1921-03-23 — Page 3

HONG MOH"

THE HONGKUNG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2SAD, 1991.

DISASTER.

MARINE COURT OF ENQUIRY

PROCEEDINGS.

EVIDENCE OF THE OFFICERS.

it.

I take it the only fixed mark you hail was the Lammocks light bearing cast by compass.)--Yes. The distance was about saven miles.

Tho

pected the same and said: "The course will be South 85 East." He added: "I believe the error on that course is qua cast. We checked that sad found that Did any untoward incident occur on was so, and that course was set. “I drew the passage on the part of the crew or the course line on the chart as the master the passengers-Only our first return to told me to do. It took us four miles Swatow after having been there once. to the south of the Boat Rocks.

Why was the passengers, request comp

mnaster then relieved me from all duty lied with 1-When we left Singapore the and I left the bridge. I was in my bed tickets were sold for direct passagora tot 7.30 pm, when I felt a bump, and Swatow, Wheti we got to Hongkong, we some grating and grinding. Fearing found the draught too much so we de. that something had happened I imme- cided to go to Amoy.

diately went on to the bridge, found the The passengers į. made a fuss so we decided to try our that we were stranded on the rocks, with master and first mate oo, the bridge and best to get into Swatow: The passenger the white and red light of the Lamutocks said they would kill the 'hii. Chew (the

showing on the part" bow. The ship's compradore) if we did not put back to

head was N. 8 E. by the steering Bwatow, There WILN saloon and the captain went down to the g: the rest is only rescue work, Wo compass... That is all know of the strand- cabin to pacify-them and eventually it commenced to send up signals of distress. was decided to put back to Swatow

The Court expressed a desire to have After that they were satisfied and when

a brief account of subsequent events fróm they made no more trouble

row in the

The circumstances attending the loss of lost. The crew then tried to get out the the Singapore steamer Hong Moh were boats und go; several of thear in the investigated yesterday by a

court of water, all of them eventually. One boat ar- enquiry comprised of the following:-rived anfely, I think, alongside the Shanxi, Lieut. `Commdr. Conway Hake, R.N.R., So did another but she was swamped (President), Lienty Commdr. S. Robin-alongside. Part of the crew was in the Bon, R.N. (H.M. Dockyard), and Messrs. first boat, Chinese firemen without an offi- W. Davison, (C.P.0.S.), J. McAnish, cer in charge.' The second bout was (master as. Iuensung) and E. Walker swampesi and I could not my who was in (master s.8. Haiyang),

The next boat was also swamped After the President had read the alongside the wreck. I could not say the they found we could not get into Santow the witness. He continued: formal request made by the chief officer time, but the other boats were gat. out for an enquiry and the Governor's one by one with crew and passengers" on board. The second oficer attempted to warrant for the same to be held,

get into the second boat, in order to go to and fro between the wreck and the Shi, but could not get near it. The other boats were got out at different times in the day.

j

I think most of the people in the were lost. The Shanxi then signalled that she would make an attempt to sheer a boat alongside with a line but it could not be managed. Then she signalled that she

Lieut. Commander Robinson: Can you tell me what assistance was sent from Swatow 1-Two launches were sent the following morning, also as many junks as possible.. I do not know how many.

When was that -That was on the morning of March 8th.

Did any steamer come out from Swatow to the assistance of the wreck 1-So far as I know only the launches went.

We broke in halves about three-s.m. on the 4th." I had observed during the night that all the passengers made a rush for the boats on the aft part of the vessel and almost all the boatfalls were cut away. The people were crowded into the boats, sitting in them, and the boata wäre on the chocks. It was quite apparent it was, impossible to control the people or attempt to launch the boats even bad, the weather been favourablo. The only hope of rescue could come from outside, apart from the means we had on the ship."

Mr. F. C. Jenkin, instructed by Messrs. Wilkinson & Grist, said that he repre- mented the owners of the Hong Moh and incidrotally the officers of that ship. As the enquiry might be an extended one bef would not do anything to lengthen the proceedings. He recognised that it was shipping enquiry by shipping experts. He

Do you know if the launches and junks The Shones came in sight about 10 trusted, however; that they would welcome and appreciate the assistance it was

actually arrived at the wreck 1-Yes.. bound south. She approached the Lammocks lighthouse and signalled to possible to give by a lawyer with expori would stand by to pick up those who Fifteen or twenty súrvivors were brought him; then approached us and maciceuvred. The Shanai semaphored. I will try and send a boat: try not to rush it." little while afterwards they put a life boat out They tried to reach the wreck but found it impossible, picked up one non and, after a struggle, regained the ship.

ence in sifting evidence. His duty, appearing for the owners, was of course to adduce any evidence favourable to them and also any evidence that would help the Court to arrive at a decision. Incidentally, also, it was his duty to stand between the owners and officers of the ship in the event of any charge being made against them.

tween 12.30 and 1 p.m. the Swatow

the tide turned about 2pm. She would hoist a flag to indicate the time. Chinese passengers were told that this was a chance to save their lives if they could

be safer for them to remain on the wreck

in by one of them. There may have been more. I could not be sure of the exact number.

.

How many steamers wore there in Swatow when you arrived? Seven, The launch, when it returned, reported. that there were two warships at the sceno of the wreck

...

In answer to a question by Captain Davison the witness said: When I came on the bridge the Captain told me he was going to pass between the Lammocks and White Rock.

Captain McAvish: Do you remember

the time you lett Bill Island the second was past five.

And you steered the same course 1-I do not know what course we steered when

I got on the bridge

1

A

The President: Can you go into more detail about the one mant

Witness: He was a Chinezo. Ho jamped from the aft part of the wreck. He was a very good swimmer. He made straight for the bont and reached it. The men in the boat saw him and they stop- pod rowing only suficiently to grasp the

man and haul him in. The officer in charge of the boat saw they were getting dangerously near the rocks, with the sen nay way at all; they were drifting, in that was going they were not making

themselves helped to man the cars, and got clear, and went to the leeward of the rocks, and their ship then picked them up again. After that the Shaurs could make no further attempt.

jumped and then go to Swatow to read out junks to assist the remainder. Several people decided to jump and the last ral was put into the water, but it got in between the two parts of the ship and only two managed to get to the Shani, the second engineer and a Nothing more was done that Chinese, aight. The Shouși said she would stand by us till the morning. We remained on CHIEF OFFICER'S EVIDENCE,

deck night. Towards morning the Edvin Page Smith, the first mate, in the witness, box said: We left Hongkong weather began to get worse. The forward on the afternoon of the end bound for part of the ship was listing more and Swatow; about Egft. Bins draught. Before sinking by the head and she was crack- leaving we wired to Swatow for a piloting and breaking underneath, The because we did not expect the ship would I Shaní signalled that she would make a time?- could.not be quite aure; but it fact, on to the rocks. Both the officers be able to get over the bar owing to lack final effort to pick up swimmers when of water. We arrived off Swatow bar at high water somewhere about 9.30 or 10

We hung on another night, and felt the next morning. There was no pilot

Mr. Jenkin: You made a statement the portion of the wreck we were on was and it was past high water so we decided to proceed to Amoy, which we did. Bem, but if they could not swim.it would before the consul in Swatow-Yes breaking up. We observed the wreckage I just want to touch upon one or two floating astern. In the forenoon that wreckagn was notting on to the rocks. In passengers requested us to go back to until assistanco arrived, which the Shans Points mentioned in your evidence con the afternoon the wreckage drifted away Swatow, which we did and anchored off promised to send on arrival at Swatow. coming the position of the officers and from the rocks, so the master and my self, observing this, he said, " The only Bill land. We signalled for a pilot, Those who decided to take the risk then the ship on the afternoon of the fifth.hope we will have to get away from this The pilot came off and said the ship was took the water and swam. I was the last think one of the effects of your: striking lot is to jump in and trust that she can too deep to go over the bar, so we de officer to leave the ship and was picked the rocks was that your Morso signalling pick us up when, the current is favour- abla I semaphored to the Shanes about All the officers and apparatus was put out of action!-The mid-day on the 5th to this effect:

"We cided to go to Amoy. We have up and up by the Shani

After I had engineers were picked up except the Cup-dynamo went out within five minutes.

will have to jump in any minute. Will proceeded on our way.

And you were unable to communicate you try and pick us up as we drift astern!” The Shansi signalled; "Do lashed the anchore on the forecastle Itain, who died alongside the Shani. A went on the bridge and reported to the few Chinese who jumped with us were with any ships at night Yes, except by Captain and he took over charge of the also picked up. The Shansi then pro detonator. watch and asked one of us to relieve him ceeded to Swatow and arrangements were. At the time of your leaving the ship for dinner, which I agreed to do. I went made at once to send assistance to those I think all available rafts and boats had and many of the Chinese jumped in with

The owner remaining on the wreck. made arrangements and next morning the agents, I believe, sent out two Jaunches and as many junks za possible. We arrived at Swatow somewhere about 6.45 p.m. on March 5th and reported to the British Consul in the morning who said he would wire Hongkong to send assistance. We then had to wait in Swatow pending the fixing of a place for the enquiry which it was decided shoulded be held in Hongkong. I arrived in Hongkong by the steamer Hydrangea on the 12th and reported to you (the Har

On bour Master) but you Monday the 14th you told me to write to you to call an inquiry which I did... The members of the Court then ex- amined the charts of the ship's course.

The President: What was the state of the weather-Rough;"

on the bridge about 6.30 sad the captain sent for his dinner and gave me his course by steering East to South. He told me to look out for Lammocks light. At 0.45 I sighted Lammocks light eaat by the compass. I reported same to the Captain and he told me to keep on the same course About 7 p.m. be relieved mo sad took charge of the watch. I ro mained on deck watching the passage as I was not well acquainted with it, in tending to turn in about 7.30. My watch was from 19 to 4 A1 went to look over the starboard side 1. saw breakers and called out "Hard a'alarboard," which order was repeated by the Captain. Almäst immediately she struck and stop pod almost at once. I went down below to get signal rockets and with the second officer, scat detonators at short in-

up tervals. The ship finally settled down about half an hour afterwards where she was and for the present socmed safe to stay without breaking any more. This was about 2.30. We remained on the bridge standing by the passengers and

crew all night. About 2.30 a.m., she

旷

were...out

Wind North-east to North Forca 7-Six A strong wind...... Nea 1-Rough.

Visibility-Fair.

Weather-Fine; cloudy.

'.

broke in two, the fore part remaining on What speed was the ship making on the rocks and the after part gradually leaving Bill Island --Nine and a half sinking." The amidship part with the knots. It was accelerated later to fanuel remained above water. During about 11. the night we Besisted the passengers as much as possible, and gave them life belts and life buoys. In the morning we found the boat falls all cut The boate were all there but difficult to get at 7.20.

Tho

What time do you call later #1 While you were on the watch 1–No, sir. sogineers put the speed on

What time did the ship strikef-About

About 9 am the steamer Shane Did you check the course on taking over proached and put out boats which tried! to approach the wreck. One man the from the Master?--Yes.

cook, I think, jumped from the wreck and swam to the life bont. The Shanti

then recalled the boat as it was too rough

either been destroyed of had floated away ?—Yes. -

I think six steamers altogether had passed you! About that number.

Two steamora-moored close to you at 8. o'clock, shortly after grounding, and morsed to you but you were unable to reply to them and thea, they departed

Yes:

1

On the Friday two more steamers pass- and took no notice apparently of certain signals put up by the Shanes

That is 50.,

The day you left the ship two further vessels passed and apparently took no notice of the wreck That is so

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not make the attempt until about 9 p.m. Shade card and full particulars post free on application to :— give you a flag signal."

when the tide has turned. We will then A little after two we had the igual. All the British

us. We were helpod on board with lines. It was impossible for the Shansi to launch a bost.". When I recovered, I found the Shanes was under way I' spoke to the master- He said "I have decided to get into Swatow as quick as possible and send out fishermen, which we think is the most suitable thing to get the remainder of the people off the

ties and see if they can send assistance wreck; slag to inform the naval authori to the wreck.". That is all I can state.

Captain Davison: Did the captain-lay the course off himself!

Witness: No. That was a spare chart for the use of the officer of the watch. Afterwards the captain laid off his own chart in his' cabin. ·

Is your memory quite clear as to the course you stopted 1-Yes, B. 8 6 E., error 1 East. The witness repeated his con- wreckersation with the captain which had im- pressed the facta on his memory.

As to the water and food on the what was theret-Hardly any could be got. One of the firemen went down into the wreck and got some tinned meat and biscuits somewhere in the saloon. Wo did not get much to eat and had vary

attle water

The President: What was the state of the weather 1-A vary strong N.W. wind, the port bow, somewhere about N.N.W.

The Fresident: That would be N.E, Witness: It was on the port bow. The President: If you were running esat on the port-bow you could not-got- any west in it..

Witness: I should have said "North-

What was the possibility of getting more at the time you left My opinion was that they would not be able to getThe President: Bo careful, you are

any more.

You and your brother officers wors in the water over two hours, were you not

I was in the water about an hour, What condition were you in when you reached the Shanzi-I was shaking.

was exhausted.

I

By Mr. Jenkins The only other officer who was on duty at the time was the second engineer. The other off cars were all off duty,

SECOND OFFICER'S EXPERIENCES.

Alfred George Corbin, second officer of

Was it magnetic or compass course the Hong Moh, said: Compaxa, course

East

giving this on oath, you know,

The witnoes added that the sea was rough and the visibility was not good; be could see Namos Island.

By Mr. Jonkin: The captain was the left to go below, jobs only officer on the bridge when witness

Mr. Jenkin: It would have been in- possible to pick up the Lammock Light, bearing, oast t

Witness: Yes, we ware far too much southward to pick it up bearing east.

test in Connection with this casualty! You signed a document called A Pro

Yee, as regards the weather. A ** Weather and ass, and gonerally as to course and picking up Lammocks Light.- Yes,

You read that before you signed it1– Yes, but I signed it with the stipulation that a portion I could not swear to be- Did you fix the position of the ship

cause I was not present on the bridge. ** to work the boats. We then signalled her while you wore on watch the March 3rd, at 5.482pm. The master tola In that protest to which you were and she answered that she would try to hammocks light at 6:45. I could see we mo to get a cross-bearing of three points it was picked up was bearing cast, by party you agreed that this light what mve life with rafts standing by to pick were getting close up. Of course I could off the Cape of Good Hope, Bill Island, the compassi--I was not on the bridge thom up. Two rafts were on the bridge. not see the light potil the dark set in. and the middle part of Green Island. I when it was picked up. The other were all

raft She was bearing east when I sighted it. placed this position on the chart, which statementt

But you agree that that was in the was got into the wator bat was At the time we were seven miles away. gave us a departure. The master ins

aft.

I was on the bridge with the master when wo got away from Swatow her, on

Yo

(Continued on pape 7.)

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