24
She came to
res el
our
was she glided forward, but got hung up by the sternpost. and her hows swinging round, she became again stranded Tue me were ordered to make sail in the mizzen, which this time they did, and shortly afterwards the began to bump very heavily. The men then left the ship and I accompaniei them, but the master refused to leave and remained on the pop. About 6 a.m. the mast r stepped into the first boat that came alongside and went to the Liking, we laid off the ship and about 7 a.m. sighted the Robert Cooke a-sistance, bringing the s cond officer and crew back from Hongkong. Hawsers of 4 wire were then passed from the starboard bow of the Travancore to the Robert Cooke. As soon 28 the hawsers were made fust th crew again left te ship in the two boats without permission, and the master and I alone remained on board. The Robert Cooke then commenced to go ahead, and on the 3rd ultimo the vessel was cleared. After a consultation between Mr. A ar in, first mate of the Robert Cooke, and our captain, it was decided to continue the towage of the Travancore to Hongkong provided the men could keep the water down by pumping. We were towed into Harlem Bay, where we anchored in four fathoms of water. When the ship was pumped she was towed to Hongkong.
We were
To the Court-It took some three minutes to get the anchors clear for kiting. The ship's log was lost during the second time The Crew 218 the boats left the ship. principally English and Irish. I had nothing to drink before leaving Hongkong. carrying stone and sad ballast. I cannot Buy that I have ever sen the master under the in- finence of drink. The rocks seemed to be about three fourths of foot distant when we missed lays. I received no orders from the second officer when I relieved him at mid. night. I have heu first officer in the ship with the present captain since 3rd November of last year.
X
ENU RY CONTINUED.
The enquiry was continued before the Marine
A. W Court composed of Hon. Capt. 1. Barnes-Lawrence R.N. (President), Lt. C. R. McCallum. R.N., H.M.S. Tamar. Captain H. Pybus, s.s. Empress of Jap in, Captain St. John George, s.s. Macquarie and Captain W. Robb, s. Taiping, at the Harbour Office on July 7th.
Mr. C. D Wilkinson (of Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) again epresented the Captain, and Mr. J. Hays (of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master appeared on behalf of the owners of the vessel.
Captain Chamberlin's examination was sou- finued. Hesaid--At three o'clock on the morning of the 2nd June I returned with the crew on board. The ship was bumping so much that I thought she would break up, so we returned to the bats. and lay off the ship, to which we returned an hour later when she was not bumping so heavily. We tried to heave her off again by means of the hawser, but were unable to do so. We then waited for the tide to rise after which we mad several further efforts to clear the ship, but as these were of no avail we waited for assistance from Hongkong. Our crow was denuded of four men and an officer during our attempts to
get the ship off, and their assistance would have
to uot sent
been useful. The men were Hongkong in
a life-boat, but a long gig During the night of the 2nd ultimo there Was a strong breeze from off the land. and the vess. I slipped off the rocks. Ou the 3rd ultimo the Robert Cooke arrived on the scene, bringing off the crew from Houg kong. The day before this the launch Rutai brought back our gig. When the Robert Cooke came near. I communicated with her and got a tow rope pass d. Then I ordered the men to get into the boats. The Lik`n arrived on the Sud, and I gave the crew leave to go on board of her. We slipped off the rocks between sight and nine o'clock on the evening of the 2nd ult... The when only the mate and I were on board. ship was boat, and I called the crew to come aboard from the Likin. We were afoat for about three-quarters of an hour before she went on the rocks again. When she floated off all the lower topsails and the foresails were set, but no headsails. The sails were set when the land breeze sprang up about 6 p.m., as I thought it might blow us off the shore. The first officer and I set all the sails, the men having left the
2
6
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
ship two hours previously. Had the crew been on board I think they would have been able to maneuvre sufficiently to get clear away. When Ist the sai's I felt that there was a breeze com- jug along. It came so suddenly that I had not time to call the crew off.
b.ck
I remained on
The President-W-re you wise in allowing the crew to go on board the Likin?
Witness-Yos. I expec ed the masts to come down with the bumping, and some of the crew might Lave been killed.
continued With 88
When the men got, we trimmed the sails to sheer along off the shore but the vessel aguiu went ou the rocks. after which the crew with the chief officer 1-ft the ship. board, as I had an idea that the ship might possibly slip off again. One of the officers of the L-kon came alongside and asked me to leave the ship, saying that it was madness to remain, The officers could not make use of the saloon without my permission, althonga they e uld go in any time and see the charts, as the door was always open. When the vessel began to hump heavily 1 tied the charts and ship's log round my waist. At daylight on the morning of the 3rd ultimo the Robert Cook hove in sight, and I called oue of the ship's boats and went along
This was passed. side her and got a hawser. and I ordered the crew back into the boats, tow, and | The Robert tooke then began to
finally pulled the ship off the rocks. after which she towed us to Harlem Bay. On the The mate was way the ship was tilling rapidly s'auding by the nchor, and I was xteering. The mate let go the towrope by mistake. and we anchord in 12 or 13 feet of water. We then came to arrangements for the tug to tow ns to Hongkong.
To Lt. Me allum-I pay for the ship's charts myself, as the owners will not supply me. This is not customary, but I have had to do it. and find it very expensive. It is n t a written stipulation. On 31st May before going blow, I gave orde 8 that I was to be called if land was is hted. On the same day, the deck being wet and slippery. I fell down and hurt ny back. I mentioned that I did not feel wel', and If a tre z- had sprung was going to lie dowu. up in
the middle watch, the chif officer could have called me at nee. It is usual for
an officer to call the master ou such an occasion. When I hurt my back I did not feel sufficiently bad to turn over the command of the ship to the chief officer.
Captain Pybus-When you found the ship couldn't stay, and yon fried to wear her. did it never strike you when she was close to land 10
anchor?
let ga
Witne: There was too much water. Sir. and I felt positive the ship would go round.
Captain Pybus-But there must have been a time when you saw that she would'nt go round. Did it not then strike you to let go the anchor?
Witness-There was an extra lashing on the anchor, which was resting on the bilg- b ard.
In auswer to further questions from Captain Pybus, witness said -In a case of emergency we could not let the author go with a run, as it would probably break the chain at the cathead. We e uld not let it go without ee' billing it
first. In working the ship the mate is usually
stationed by the for yards, the Bo's'n being on the foc's le head to work the jib sheets. I sauf my chronometers. papers, etc., to the Likin as soon as she same, but lost the chart which was tied round my waist. It must have slipped off. The first mate kept the ship's logbook, and his own og was written up when he got back to Hong- kong.
When the ship went ashore she was heading W by N. When she got off the rocks her bead paid off and she slewed to starboard. The anchor was fast. It would have been bett had I kept the men ou board to endeavour to get the ship off at high water, but she was bumping so hard and her masts shaking 30 much that I could not possibly keep the men on
|
;
|
i
I
„July 10, 1965,” afterwards communiented with me through a speaking tube. I went on deck at six o'clock and saw land a good distance off
reasons
Captain George-What were your for standing so near in to the lee shore of a rock bound coast?
1
Witness-I thought I could get the ship Ironnd.
Captain George-And you did not know her sailing qualities in ballast trim?
Witness-No. but I thought an ordinary ship of her class would go round.
Captain George-Yon had no other reason for sanding close in then that you felt con- fident you were able to go about?
Witness-I felt confident that there was plenty of room to wear her round,
Witness continuing -When the Robert Cooke towed us into Harlem Bay, we anchored in 13ft. The of water. Our deepest d ́aft is 15 feet second officer conld see the chart if he wished I supply the charts mys-lf, but do not tak- ; to.
good care of them.
To Captain Robb - Bth the official and deck 1 g books were lost.
4
To the President-This was the first orca ion
have
on which I had the ship in ballast. Wheu ful y loaded, she always stayed.
j&k long To Mr Wilkinson--[ ¿
experience in ailing ships. I was in a barque called the Don, of the Shore Saville Line. al I deny the for thirten years in the Narcissus.
at perfectly sober suggestion that I was when I left Hougkong. When the ship only two bottles of whisky left I had on bard, and this was given to t'e
take whisky occasionally, but if I took too much my eyes would fail me altogether. During the time the ship was on the rocks I sent for some run for the sailors who were I hurt my back assisting in pumping her out. thr ugh falling against a corner of the kylight when it was raiu ng very heavily. The meu ouly refused to obey my orders the night the shi went on the rocks.
cew.
To Mr. Hays-The ma's gare the order to set the sai ́s, but it came from me
Charles Mitchell, A.B. of the Trurarcore stafid-On the morning of the 31st on leaving Hongkong I went to the wheel at fweaty-five minutes to six o'clock While at the whe-II
no icd that the captain arted in a peuliar mann-r. not such as he sh uld do if sober. The wind was N.E. with heavy rain when [ was relived from leaving the harbour.
the wheel at 8.30 a... and while canting the starboard anchor noticed the captain falling down on the poop in front of s uior *pprentice Gordon, who was at the wheel. The chief mate's attention was called to it on the for's'le hea. This was about eleven o'clock. he wind was variable, and during the after- noon we set the remainder of the sails. About 9:30 that night we wore ship. I was on the lookout at the time on the for's le d-ck
At
6 a.m. on the 1st June, I went to the wheel again. The ship was then heading N.F by N. on the starboard tack, ling at the most three We were making about three miles from land. knots an hour The laud was about two points on the starboard bow, and there were two small There was also a
islands on the port beum. point of land on our port tow. At 630 the ship began to break off, as the wind was heading north. The captain was on deck at the time. At7.108.in. the rapt in told me to strik seven belis, as he wanted the watch below to have their breakfast before times to tack ship at 7.45. The men are generally allowed forty minutes for breakfast. The captain then asked me how the ship was steerin, and I answered him that she was tuning a lot of lee helm. Ata quarter to eight the captain told ine to g'rike sight bells. The capt in went below after be told me to strike seren bells, and came on deck again at 7.30. At eight bells (7.45) he told me to put down the helm hard a lee. The ship came up about three poin in the wind, but refused to come any further. I saved all the ship's papers
We then had land about half a mile There was also land on the on our port bow, with the exception of the logbook and chart,
sterboard bow, which was some d s'ance away. To Captain George- I have been in command
When the cap'ain saw the ship would not come of the Truv ncore a little over six months, but did not know her sailing qualities in ballast trim. up any more in the wind be gave me the order I was not on deck on 1st June when the second to put the helm hard up which I dil. We then relieved the chief officer. I left orders that the squared the crossjack and the main yards by the master's orders. The ship was gather- second officer was to call me if land was sighted.
ing headway and as she headed Ñ.W. she ran That was a standing rule throughout the
He called me at four o'clock and steru on the rocks and her jibboom was nearly voyage.
board to be killed.