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the Superintendent remarked that
Eighty prisoners were too many to place in the boat, I believe this remark was made to the gaoler. On the morning of the day that the boat upset when landing the prisoners about fifty five prisoners were placed in the boat, the Superintendent directed that no more prisoners should go into the boat so as to get the prisoners speedily to their work.
It has appeared to me that the boat was not sufficiently large to convey fifty prisoners, five or six days before the accident the boat was in danger of being upset from lurching, precisely from the same cause as on the occasion of it's going over.
The Warden was on the occasion ... I did not report that then in the waist, a man was in the boat with the prisoners upon occasion ... I believe that his restraining the prisoners saved the boat from going over on that occasion.
It is usual for the prisoners to show eagerness in getting up the side ... I know nothing of any order to prevent this getting up the side. I have been on duty on board the Convict Ship since the 3rd of this month.
I gave the order convict by the direction of some person & I think the Superintendent.