1933-03-17 — Page 9

THE STRANDING OF THE S. S. ANTUNG

ENQUIRY. AT MARINE COURT: CAPTAIN AND OFFICERS HELD BLAMELESS

GRAPHIC STORY OF GROUNDING AND

SUBSEQUENT PANIC

The circumstances surrounding the stranding of the s.3. Antung which occurred at Mofu Point, Hainan Island on the morning of March 6 were inquired into at the Marine Court yesterday. Com- mander J. B. Newlll, D.5.0., R.N.(Retd.), acting Harbour Master, presided and was assisted on the Bench by Lt.-Comdr. G. B. Rud. yard Helpman, R.N., Capt. J. Lennio, master of the Raby Castle, Capt, B. Lloyd, master of the Adrastus, and Capi, D. S. Pethick, master of the Hopsang.

i

A graphic story of the grounding and the subsequent com motion caused by the panic-strick passengers and the desert- tion of the Chinese crow was given by the master, Captain Re ginald Ashby who attributed the cause of the accident to "heavy fog and an abnormal south-westerly current which carried bin twelve miles off his course.”

After an adjournment lasting three hours, the Court found "that no blame is attached to the master or officers, and that the ship was navigated with proper and seamanlike care."

CAPTAIN BADLY LET DOWN BY CHINESE CREW

Mr. George K. Hall Brutton re- time of stranding, in other words, presented the master and the officers 1.464 knots per hour more than he of the 2.8 Antung on the instruc-allowed. tions of the Navigators and In- ». surance Cb., Ltd., and the China Coast Officer Guild respectively, while Mr. M. M. Watson watched the case on behalf of the Ching Navigation Co., the owners of the

Tobici,

CAPTAIN'S STORY Captain Reginald Harold Gordon Aabby, the master of the s.8. An- tung, we first called and said that he had been master of the Antung since August 1939. He had great deal of experience of the Hainan Straits, having been master of the

8.A.

Panic on Board, Regarding the steps taken, to save lives, witness said he gave orders to the Chief Officer to muster all hands as quickly as possible, to take out lifeboats and buoys, and in general to prepare the boats for launching,

There was an immedinte rush for the boats as soon as the ship struck, by more than 300 of the male pas sengore. His

officers and anti-

piracy guards were instrumental in calming them down.

All passengers were assembled on the bont deck and supplied with its belts within ten minutes of the ship'e grounding.

FL

Kweiyang running between Hong Kong Hoihow. Singapore and Bangkok between March 1929

The immediate cause of the loss and May 1930. In October, 1930 he became the master of the Anhui, of life, declared witness, was sistor ship of the Antung, which second panic at 5.30 a.m. when he was of the Hong Kong-Singapore, decided to shandon ship. run rio Amoy, Swatow and Hoi how. He held that position for 18 months after which he was trans- ferred to the Shanghai Ninpo run in command of the Hainpekin un

afterwards was estimated to he The loss of life which occurred about 50 passengers and approx- imately 20 crow.

The starboard side lifeboats were out of commission owing to the

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, MARCH 17. 1933.

hai rescred well over 200 of his pas- seligers. They worked under very trying weather and sea conditions.

The time occupied ià making thesa trips between the wrecked ship, and the Anhui 'on several occasions took as long as two-and-a-half

CONSTRUCTION OF TYTAM TUK CATCHWATERS

hours. To transfer passengers from LEG SLATIVE COUNCIL APPROVES SPENDING OF $690,000

the lifeboats to the ss. Anhui was

made extremely dificult and hazar:

dous owing to the heavy swall at the time, but all passengers and crew were transferred to the 8,8. Anhui without loss of life or in- jury.

In reply to Mr. Brutton witness said that conditions "had changed quickly after the ship struck Prior to the sun rising, the wind' freshoned considerably and the swoll increased to such an extent that before 0a.m. the ship was pound- ing very heavily on the rocks.

Tribute to Officers, **After striking," said witness, "all my officers and engineer off- cars, my wireless operator, and my doctor, all behaved in the most magnificent manner. I have the greatest admiration for the officer- under my command."

"I attribute the grounding of my vessel to an abnormal south westerly ast, to be exact, 19 miles more than I allowed and to the heavy fog."

In reply to Commander Newill. Captain Ashby said that after the stranding he saw the tide was run- zing into Hainan Straits, but he could not say whether it was rising or not.

This Concluded Capt. Ashby's Evidence and the Court then ad journed for ten minutes.

The Chief Engineer,.

chief engineer, said that about 3 On resumption, Robert Barclay, a.m. on March 5 he was in the en- gine room when he received a chit from the Captain to reduce the re- volutions to 85-9 knots. He did so and from that time till the stranding there was no other al- teration.

John Edwards Story, 2nd, officer, said he was on the bridge on the

morning of March 5 and called the captain at 1 a.m. The Captain came up two or three minutes later, The weather conditions were the same, with a gentle breeze and a slight swell.

The log had not- beca- changed, and the bearings were the saine as he had received from the Captain before he had gone down.

CAPT. LUPTON OF THE ANHUI

]

Three Lakhs To Be.

Spent This

Year

IMPORTANT NEW BILLS PASS FIRST READING

At yesterday's meeting of the Legislative Council a sum of $300,000 was voted, to be spent during the financial year 1933, in the construction of the Tytam Tuk Catchwaters which, it is estimat- ed, would cost a total of $690,000.

A resolution by the Colonial Treasurer relative to the "duty on tobacco was also approved, mibject to several minor amendments,

Four new Bills passed their preferoace of 7 conts per pound i the Bill to amend the Criminal unstripped and of 8 or 9 couts per His Excellency the Governor, Sir pound (according to the degree of William, Poel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E., moisture) if stripped. presided. Others prestat were :-

H.E. the General Officer Com manding the Troopa (Major-General O. C. Barrett, C.B., QM.G., C.B.E, D.8.0.)..

The Hon, the Colonial Secretary (fr. W. T. Sonthorn, C.M.G.).

The Hon. the Attorney-General (Mr. C. G. Alabaster, K.O.. O.B.E.) The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer Mr. Edwin, Taylor).

The Hon. Mr. E. D. O. Wolfe (In- spector General of Police).

The Hon. Dr. A.. R. Wellington (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services).

The Hon. Mr. R. M. Henderson (Director of Public Works). '

The Hon. Sir Henry Pollock, K.C. The Hon. Sir William Shenton. The Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall, C.M.G. LL.D.

The Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga. The Hon. Mr. S. W. Tso, O. B. E., LLD.

The Hon. Mr. C. Gordon Mackie. The Hon. Mr.. T. N. ChauL Mr. R. A. C. North (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

TYTAM TUK

|

In Part B, preferences are also given as shown in the Table. To | counterbalance the preferences the duty on non-Empire cigarettes is raised from 90 cents to 99 cents per pound and the duty on snuff, cigar cuttings and manufactured tobacco which is neither of Empire mann- facture nor Chinase is also raised from 90 cents to 50 cents per pounil.

An amendment is, howover, going to be moved making minor adjust ments in the figures.

The Colonial Secretary secundet). Hon. Attorney General: Siner that resolution was published the Superintendent of Imports, and Ex- ports has said that five of these figure involve difficulty in all- tion and I therefore move as an amendment that the final figure on the first page (79 cents) be raised to 80 cents. In paragraph 2 of (B) on the second page, 81 cents be re- duced to 80 cents and 90 cents ho raised to 81 and in paragraph 3 similarly 8 cents be changed to 80 | conta and 09 cents to 31.00. I there. fore move these modifications of the resolution.

The Hon. Mr. Hallifax: I beg to second.

These amendments were put to the meeting and carried unanimous,

In moving the resolution relative to the Tytam Tuk Catchwater con- strnction work, the Hon. Colonial Secretary said: The Resolution standing in my name is in connec-17. tion with extensions to the Tytam Tuk catchwaters. These extensiona are referred to on page 13 of the memomdum on the Public Works Estimates, which was laid on, the table when the Budget for 1033 wis introduced.

The total estimated expenditure is $600,000, of which it proposed to spend $300,000 this full development of the Tytam Tuk reservoir and has been frequently discussed only to be postponed for Provision is made

CRIMINAL APPEAL

ORDINANCE

the first. reading of A Bill to The Attorney General in moving" amend the Criminal Procedure Or dinance, 1809" said: implements the replies given in this, Council on the 4th December, 1930,

"This Bill

til June, 1831 when he returned to heavy seas breaking over the shin. the Anhui, was then called, and he year. The work is necessary for the to the questions of the Hon. Mr. J.

take command of the Anhui,

The Fateful Trip. Referring to this particular trip, Cap. Ashby said that from the time of departure from Swatow he ex perienced light air increasing to gentle breeze with a slight easter ly sea up to the time of the strand ing.

He began with a few women and children including his wife and baby son and a few members of the crow who handled the boat.

Mr. J. J. Lincoln the third off. cer, fell off while this boat was be- ing launched. As 8000 as it was released and, cans on a level with the main deck about 40 or 30 male passengers jumped into it, crushing the women and children in the bot tom of the boat.

Fron Gap Rock, under these con- ditions, he allowed approximately 0.1 or one mile per hour; in other

At the same

time the violent words, he estimated his speed over lurching of the veskel dashed the the distance as 10 knots. That was boat against the ship's sido, catch always the allowance he made, ovaning the Chief Officer's legs and in a moderate monsoon, and it had causing him excruciating pain to Always been correct.

the point of fainting.

Women Rescued.

Braga by providing for the as- tablishment of a Court of Criminal Appeal on the lines generally of the English Act of 1807 and of the Straits Settlements Ordinance of 1931. The provision in section 78 of the principal Ordinance, No. 9 of 1830 which orubled the trial for the consideration of the Full judge to reserve questions of law Court is retained as it is a useful power to retain and in certain cases will prove more convenient then resort to the provisions for appeals which are to be provided by the new sections 78A, B and C to be added to the principal Or- dinance by this Bill. Under these sections the Full Court will have (a) That this Council approves power in a proper case to order the construction of the Tytan new trials as well as to quash, com- Tuk Catchwaters at an esti-victions, and alter sentences, The mated cost of $300,000, new section 10 will enable the Chief (b)-That this Council authorise | Justice, with the approval of the the said sum of 8090,000 to | Council, to make rales for the as- be charged to a future loan signing of legal aids in capita! and aanctions an advance of cases, apeaks and caser reserved. At a sum of $300,000 to be spant present such aids are only assigned during the financial year 1933 in capital cases. from the surplus balances of the Colony,"

I now move —

Douglas Lupton, the master of said that he was proceeding from Singapore vin Hoihow to Hong Kong. He had considerable ex-1 of finds. perience of the Hainan Straits, but in the current year's Estintos on never before had he experienced a set from Gap Rock to the Tayn page 114 along with the other loan works, resolutions for which were Islands in the North East monsoon, He had picked up Taya Islands approved by Council at the scoting before daybreak many times before. after the 1933 Budget had heen on 6th October last immediately On this trip he left Singapore on February 28 and had experienced passed. The reason for not at the same time moving a resolution to fine weather with. no North East cover the Tytam Tuk catchwaters current. When rounding the North was that the sanction of the Secro West part of Hainan Island betary of State had first to heal fore sunset on March 5 the wea

tained to charge the cost to loan ther was very clear. He first fixed funds. This sanction has now been his position before sunset with

given. Mount Etna forty-eight miles away and with Bluff Point 50 miles away. The boat capsized on reaching the His course then was to meet Lanko water, throwing the occupants into Light, but that was not seen, and About & p.m. on March 5 he had the water. Witness' amah, his perhe then bad the idea for the first written his orders for the night, sonal boy, his steward, and a few time that the horizon was not as stating that he should be called at members of the crew were drowned clear as it seemned. He then ran 1a.m. or before if it became misty.in this boat.

into the range of Kami Light, but The second officer was on watch A few were pulled up the ship's when that was not seen he deter- from midnight. Witness was not sides by ropes, including his wife mined to anchor at 4:55 a.m. où called until 1 a.m. when he got and baby son, after the No. 2 Rus March 5. on the bridge and took command. sinn Anti-Piracy Sergeant and Mr. He checked the bearings which were A. J. B. Jones, passenger from after he had anchored, and a thick maintained, the weather conditions Singapore had gone into the water mist descended. At this time of being the same relating to wind, and tied ropes round the women the year the current was from half ser and swell.

and children.

to one knot from Gap Rock to the The visibility was about six to The next boat was the No. 4 life-Taya Islands with a slight easterly seven miles.

About 2.30 am, boat. When this boat got below the wind, slight sea and swell. If sighted two junks on the port bow. anti-piracy grille on the saloon deck, there had been any current for the They were visible until six or with 30 passengers already in it, few previous days, he would have seven minutes after three o'clock about 70 more panicstricken pas- experienced it. If he had experi- With the glasses he could see their sengers jumped into it.

enced a current of more that one. sails considerably over three or four

knot-he-would call it abnormal.. miles,

After leaving Gap Rock he was not able to make any observations by land of sun.

After the boat cleared the versol it cansized with the oxcessive num-

At 3.20 am, the course was al-bers in it. tered to N 85 W by standard com- 1498, and at 3.30 a.m. to N 65 W. by the same compass. This altera- tion was momentary in order to allow him to lay his course on the chart.

a.m.

The Stranding,

Second Officer Threatened. No. 6 life-boat was next lowered in charge of the Second Office, Mr. Story. As soon as it started off, it was also rushed by about 20 male passengers. After being low At 3.34 m. he again altered ered and released from the ship, course to N 55 W by standard com- these passengers refused to allow pass, and the ship stranded at 3.49 the Second Officer to return for the Prior to the stranding. he women and children on board and was slowly turning to go back on showed a threatening attitude to his opposite course, intending towards the officer. Members of the run a mile or so on each course, crew who were in the boat also abow- endeavouring to pick up the North ed a similar threatening disposi Taya island. He should have been tion. This boat was rowed away on the opposite course by 4 a.m. and eventually picked up by the Hia alterations were exactly in ae- 8.3. Anhui which came to the as cordance with previous practice on all ocasions, and he had never failed before to pick up the islands by 4 m. even with the strongest monsoon prevailing,

sistance.

The weather shut down complete-

At 10.20 a.m, on March 8 he ap- proached the Antung and anchored at 10.45 a.m. He immediately took steps to save the passengers and crew. His first boat was away from the ship ut 11.15 m. and after that four other boats left the ship. The first boat was back by 12.45 p.m. The first few boats brought all the women and children. He altogether saved 286 passengers, 60 crew and one foreigner. He experi- enced no North East current with South Western set from Padarang.

". Captain Becalled. Captain Ashby was then recalled.

Seconded by the Colonini. Secre- tary the bill passed its first read-

The Hon. Mr. Taylor: I beg to ing. second.

1

The Hon. Sir Henry Pollock I would like to know when these works are likely to be completed?

The Hon. Mr. Henderson: Thesis will be completed about next year. sir.

The motion was then approved.

TOBACCO DUTIES

In moving the resolution relative to duties on tobacco details of which have been published in the Daily Press, the Colonial Treasurer said: The resolation I zum about to move is one of the results of the Ottawa Conference, and is already in force by virtue of the order made first reading yesterday including

Procedura Ordinance.". by Your Excellency under the Revonus Protection Ordinance and published in the Gazette of the 17th February, 1933. In Part A of the Tablo, Empire Tobacco is given &

FORTUNE TELLING. In moving the first reading of "A Bill to amend the Surinary Offences Ordinance, 1932," the At- torney General said:"Hitherto fortune telling outside temples has been dealt with by proceeding- un- der the Vagraney Act of 1931. It seems better to deal with the prac tice, as is done in the Straits Set- tlement, under a local Ordinance passed by this Council. This Bill adds, accordingly, a now section to the recent Summary Offences Or

inance

The bill, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, passed its first reading.. The Attorney General then mov- nmond the New Territories Ordin ed the first reading of a Bill to

ce, 1010. He said: "The affect of this short Amending Ordinance is explained in the Memorandum of Objects and Reason attached to

In reply to Commander Newill, Reginald Harold Gordon Ashby The Bill duly passed its frat he said that off Gap Rock the pat- who holds a certificate of compereading, after it had been recorded ent log showed 176, and at 3.20 a.m. tency No. 3688, Hong Kong, was by, the Colonial Secretary. it showed 363, which was a dif-master, left Swatow on March 4, FULL COURT ORDINANCE =| 1933 on a voyage to Singapore via forence of 187 miles.

Hoihow.

►

The Second Officer returned to the

The Attorney General next mov- Asked whether he had any ren- vessel with people from the s.. Anhui, and thereafter. from 0.30 son to suspect the inaccuracy of "That there were on board 420 ed the first reading of a Bill to the log, Captain Ashby anid that passengers and a crew of 110. amend and consolidate the Full a.m. till 5.30 p.m. rescue work was On working back his position be undertaken from the other ship. be was only using the log as a "That the ship stranded on Hai- Court Ordinance. He said: "Some fore the stranding on the courses Without orders,. Capt. Ashby con. rough guide for the reason that nan Island at 3.40 a.m. on March change in the provisions of the steered to the time of his first altinued, his sailors including the bo- for the last three or four months 6 and was subsequently abandoned. existing Full Court Ordinances teration of the course at 3.20 a.m. sun, had left the ship on a raft, he had been running on three logs "That the cause of the strand- necessitated by the stablishment he estimated his position in accord this being approximately at 10 am. from Swatow to Singapore and back ing was an abnormal current and of a Court of Oriminal Appoul

for experimental purposes, on in-mist obscuring the land

or that in the Colony and in Other changes remilt from devi ance with not allowed for to be Ho had no Chinese crow left, ex- correct, placing the North Taya cept the carpenter and a few fire structions from his Marine Super- "That whon the ship was aban

kland Eat a distance of five men

intendent, and neither of these logs doned the boats were rushed and Shanghai the Chief Justice of Hong miles. The position of the wreck The Chief Officer, Second. En-on a daily run of 24 hours had approximately 50 passengers and 20 Kong and the Judge of His Majes from the North Tayd Island was ginger, and one or two others had over agreed with each other of horny lost their lives, tye Supreme Court for Cluna 17 miles. This alteration of the had great difficulty in swinging off much as ten to twenty miles. course, in conjunction with working the afterboat.

THE FINDING

back, gave him a southwesterly It as eventually lowered, and

set of twelve miles over and above his speed of ten knots per hour.

In other words, he had allowed for, approximately ten knots for south westerly set over the distance On these figures, his ship had done 11:464 knots from Gap Rock to the

about 30 or more passengers rush-

ed into this boat, released it and

After an adjournment fasting pulled away. They were seen on three hours the Court returned the the beach within half an hour of following anding :-

We Be Wind that the 8 Antang, leaving the ship.

Continuing, Capt. Ashby said that is No: 154000, London of which the boats sent out by the as An- (Continued at foot of next Column)

The Court has taken into con should respectively preside in their sideration the experience of the local Full Courts. The opportuni- master of the .8 Raby Castle who ty has been taken to revise, the is a member of this Court and who whole of the provisions of the exist also experienced an abnormal curing Full-Court Ordinance and to rent when approaching Hong Kong. consolidate them in the manner in-

That no blame is attached to dicated in this Bill." the master or officers, and that the ship was navigated with proper and Benmanlike care."

The Colonial Secretary seconded

and the bill passed its second read-

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