THE SYDNEY NAVAL DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3098, 22 January 1909, Page 5

THE SYDNEY NAVAL DISASTER.

FINDING OF COURT OF INQUIRY. Received January 21, 10.55 p.m. SYDNEY, January 2l< f f he Marine Court inquiry into the naval disaster, whereby fifteen men-o'-warsmen were drowned, found that the collision was caused Dy the wrongful act of Samuel Bryant, who was in charge of the launch with the pinnace in tow, improperly crossing the bows of the Dunmore, and by the wrongful act of Captain Hansen, of the Dunmore, in not keeping a proper lookout. The Court called on Captain Hansen to show cause why his certificate should not be dealt with. His Honour said that by the exercise of ordinary foresight, and by keeping a proper look-out the coxswain in charge of the launch must have seen that by shaping his course as he did that he would put the launch in the position of crossing the vessel having the other on his starboar.l. The Court was of the opinion that this was primarily the causa of the mishap. The fact that he had something in tow in no way prevented him taking a safer course. While this was so, the Court was unable to acquit the master of the Dunmore of blame. If he had acted differently the accident might have been avoided in manoeuvring. He clearly ought to have intimated that he was changing his course to the starDoard. Although there was this omission it did not contribute to the accident, but there was no proper lookout kept. If this had been done the accident might have been avoided.