1924-04-10 — Page 5

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THE STRANDING OF THE **HEUNGSHAN."

COURT OF ENQUIRY OPENED.

WAS THERE A LIGHT ON JUNK ROCK BUOY?

PILOT COPYTEEMANDS CAPTAIN'S ORDER.

A Cou-s of Enquiry into the of the no. Hrangehn on the

THE

A QUESTION OF AUTHORITY. Asked by Mr. Better if it was customary for him to give orders as to the course, witues said it was.

Without susulting anybody (—Yes, So that you were in virtual control of the ship-Yes,

You countermanded the Captain's tracing order. Who led you to believe that you night of were to have sneh authority on the Heungsna! It comes to this that the

· Captain gave an order, you gave an order and the quartermaster could choose what ever eftirse be pleased?—Yes,

February 95 was held at the Marine Magistracy yesterday at the request of Capt. R. D. Thomas, unster of the visad."

The following were the members of tha¦ Court :-Párat. Comdr. Torway - Hake, Lieut. Coudr. F. J, H. Diw-on, Capt W. Davisno, Capt. P. Going and Capt. J. H. Woolienti. -

Mr. C.. K. Hall Beaton, Sole appeared on behalf of the China Post Officers Guld. and Mr. Elden Potter, K., antisteriat law, represented the owners, the Hongkong, Uanton and Macao Steamboar "Company.

THE PILOT's EVIDENCE O

Can you tell me what, in your opinion, was the cause of the accident (The Erst thing was the Rock showed no light.

When you got to Tai Shak Tau you >niel: * If you want to anchor now this place is all right"?—Yes.

How far would that be from Rock About 5 minutes steering.

On what side of the river were North or South In the middle,

we both banks 415

Junk

you.

I

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, APRIL 102H, 1924

Witaess: The report that I sent down He gave the order to put the helm a-star. board. The Chief Officer then went to to Mr. Arnold was written immediately the starboard wing and yelled out after the occurrence and it is my actual J.-C.; its the Junk Rock buoy "| experience and, therefore, I said to my” immediately afterwards she struck. Witself, when I heard of this countermanding news then noticed the chip was swinging of orders, the best thing I can do, both round and he gave the order "Slow in the interests of the Compaor god head" and "Hard a-port." The ship myself is to leave it in the hands of the was listing badly and he gave order, for Court and leave them to draw it out. the grills to be thrown open and all the have no other reason than this: that passengers brought upon deck. The Chief the best plan was to leave the whole thing Engineer came on the bridge and said to independent judges,

لوم

You had better get her benched." I If you had known of this counteriaand. told him that was whit we were doing, |ing of orders would you have included -

When it in your "report 1-Yer: certainly... making for the North bank. thought we were tanching the button I I put it to "you that it was your gave the order "' Hard a staṛbourd," with | bounden duty to report it to the Com- the idea of getting her out deep water. | pany në' soon as you heard it-I don't I let go. both anchors. We got the lower know about that...

I put it to you that it was your jiuty to have included it in your report it you had known about it -Not if the report had already been made out

You thought your duty was done?—Yes,

deck passengers up from below and soon Well, it would have given them an afterward a number of sampan rams opportunity of sifting it? What opportu- } out from the bank. We hailed then, but ity have they of sifting it now - You they continued to approach, so I drew have the men sitting there. my revolver and fired one shot into the You could

the air. The sampans then stopped. We time-No.

got the boats swung out ready in case Could you

see. Shum Cho village - they were needed and everything was done to make the javengers comfortable. So that you would know that you wers The Krongi then cums alongside and close to Junk Rock ?—Yes.

at daylight we started transferring the passengers. I would not allow the Euro- peans to leave the ship until all the Chinese had been transferred. much easier to explain to them that they were quite safe. They were all trans- ferred without the slightest accident, thanks to great assistance of the Chief Officer, the Second Ofeer, the tallgmen and the Compradore. The flanum pass

There were to opening remarks and the) first witness called was the filor, (heung | Yes. Kum ut i said he passed big examin ation, as a' bevised pilot on March 18th. He was the No. : pilai in the itenagshua am the fists of the stranding, Captain was on the bridge until the ship was thrangh Cap Sul Mun Pass.

PRESSY OF FOu.

The

Before coming to Chan Rok there was ry for Passing Tiger Island at 3 ama.

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|

If you were still in the middle of the river can you tell the Court how you got to the Rock --There was no light on The question was repeated and witness) said there was Bo light there

The rock.

ON THE WRONG COURSE?

You said that you were in the habi of checking the course of the plate by looking ints the compass frequently Very frequently: bot as I romarked, when we get to the narrower parts of the river very often the course is follow- It wasing the curves and therefore not a set

course for any length of true.

not have passed.

You could see the South bank was close and that the North bank was distant

ди it should be. We should That is always be nearer, to the South bank.

It you carried on the course you were on, do you think you walk have passed Junk Rock-I now know that we should I put it to you that you were out of. your ordinary course-I realised that end up a salvage party. About 2 p.m.fterwards, or else we should cot have

M. Moth came alongside and Capt. Brook Smith very kindly sent a wireless been there. We were out too much to neage to Hongkong aking for the warda Junk Rock. salvage parts to be sent as soon posible.

letter on board asking the Secretary to

If you were in the middle of the river they met with fag. As ad a.m. the Chief you would not have hit that rock. I put it Ofer take him a blow the fog whistler, pilot, that the only really possible explanation is that the Henngalia was and then the Caplan returned to the entirely on her wrong oursel-Myed down abon: 10 o'clock and I put a » broige. He asked what time they passeg|course was in the middle of the river.

Tiger hand and at what time they When you suggested anchoring at Tai Shark Tai, was the weather se foggy then dieret vuuras He replied in the first that you should huse anchored that 41. and, in the second 3.12 a.tu. time it was sufficiently clear to see, He informed the Captain, they should You said in evidenes that the Chief

Officer shouted out reuch Blake Päinu ̧nt 142: am

sampats abead They and you replied Not sampans but a slowed down, and iter the Captain rebuoy. Did you see a buoy ?—Yes. marked that they had better anchor: The Was that just befor you struck the Rock --A minute afterwards the ship witnes, papressed a fear of pirates, and

stopped.. suggested thas if they would see Blake Fout they had better alter course. masa.m. they passed Blake Point. Elas

outined to use the usual fig signals. What course was he on-She was on The weather was 'patchy. He altered the starboard bow,

She was nearer to the North bank than gourse and the Captain legraphed for

(you were You, fall speed They then progreded past; Taipan light at 4.16 a m. "He saw the clock at Taipan and he emtld see that its showed 200 G inches. He passed within 130 to 900 feet of the clock. He later saw First Bar, Island and altered course) to proceed to the Iron Gate. He then

A

There was a ship inmediately abead of you?—Yes, theyễnishing.

flow fat was she ahend of you?--Over

300 fret.

On the Court resuming after tifo, Capt. Thomas continued to give evidence. in reply to Mr. Brutton he said that the Heangshan had about 500 passengers on board and from 70 to 100 of a crew.

Mr. Brutton: From Tai Shak Tau to Junk Rock the course usually is S.W. by | H-1-8. When did you notice that this

course was not kept -Some days later. particular night-As always in rain and What were you concentrating on this fegs on objects, looking into the compass is blinding and the actual steering and setting of the course is left to the pilot. He had had many year experience under me as Quartermaster in the fat. han, and he came with me to the Heungshan in 1007. Later I made him I put it you, because I shall tender No. 2 pilot: in 1914, No. 1 pilot. With evidence to prove that there was 1-That such a man i concluded he was a safe night there was no light:

ma. checked him many time by look- Re-examined by Mr. Brutton, witnessing at the compass.

What orders did you give?-Starbound, said that whêu the Chief Officer shouted

LIGHT OR NO LIGHT

I put it to you that there was a light the lay That night there was no light.

signify what he meant, explaining that he always put out his arm so as to make sure that there would be no doubt as to his meaning.

heard a fog signal and later saw the outsampans ahead," and he replied Capt. Thomas threw out his num tö lights of a ship ahead.. He could not dis that it was a buoy, witness said he was tinguish the ship. Passing through the looking for the hudy and could see in his Iron Gate they proceeded slowly. Hind's eye.

The President: Did he see the buoy agail altered course to W. by SPS. Bojor did he see what, he thought was the carried on that course for three minutes hucy!

Witne and the altered course to S.WI-W this boy before the ship struck.

saw what I thought was

when he saw a familiar landuark and

La reply to Lieut. Comir. Dawson, the altered

S. W. by SS. witness said it was low water when the course 10 He proceeded on that exarse until they hip struck.

In reply to the President, the witness got to Tai Shuk Tay where he suggested aid that when the Captain gave the to the Captain that they should Ancharder to starboard the helm and he told as he thought it was clear of pirates, the quartermaster to go to port, the He waited for the Captain's answer. The Captain at the time was talking to the Capt. Woollacott: Has it been your Chinf Officer. He altered course to S.W custom, since you have been a pilot, to by S-1-5. The usual course was S.W.gnore the Chief Officer-When the

by S-1-8. His reason for altering course to .W. by M.-1-S. was that, the ship was past the usual spot tolter course.

CAPTAIN'S ORDER COUSTERMANDED

Witness was in the wheel-house at the time and the Chief Officer informed him there were three sampars in front of the Ship A little later the Chief Officer told him there were other boats ahead, and he replied: it is a buoy." The Master kare an order to starboard the helm.

Mr. Brutton: Did you do anything then I told the quartermaster to port

the helm.

*

core was not altered..

41

TENORING THE CHIEF OFFICER.

Ji

Why is that f-Because whenever the tide is following you up is sety you into the South bank. We try to keep out.

When you saw Sham Che village, didn't you realise that you were out of your ordinary course?-No, sir.

I put it to you that you should have realised it -On a river like the Carton River you have not got the both banks showing up like the Wing On building it only means by seeing the banks that

attribute the accident to the fact that you can see a blick defined line.

Now I rather gather from you that you there was no light on Junk Rock --Ah- solutely,

The ship that came after you was

the Kenys Supposing Captain Maycock was to tell the Court that there was a tight there-adoubtedly, because he followed 1 hours afterwards and the light-keeper had time to trim the light. I am perfectly willing to admit the light was there afterwards.

Did the ship in front see the light ?—-- That I don't know.

Would you object to this Court enquir ing as to that No, sir. **

Well, will tell you frankly that we have plade enquiries, but I am not going to put the result of those enquiries he fore the Court as we are not in a posítiou to call the Captain.

Whod did you know that your order had been disobeyed 1-24 to 8 hours afterward. The pilot then told me that

You agree that the light was fit when be had given a contrary order.

the following ship came on the scene?- Why the order to starboard 1-To miss Yes. Captain Haycock tells me it was.

Had my order not been the sampans

Awuming that the Karungi did ap counterthanded we should have missed the pear on the scene 40 minutes after you spans one of which was the Junk Rock struck, it means that the light-keeper buy Immediately I learnt that one of must have come out and attended to the them was was Junk Rock buoy I should light!

Captain Thonias explained that the then have put the helm hard a port, ordered starboard engine fall speed lightkeeper would have had plenty of astern and the odds are we should have time to trim the lamp after the Hung cleared the Rock. By the time I realised son had struck. that we were at the buoy it was right under the bow,

EXAMINED.

J

Chief is on the bridge he is on duty and CAPT. THOMAS SEVERELY CROSS- the pilot has authority in alter course.

Aid you paid no attention the Chief Officer-Usually We pick our

Course

own COUNTERMANDING OF URDEES NOT REPORTED

"TO THE COMPANY.

Do you dy the Chief Officer, or not 1-Sot always

In reply to Mr. Brutton Capt. Thomas

He chooses whether the Chief Officer is said he saw no light. The look-out man an efficient officer or not It be is a new reported no light." If he had seen the hand I pick my own course; if he knows light he would have put the helm hard the river I pay attention to him. a-port and they might just possibly have

cleared it to the North.

Then he (the "pilot) knows more than the master of the ship I can't say, in this case I usually pass North of the

buoy.

* ¢

Did you hear the pilot give the order for "hard a-port"-No, had I done so there would have been fireworks on the THE CAPTAIN'S ORËZ OBYED. bridge.(Laughter.) It was through Chung Wing, the quartermaster on things like this that I have invented a duty at the wheel al the time of the tell-inle system which all our ships have stranding, said he obey the Captain's adopted. They are too little discy mov order to starboard the belm just before on the bridge which show the way What was the reason ?—We always pass the ship struck.

the belm is moving. the North of the buoy..

Mr. Brutton: You mean you did not You beliers that the Quartermaster Continuing withless said that the Chief have time to port your helm as the pilot tried to obey your order and then tried "Officer at that time shouted out “Jank ordered As the Captain gave the order to-in fact he certainly did-obey the I could not obey the pilot at the same pilot-He tried to obey the first; as to Rock Buoy," He gave the order to time.

the second order I am certain he did; How long after did the ship strike otherwise she would not have swung port" before the Chief Officer haw the

the rock Not long afterwards,

round to the North.

Cross-examined by Mr. Potter: That buoy.

was a matter of very great importance Have you ever reported to the Com

DA

At any rate, you countermanded the Zaster's order. Immediately you gave

the order did the ship strike?—Yes.

Did the Captain give any order to stop the engines at that time-Yes..

BRACHING THE VIZUEL

THE CAPTAIN'S EVIDENCE

and Captain of the . Hengshan, said

Capt. R. D. Thomas, master mariner-Yes.

!!

o had been 28 years and 9 months in pay this fact of the countermanding of the service of the Hongkong, Canton and orders 7-No.. Macao Steamboat. Company, He had

Was the light re fit after that I won't say that it was out; he might havé come out and trimmed it.

I also put it to you that you were too close to the steamer ahead of you!-No sir.

the

Moreover, that the vessel in front obscured your view -No..

Well, you were well out of your snat eourne -Not to my knowledge at tine. thought it was ebb. but we found it was.

What was the state of the tide?-We

flow.

What speed wore you going-Eight kupts an hour.

could tell the state of the tides in the

Witness went on to say that no map) Canton river within an hour and a half.

Have you ever known, the light to be I put it to you that you realised that out before 1-No. It is very dim at times. you were out of your course at Shum Cho village -Why ?

Because you should have known- your drawing Have you ever heen in room at night time, and bave you never lost your bearings and buraped against a chair or the corner of a table a room that you walked in hundreds of times? dark night on the river. If so, you realise what, it is like os a You have to remember that it is only a matter of leet

to put you on the rock

I put it to you that you haven' system on board the licungshan of allowing the pilot to set the course, otherwise this

I put it to go the Company never accident would not have occurred 1-No.

been in command for 25 yenes and 6 krew of this until this morning-Because monthy, On the night of the stranding I had already asked for a Court of After the accident the Chief Officer he was in command. He saw the vessel Enquiry and I knew the whole thing aid he was going to got the carpenter through the Pass and then gave orders would then he sifted Mr. Arnold, the to see if the vessel was making water, to be called if there was any change of Company's Secretary, wrote up to me and

the weather.

He was awakened by the said the Directors had given orders that The ship was listing badly. She was whistle, grabbed his overcoat and rushed I was to ask for a Court of Enquiry, making water and the Captain said they on to the bridge and made enquiries 24 immediately wrote back to the Harbour had better beach the ship. The Captain and came back to the bridge. At Tai

to position and Inter weat and dressed Master asking for the Court to be held

Do you suggest that you did not know told him to put the telegraph Slow Shak Tau the pilot said to him, "If you of this countermanding of orders until abuad" and to put the helm "hard want to anchor now, this is the place." after sending in your report? Yes. a-port." As the ship was being driven Witness replied that as they could see both Then I put to your that it should have sabore the Captain told him to put the banks of the river they would carry onwen your duty to have done so 1-I don't helm hard to starboard, the reason being up the river to vai Sitek, their usual agree. It was coming before the Court, to get her on to the sand.

anchorage. Shortly after passing Tai Why should I?

Asked if he saw a green light or a Tight of any description on Junk Rock Buoy, the witness said he saw no lights on the sampans which he passed.

Shak Tau they passed three sampans on Mr. Pottor: First, because the ship the starboard side. Then shortly after-belonged to the Company and, secondly, wards he saw what he took to be three in your own interest, you should have or four sampans on the starboard bow. done so.

sir. On a dark night he is the only man that can do it. If I am looking into a compass I would be blinded and could not see the banks.

The witness, in reply to Mr. Brutton. said that the lamp trimmer lived at Shum Cho village, and added that he knew that he was allowed so much oil per month, and if the light trimmer gould save a few cents on oil it was quite likely that he would do it.

In conclusion, Captain Thomas asked permission to make a statement, he said: I realise that I made a mistake in not taking statements from all the men after the accident as to the cause, but it all seemed so clear that I thought I was perfectly safe in leaving it without get. ting any written statements.

At this stage the Enquiry adjourned.

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