The Taiaroa Disaster.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2275, 20 April 1886, Page 2

The Taiaroa Disaster.

Enquiry Continued, ■ (United Press Association. )

Wellington, April 19,

The enquiry into the wreck of the Taiaroa was continued to-day. John Mackay (seaman), Samuel Dalrymple (engineer), Captain Gray of the " Stella," Captain Wills of tho "Wakatu," and Captain Bendall, Surveyor for the Underwriter's Association were also examined, and but little additional information was elicited. G. Thompson, late captain of the s.s. Taiaroa, was further examined by the Court, In answer to questions he said that he had intended remaining by the lee of the steamer till the morning, but had given no orders to that effect to theofficers, intending to have done so when he made

fast to the,line. Had the lead been hove at 6 o'clock, the Boundings would have Bhownhini that he was too near the land. The boat, he ps-in; was called the pinnacle, to distinguish it from the gig ;it v was a clinker builfc'boat with four oars. All the boats were properly fitted out, and were examined by the Marine Department 'five months before the wreck. The rowlocks in the boat were fastened by smallchain lanyards, and he believed that one of the passengers ; in the boat, in trying to fit them and get the oars out, snapped the chains. •: '

James West, carpenter of the Taiaroa, said: I. was on deck when the vessel' left the harbor. I battened down the hatches on reaching the heads, and then went_ to dinner. This would be about 12 o'clock, I was on the bridge at 1 o'clock to relieve the chief officer while he got .his dinner, the captain being also oh deck, The' captain then went to dinner and I was in sole charge. I remained on the bridge all the afternoon. Am entered as carpentor in the articles, The course was S. by \V { We got to Cape Campbell about half-past three o'clock. The captain was on deck, I was on the bridge. The captain was on tho bridge, when we passed the Hauroto, that was about ton miles this side of the' Cape. She would be about a mile and a half inside of us. We passed the-Penguin about half way across the Straits going a mile outsido of us. The wind changed at Cape Campbell to. S.E. It came up suddenly right ahead, perhaps a little on the port bow. We were carrying sail, but took it in. Tt came up only a moderate breeze at first. I gave ''the orders to take in sail. We were still steering S. by W. The captain came on the bridge and altered the course to'S. three-quarters W. This was about four o'clock.- The second mate- then relieved mo, and I gave him the new course. . He 'was not on the bridge,'! think, when the captain altered the course,-but immediately afterwards. Believe it had struck eight bellsj The force of the wind was increasing: there was some sea, but no roll; I then left the bridge and' went below, and again came on deck at '5,30 p.m. Sounded tho vessel about half-past I). Conld see the land plainly a 4 o'clock, We were then six or. seven miles off, and were the same distance off Cape Campbell. Cannot state tho bearings. At 6 o'clock it was just getting thick arid raining; did not then notice the land; but after tea, in about half an hour's time, the weather was so thick that 1 could not see the land. I thought I saw Waipapa Point about 20 minutes past six. I could not be sure, but I saw what I took to be Waipapa Point at that time. I think what I then saw was five or six miles off, Have no idea of the height of Waipapa Point.' Was not surprised at seeing the Point that distance off in such thick weather.. I still thins it was Waipapa Point, and that it was five or six miles off. I did not call anyones attention to it, and could not see it plainly myself, only sufficient to give' me tho impression that it was the land, I saw it from the fore deck. It was a very dirty night, and I made things extra secure on deok. About half-past six o'clock I went down to the jangino room and remained there five minutes, coming on deck afterwards. When the vessel struck 1 was in my cabin changing clothes. Previously I had put extra nuts on the steering gear. When she struck I went on deck and prepared to launch No, 1 lifeboat. The vessel had a cant to starboard. She struck from the fore pait of the engine room on'the port side along tho bilge. The engines are nearly amidships. About 60 or 70 feet would have grounded, It is my duty as carpenter to examine the boats, I did so'on the Taiaroa in Dunedin on the previous Thursday. Everything was then complete, but I did not put the boats in the water. All had been in the water within three months' previously. The gig and pinnance are lowered into the water at nearly every port. We launched No. 2 lifeboat on the leo side, getting tho people, into her through the forward gangway. The* davits ; were fitted with Douglas! patent', I assisted the stewardess into the boat; Ido not know about any other ladies. We passed. the, boat astern, and I then went and sounded the vessel, six or seven feet of water in both fore and aft holds, and the water still coming in. When I came up from tho hold the captain told me to let off somo rockets. I got them from' the locker. W"o had fourteen ship rockets, and-about a dozon bluo lights. I took the lot on to the poop and put them in the smoking room. There was then not much difficulty in, getting about the ship, though a heavy sea was 'breaking. I fixed a rocket in a socket on the rail and let if off, with two blue lights. I stopped them by command of the chief officer, who told me not to let off any more, as it blinded him. There was a cannon on board, but I don't know where it was though I had been twenty months on tho ship. I then- went to render general assistance in getting out tho boats. The second mate was away in the gig looking for a landing, and the two lifeboats were lying on the starboard side, riding clear." I then aided in getting the pinnace across" from the port side, but it got stove in as we wero doing so. I had to repair it as best I could with a blanket. A man got in aft, the chiof engineer forward. I was amidships with a cork fender and. we launched her successfully. We then passed her astern to the after gangway, and then three passengers, the chief steward, the chief officer, and the captain, all who were left on board, got into her. The boy must have got in before that. I did not notice him. 1 forgot also to mention a fireman and a pantryman, The Captain then gave the order to pass her astern. The second officer and the gig, to the best of my knowledge, were then lying astern of the other two boats. Was on deck when the second officer returned and reported no landing—a shingle beach with a great backwash. This was some time before wo got into the pinnace. While passing the boats the captain ordered the chief officer into No. 1 lifoboat. He did so. 1 was holding on as we passed along the rope, the other boats assisting mo. When we reached the third boat a sea struck us, • my head, and shoulders went into the water, and I let go tho rope. We were about astern of the gig when I missed my hold. Cannot Bay how the rope was hove aboard to which the boats were attached, or how they were fastened to it. It was' a 4in Manilla rape. Could not say whether the gig was lying astern of, or under the shelter of, the ship.' When I let go, we were blown away to the northward, and I could see the lights of the ship. We did our utmost to get back, and the second officer came to assist us. We gave him the painter, and he tried to ,tow üb, but finallv said lie would have to let go, The captain said " Let go," and we were adrift again. We took to our oars, putting out four, there being five in the boat, The steward and a passenger were pulling bow oar, and the next was pulled by myself and the fireman. Do not know who pulled the after oars, There was only one rowlock, out of the six, in the boat; I think they must have broken adrift and gone overboard. The vessel was drawing lift 7in aft and 9ft 2in forward when she struck, a light draft for her.

By Mr Travers, jun.: I know the coast ■in question very well, Waipapa Point is the first projecting land after Cape Campbell. The last time I noticed the land particularly was about half-past 4 o'clock. I think the vessel would theri.be about ten miles south of the cape. The weather waß then getting thick. I thought it was Waipapa I saw, because it appeared to be

black, high land, and that was the only land oi the kind 1 ■knew of there. 1 had no occasion to-correct the atebroman as to his stebrincr while on my' watch. The vessel did not strike heavily; sho bumped about a bit afterwards., I did "nqjt" think of looking at the compass at the time. By the Oourfc: I have not a mate's certificate. It was not-my duty to report when I thought I saw Waipapa Point. When the blue light was burning I did not see cither surf or land. The lamp trimmer lit the mast-head light; ho was drowned. The land that 1 thought I.saw would be about four or five points on tho starboard bow. I saw nothing at the time on tho port how.- Could not say how long tho second officer was away on the Beach for> a landing, • ' The enquiry was further adjourned for a fortnight, to enable other evidence to be adduced.