A SENSATIONAL STORY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3139, 16 March 1909, Page 5

A SENSATIONAL STORY.

WRECK OF THE FORREST HALL. THE CAPTAIN'S EVIDENCE. By Telegraph -Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 15. The court of inquiry into the wreck of the Forrest Hall, began this morning. John Collins, master of the vessel, stated that at daylight on 27th February, the ship was heading for land, fifteen miles distant, with all sails set. He had instructed the chief officer to keep as close in as possible to make a favourable port tack. He relieved the chief officer at; eight o'clock. About four miles off land the crew were called to stand by to 'bout ship. He kept the vessel on her course till 9.30, when she grazed the bottom about a mile and a half from the shore, and remained fast about three minutes. Before the vessel struck the mate told the man at the wheel to port the helm hard up, but witness countermanded the order and told him to keep straight on. He did not take soundings, as he believed the ship was well outside the line of danger. The intended course was through Cook's Strait or round the south of New Zealand. The ship took a list to starboard. Witness gave the crew permission to leave her. He gave a small quantity of drink ;to the men on the beach, and two bottles of rum brought ashore were .stolen. A keg of rum was left aboard. He heard afterwards it was brought ashore. Mr Mayo, Crown solicitor, said, as a matter of fact, the men went out to the ship to rescue the second officer and a seaman (Passmore), and came back without them, but brought the keg of rum. Captain Collins, continuing, said that before he left the beach complaints were made that the crew were destroying stores, throwing the food j over the rocks, and breaking chests of tea. They must have been mad or drunk. Complaint was made that a man named Ramsay chased one of the crew about the beach brandishing a knife. Witness saw Petersen with his head cut open. Witness was too ill to interfere, but the mate knew and should have acted. He attributed the wreck to an error of "judgment, possibly affected by the state of his health. William Glass, chief officer of the Forrest Hall, deposed that when the vessel struck he advised the captain to turn her round. The captain replied that he was the responsible man on board. Witness added that the ship was going ashore, and he called to the helmsman. "Hard up the helm; keep her away." The captain then ordered witness off the poop. He had seen nothing unusual about the captain's health. There was no justification for anyone saying he ! (witness) was under the influence of ; liquor. He did not see any not on ! Saturday night, but the men were I , jolly whe)n getting stores off. Witness had a few words with the steward, ' and struck him. A [slight struggle \ ensued, in which the cook lifted an ' axe to him.

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