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and that the 2nd officer had told him that he thought
they were naval craft. At this stage I left the
bridge reiterating my orders to be called at 4.0 A.M.
At 0340 hours I again awoke and went to the bridge
and discussed the altering course position with the
Chief Officer. I decided to let the vessel run on
her present course until daylight when I hoped to
pick up a bearing. On the starboard beam at this
time about 1 miles away was another vessel which I
think was the "Orient City" bound west. I told the
Chief Officer to write up his log book and I took
over the watch. The Chief Officer went to the port
wing to write up the log book and I went to the star-
board wing. Very soon after I had commenced to
keep a lookout I saw something in the glasses which
I could not at first believe. A second glance, however,
showed me that these were rocks and breakers on the
starboard bow. I immediately shouted to the Chief
Officer to stop what he was doing and come over to
look. He dashed across the bridge and a onfirmed
what I saw, The Chief officer suggested "hard a
order port" - I agreed -- and he gave the sder -and saw the
helm put over. I remained at the open window and
watched the ship's head swung to part. As well as
the original rock on the starboard bow I now saw more
rocks ahead of m. I rang down stop followed by full
astern on both engines. A little afterwards - say
2 or 3 minutes we felt the ship strike apparently
in line with the foremast. Although she was firmly
held at this point both the bow and stern were swing-
ing and I was off the opinion that very little would
have been required to free her. But I docked in the
best interests of the passengers it would have
EVER