38
July 10, 1905.] touching the cliff. I stopped by the wheel till the second mate usked me to give a hand at the life boats Both anchors were lying with the place inboard on the rail. When I returned in the tow boat Robert Cooke on the 3rd from Hongkong, to which port we had ben sent for assistance, the captain came al ngside in one of the life bats. He informed the master of the tug that he
lat- was too the bottom was knocked out of the ship.
The male of the Robert Cooke and the engineer, together with the crew returned from Hongkong, went to look for themselves, there be ng nobody on beard ship it the time. After a certain amount of compeition, was the first to board the abandoned ship, as I thought that if anyb dy else pot aboard first they could claim salvage. When we got on board the.s appeared to be no one to give orders, aud I asked the The master why he did not tell us what to do. mate of the Robert Cooke had previously told the master that he ought to get the tow rops
over,
but the master did not give us this order. When we made the towline fast the captain told all hands to go in the boats, which they did, The captain and chief male remained on board. All the morning of the 3d ultimo the captain was under the influence of liquor, I determine the fact by the captain's actions.
The Presideut-How did he get on board the Robert Cooke then?
Witness-He did not board the Robert Cooke. Witness continuing-I consider the captain acted in a peculiar manner in not tacking the ship before be did.
1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
thanked me for it afterwards. I have never had complaints of drunkenness made against me. It first I was not charged at the Police Court. occurred to me to bring this charge when the captain accused the crew of cowardice. This was d ne when the ship struck the 10ck did not make the charge at once because the captain said there was going to be an inquiry later.
I
Mr. Wilkinson—De you read the newspapers here!
I might get one a
Witness-Sometimes.
week.
31r. Wilkinson—As a matter of fact you read the account in an ev ning piper; did you not P
Witness-I did that time, but I was not amongst the men alluded to therein.
Mr. Wilkinson - And it was after reading that article that it oc urred to you to make this charge?
Witness-No, Sir. It was before that, Mr. Wil. inson--Why did you not make it sooner then :
Mr. Wilkins ou --
Witness-Becaus· the eaptain said there was going to be an inquiry and that would clear us.
How do you imagine that it would have cleared you!
W tness-The captain said we could clear our characters before the court.
I was
He then fell on
|
|
Wituess, in answer to further questions, s‹id When the ship was brought round to Harlem Bay I went with the rest of the crew on board, and we received orders to clew up the sails aud pump, which we did after a rest. I do not To Lt. McCallum-At 9.30 Re wore ship, know if anybody has male a claim for salvage, We were on the starboard tack and going at.but Mr. Purves, the engineer at the docks, said about two knots. I suppose the master tacked he was going to. When the captaiu slipped and
were on the foc's'le ¦ the ship instead of wearing because she would fell most of the crew not stay. The peculiar manner of the captain head. The ship once before hung stay on her On this occasion the was that he would go and talk to the pilot, reyage to Hongkong. who would not speak to bim, and when the pi ot captain asked me if the ship would go about, told him anything, be wou'd not listen t it. and I told him that I did not think she would. I did not hear any of the conversation that Thomas Nash, bo's'n of the Travancore, passed between them, but saw the captain sworn, stated--We left port on the 31st May continually dropping bis cigar out of 1 is month in tow of three lunches, and made sail on the for about five minutes, and getting the pilot to starboard tack, and were on the starboard and light it. The pilot get so disgusted that he port tacks until we struck the rock. pulled another cigar out of his pocket and gave officer of the watch from six to eight p.m. ou the it to the captain. The pilot was a Chicaman.
3'st. The chief mate said to me- -Bo's'n, I must To Captain Pybus - There was a slight rain be a sap ble man, as the captain has given me when the captain fell down. An hour before charge." I said, 'That's all right, sir. I thought under the he fell he was leaning on the poop rail, nod-ling it was then, as the captain was al' the time; then he let his arm go from the influence of drink. I observed him in the f rail, and fell down between the skylight and the afternoon lying over the poop rail his head and rail on the port side, where there was no grating. bands hanging down, and apparently he was in Steering full and by, the Travancore would stand a drunken sleep. Shortly afterwards, about 6 about seven points in the wind. The distauce p.m., I saw him slide backwards and fall into across the harbour from the ferry wharf would a sitting position on the deck. be over half a mile. The second mate was forrard his back. Senior apprentice Gordon was at the all the time, so the captain might have come on wheel at the time. deck without him knowing it. If our ship lat; continued on the tack she was she would have cleared the land on the port bow by about a quarter of a mile. The "p" of the anchor was right on the rails, and required to be pinched over. It could have been done in about five minutes, or in a case of emergency even quicker. The ship was bumping heavily when we were ordered to go on board the other ship. I would have stayed if ordered to do so.
To Captain George-The wheel on the Tra- talcore is right aft, and it is usual for the men to strike the bell. There are no dock houses on the poop, hence I had a plain view from the foc's'le head. It was ten minutes before the usual time when the captain told me to strike seven bells. He said he wanted to tack the ship before sight o'clock. When the ship missed stays the chief officer was standing by the fore braces and the bo's'n was оп the foc's'le head. When the spring was on the line the second ma'e stood by the fore hatch, but did not give any orders until the captain told him he was made mate. The captain gave orders, but not as a master should speak to his men. I obeyed big orders, I have had no trouble with the captain while on board the ship.
To Mr. Wilkinson-The captain was on deck at 5.30 a m. and was running down to the salcon and up again all the time. I was on deck all the time with the exception of the time I went below for breakfast. I think the man who boards an abandoned ship first can Blaim salvage. In this case I could not claim it as I belonged to the ship, but I made a rush to get on board first in order to save the captain, and he
;
near land.
25
going into the cabin, when I said to the first officer, Are you aware the ship's afloat ? He said, I don't think so, and then came me to the main rigging. He then with said, I believe she has gone astern, and I told him that if he wanted to get the ship off the rocks he must heave on something. The chief mate gave the orders to man the capstan, and before the rope got faut be gave them orders to make it fast. The men went forward, and I stopped aft. The mate called me on one side and said, Bo's'n, I would like to scuttle it. You take the men forrard and give then some work to do so that they won't hear the bammering. I will put a hole in her. The captain was in the cabin at the time. I did not consent to the pro- posal, aud no more was said about it. In the afternoon I went with the crew to see the captain to ask permission to put our clothes on the Likin before dark. He gave us permission to rio so, aud also told us we could go aboard the Likin before dark. During the time I was on board I did not see an effort made to get the ship off, with the exception of the steam launch. When the vessel floated off the rocks there was only one anchor out. Had a second been ruu out she would most certainly have come off. Next morning the Robert Cooke hove in sight, and when Captain Chamberlin met the captain of the tug he said, You're too late, the ship is full of water. The crew has abandoned her, and the bottom is out of her.
To Lt McCallum-There is no spanker or When I observed the ainsail on the ship. ship float I called the mate's attention. There was then a very light shade of wind from the When the vessel floated she starboard side. had no list.
To Captain Pybus-When I expected the order to let go anchor the chief officer was at the braces. The covers of the lifeboats were of wood, and nailed down to the gunwales. The mate did not call the captain when I drew his attention to the ship being afloat. When we abandoned the ship she had a heavy list to starboard, and was bumping heavily on The foresail and lower topsail the rocks. were on her when she floated, but they were The chief mate generally doing her harm. gives the orders to get the anchors ready when coming into port, and I take my orders from him.
The inquiry will be continued.
(4
THE MILITARY COURT,
WRITTEN FOR THE DAILY PRESS."]
RY **WAVING PLUME." Atkins is about to be tried by Regimental Court Martial which is, so to speak. the Junior Court assembled for the trial of the soldier. Forty-two days' imprisonment with hard labour" is the extent of its powers and the minimum qualifying length of service for an officer as member of the Court is two years.
**
Private He got up and leaned with bis side agains! the rail, looking forward to see if we were taking notice. I came on deck at seven bells ou the 1st June, and saw the sip At eight bells we had orders to and I sent two men forward to attend to the head sails. On the order being given hard a lee," the ship came to the wind, had a light shake, and started to fall off'araiu.
"bout ship,"
When I saw this I did noth-
caine.
ing more, but expected the order to drop an- The anchors were chor, which never lashed, and could have been let gu in from three to five minutes time.
The President --And why did you not let them go
Witness - I could not let them go without orders.
The President. As a British seaman, does it not strike you that that is a lame excuse to make when by letting go the anchors you might have been in a position of saving life?
Witness-I would'nt like to take it upon my self to let them go without orders.
Witness continuing-I heard the second
about give
orders some
the officer lifeboats, just before the ship struck stem This was from fifteen to on to the rocks. twenty minutes after she started to fall off The captain then came to me and said, o's'n, go forrard and drop the two anchors; and don't let the chief mate know anything about it. I was making preparations to do so when he said, lever mind the anchors. If the mate does I should have not round on me, the crew will.
A boat noon on the 2nd let them go before June, I observed the ship was afloat fore and aft. The captain and the first officer were
The Court has been ordered to assemble at 10a.m. and two officers are warming their hands over a miserable attempt at a fire which has just been lighted by a corporal, the orderly of the court. The room wherein the trial is to take place is dirty, empty and chilling. The walls are white-washed and fairly clean, the floors are boarded and unfairly unclean as also are the windows, the fire grate, the fire irons and the coal scuttle. The furniture consists of the articles I have first enumerated, four pegs behind the door, an inventory board hanging on the door itself, one trestle table, not particu- larly steady, on which have been laid by the court orderly a copy of the Army Act, King's Regulations, Manual of Military Law, a Bible and three pieces of blotting paper, three pens, one ink pot and some yellow foolscap, a knife, red tape, one piece of india-rubber and a lead pencil. Three chairs are in position at the table for the member of the Court and one near the fire for the Adjutant of the Battalion who is generally prosecutor in the cases tried by * Regimental Court.
In the draughty passage outside stands the prisoner, without belt, guarded on either side by à private soldier with drawn bayonet in hand and generally superintended by the sergeant of the guard.
**
Escort and prisoner, Shun!" bowls this latter on beholding the President, a regimental.