventy days unless he could get a nice soft reef to put her on. Witness said, "That is no good to me." Captain Nichol replied, "That's all right. I'll fix you up." Ajfter the ship grounded ,Nichol asked, "Is . she fast," and when witness replisd, Nichol said "Goodi That's all right. Get the boats out." . Evans added that no attempt was made to get the ship off. Nichol struck him when returning tr. Sydney, and witnesg then infonped bin that he would tell the truth regarding the wreck of the vessel. Captain Nichol and the first mate of the Fifeshire generally denied Evans' allegations.