THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 2, 1939.
SINKING OF NEW MATHILDE
CAPTAIN HOURS IN WILD SEA BEFORE RESCUE
HOW THE MASTER of the ship stuck to his vessel which was partly submerged and slowly sinking; how he risk- ed his life in attempting to free life-boats which had been fouled; and how he was eventually washed over- board and swam for over three hours in a rough sea before being rescued, was related in the Marine Court of Inquiry this morning.
THE INQUIRY WAS HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THE SINKING OF THE S.S. NEW MATHILDE, WHICH WAS FOUNDERED ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 21 AT THE ENTRANCE OF KWONG CHOW WAN HARBOUR, TESTIMONY BEING HEARD BY THE HON. COM- MANDER G. F. HOLE, HARBOUR MASTER, LIEUTENANT-COM- MANDER K. W. KIRBY, OF H.M. DOCKYARD, CAPTAIN K. D. LANE, MASTER OF THE S.S. RABY CASTLE; CAPTAIN D. M. HOOD, MASTER OF THE S.S. HONG KHENG; AND CAPTAIN E. WALKER, MASTER OF THE S.S. HAITAN.
The first witness called was Cap- tain Robert Wherry, master of the s.s, New Mathilde.
Wherry L.
The interests of Captain were in the hands of Mr. D. Strellet.
In reply to Mr. Strellet, Captain Wherry, stated that the vessel was of 934 tons. She was 33 years old - and was built at Kiel.
The present owners, the Shun Cheong Steamship Company, bought the ship in February last. The re- gistered owner was Mr. Pang Kwok- shul.
vessel In July 1938, the
under- went its tri-annual survey, and, be ing purchased by the present owner, if underwent extensive repairs and survey in February, March and April last.
In September, it was in dry- dock again for bottom-cleaning and scraping, Since the vessel was pur- chased, it had been in drydock On three separate occasions.
and personally instructed the second Chief watch in the presence of the Officer.
"The wind was high, the sea rough east- and the wind was blowing north-east. After giving the orders, I stayed a few minutes on the bridge and then went to my cabin to sleep. During my stay on the bridge, every- there I noticed thing was normal. was about a 3% degrees list on the disappeared after portside, but this filling the tanks.
"The ship was pitching and shak- ing but this was normal considering the weather.
AWAKENED
"At about 9.30 I was awakened by a shout: "O, Captain, Captain, ship makee sinking," and saw the com- pradore and carpenter. I went to the bridge and found that the ship had a list of between 12 and 15 degrees to the starboard side. I gave the helms- and The ship was placed on the Hong
man the order, "Hard aport" Kong-Kwong Chow Wan service and ordered the carpenter to take sound- since February had made 21 returnings. We were out of sight of land. "About, 10 minutes arter being Captain Wherry said he joined the awakened, ordered the wireless ship in April 1.
operator to call for assistance and in- The company had a branch office structed the Chief Engineer to get all at Fort Bayard and it was customary pumps on the bilges. He informed me to anchor in the river opposite the that he had already done so, and sug- office unless carrying dangerousgested the starboard side be pumped. goods.
trips.
CARGO LOADING
was
I
The list was increasing.
"At 9.50 a.m. a considerable num- ber of the passengers and crew were gathered on the port side of the ship, but the list increased to about 25 de- grees at 10 a.m.
to
"Later, the ship began slowly lose its list, but started taking list on the port side. I then ordered the live- stock to be thrown overboard, and the
The ship arrived at Kwong Chow Wan on October 17 at 5 p.m. Dis- charge and loading of cargo continuously carried out from the time of arrival until departure on October 21. General cargo was load ed in the lower forehead holds and lower aft holds and on deck. Live-lifeboats to be cleared. I intended to stock was located between decks, in proper stalls especially constructed for the purpose. ·
All tanks were filled prior to sail- ing, with the exception of No. 5, which was filled after the ship had sailed from harbour. This was checked.
At the time of sailing, the bilge soundings showed five inches. In reply to Commander Hole, Cap- tain Wherry said that during each successive flood tide the ship would swing and touch the bank on the portside. When the flood tide rose, the vessel would swing free over the bank.
The ship was free at 4.30 a.m. on October 21, when she left Fort Bayard. The Chief Officer was on watch. At 6 am. general routine soundings were taken.
The tanks were filled and the bilge soundings were normal.
ROUGH WEATHER
Captain Wherry continued: "I stay- ed on the bridge until 8.15 a.m.
AL
8 a.m., the second watch, Lai Pui- kan, came to the bridge. I set the course and instructed him, when Tai Fong Island was sighted, to keep to the portside. I also instructed him that I should be called if the weather became worse or if anything unusual happened, otherwise to wake me up at noon..
"These Instructions were given to the Chief Officer, to inform the second watch. however, returned later
beach the ship at the southern end of sand spit at the entrance to the Kwongchowwan.
BEGINNING TO SETTLE
but
"At 10.15 a.m. the ship. was practi- cally upright. I was aware that the ship was beginning to settle, thought with the difference between the first and second soundings; the progress being made I would be able to reach the spit and not re- quire the assistance of other vessels.
and
"These favourable conditions lasted until 10.30 a.m. after which they wor- sened, until at 10,50 a.m. the order had been given for all hands to take to the lifeboats.
|
The aft of the ship was completely hatches were submerged and the
(Continued on Page 14)
DOUBLE INIQUITY
The car of Police Sergeant Harris. the Police was stolen from outside Recreation Club yesterday,`
JEWELLERY LOST
Mrs. Dalziel, of No. 105, The Peak, has reported the loss of Jewellery worth $55 in Blue Fool Rond at about 8:30 pm, on October 31...
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