WRECK OF THE CLAN RANALD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3108, 5 February 1909, Page 5

WRECK OF THE CLAN RANALD.

THE NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

EVIDENCE OF FIRST MATE,

Received February 4; 9.5 a.m ADELAIDE, February 4,

A Marine Board of Enquiry touching the wreck of the Clan Ranald commenced its inv6§tr-' gations, Mr Rose, chief officer, handed in a report to the effect that t--e vessel suddenly listed to about 45 degrees, and became unnavigable. She was allowed to drift inshore to within a mile of land, when the starboard anchor was let go in thirteen fathoms. Eventually No. 5 hatch was started and was washed adriff. The vessel set down on her broadside and sank stern firnt. He says he lias no idea what caused the ship to 1 iat over and eventually founder. Examined by the president, the witness said the ship was on her bottom on the day before leaving port. She had a list of three or tour degrees to starboai'd on leaving. When the pilot left the ship the captain asked witness to l,>ok after the navigation, as he was not well.

Pressed on this point, witness thought the captain had been drinking heavily. There was no indication that the vessel struck anything. He, with the second officer and a lascar, tried to clear the boat in which the captain had been placed, but it fouled the. rigging, and they had to abandon the attempt. Tiie vessel had not collapsible boats or service rafts. The best behaviour obtained among the officers and crtw. The President: What was the captain doing? Witness: We found him lying on the floor of his cabin in a dazed condition. Evidently the sudden list had jerked him out of his bunk. > He was sensible, but seemed frightfully weak. We helped him on to the deck, and put him inside the boat, abreast of his cabin. He was too weak to take command.

Witnes~, said he believed the vessel would have ridden through but for the hatch coming off and letting the water below. All the boats were free when the steamer sank. He.could only acount for the accident by the vessel being top heavy in the sea-way through carrying seventy tons of coal on her turret deck,.

The enquiry was adjourned. A diver has been desptched to examine the hull of the sunken steamer.