Outóber 19, 1907.1
Witzion added that the captain told him he considered it necessary to leave on Saturday afternoon for Nagasáli to get there by the fifth as it was typhoon season,
By the Court-He did not see the captain's orders to be at Nagasaki on the 5th.
Sub-Lieutenant Taitmid he was keeping watch on the 'Flors" on the night of the 28th when the ship, was entering the harbour. After alearing Lysemoon Pass they had to alter their course twice to alear junks and had to reduce speed for about two minutes. The ship was brought back to her original course. There was very little time between the first and second alterations. He could see land indistinctly on the starboard bow before the ship-struck. The harbour seemed full of shipping. Both leadsmen kept the lomis going all the time but there were no soundings. The speed was reduced about four minutes be- fore the ship struck. When the“ Flors" struck she keeled to starboard and struck three times. He immediately called to the boatswain to clear the decks and fall in, and he closed all the watertight compartments. When he went to the upper bridge he heard the cap tain my "No, that's not ground we have struck; it is only a buoy. ” The engines were immediately put astern. Before the ship struck he could not distinctly see sy land on the starboard bow.
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Grom-examined by Captain Nugent- He had never been to Hongkong before. It was:on, sccount of the numerous lights on land and shore that made it impossible to pick out the ** Tamar,
Cross-examined by Lient, Mackenzie Grieve ---He noticed a big building ahead on the part bow, which he made out to be on the Hongkong side. At the time of striking the light was not sufficient to see distinctly. He found difficulty an account of the halo east by the steaming light and frequently they were almost upon junks before they saw them.
By Captain de Horsey-He was certain she healed to starboard.
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By Captain Brakine-She was on a steady course when she struck.
Lieutenant Stanley, who was stationed on the forensile when the "Fiors was entering the harbour, spoke to her course_ being altered after clearing Eyeemoon Pass to olear several junks. The night was smooth, calm, and dark. He thought there was moon- light but it was not very clear. When the vessel struck he thought they were further up the harbour on the island side. He did not know whether the searchlight was ready at the time or not.
Petty Officer Henry Adams, quartermaster of the watch when the ship was entering the barbour on the 28th August, mid he could see a lot of lights but could not my whether they were on shore or on janks. After the alteration of course he was told to steer by the compass. She was on steady course for six or seven minutes before she sternok.
Crom-examined by Captain Nugent-He could see the top of the land bat could not see the waterline.
Leading Seaman Gillett said he was doing duty su boatswain's mate on the night in ques
tion.
Es declared that neither houses nor suything else could be made out. Hasing - described the striking of the "Flora," he said VORMƏ Off AE EDAN sa the engines went astern Chief Yeoman of fliguala Bell said, that on the night in question the outline of boats could not be men, nor could he see the lights of the "Tam ir" fashing. Coming up the harbour, he could non large buildings ahead,
Cross-examined by Captain Nugent-He ocmaislared it hard to judge distances that night.
Cross-examined by Lieut, Mackensie Grieve Witness had been asked by that officer to point out, the “Tamur's" lights. They could be seen whow ther flashed, By the Court
line
dock
Teemoon.
He could not see the land
fight mid he was on duty on question when the "Flors" barbour. The moon kand the objects could not be
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than: 160 yards distant, he could only see the Bashed her Hghts. They
of junka: He could not ễ make out any objects on the minebound-aida, but
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
259
could see lights which seemed like window | lot of work to be done, before he set out for lights. He could not see the outline of any Nagasaki, and in order to save time he decided houses or chimneys. He was looking out for to enter Hongkong at night. He find entered signals when they passed the "Tamar."
Lieutenant Richards, navigating lieutenant night and he anticipated no dificulty in enter- Hongkong three years ago both by day and by on board H.M.8. "Monmouth," pointed out on ing. Outside Lyesmoon Pass there was a fairly the chart the bearings shown on the books of good moon, and the points of the land could be. the Navigating Officer of the "Flora." The seen distinctly. tide up till 11 o'clock on the night in question the moon course was altered through the Lysemoon l'ass was practically nil. From 11 o'clock when the there were no fixes on the cross bearings. He estimated the position at 11.20 when the ship" course was altered south 80 degrees east to be eight cables from the red light on Quarry Point. He assumed tide was running about one knot or less, setting towards Quarry Point, After the turn was made the tide would pro- bably set the ship 100 yards towards Hunghom Point thus placing the ship 100 yards south of No. 2 dooking buoy,
Seaman Cameron said he was on duty on the night in question. He was stationed on the fore upper bridge. At times he could see some distance. When the “Tamar" answered the "Flora's" signal he could not make her out. That part of the harbour was a confused mass of lights. He could not see any houses or chimneys and he could not distinguish whether the lights visible shortly before the "Flora" struck were electric or not.
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Seaman Godself, stationed on the fore bridge of the "Flora," said he was starboard lookout on the night in question. Before the ship struck he did not report anything. He did not see any lights or anything on the starboard.
Beaman MeWha, on duty on port look out said be mede no reports on the way into the harbour. He saw some junks but did not report them. Before the ship struck he did not see anything. There was land on either side.
Besman Burnett Warne, port leadsman, said he got no soundings until the ship struck.
Seaman Wheble, starboard leadsman, said he was in the chains from 11 o'clock but picked up no soundings. On the way he noticed white lights on store. He could see te lind. The lights were about 200 or 300 yards. When the ship struck the sounding he got was mark 5 and on her coming off he got mark 8.
Artificer soket said the engines were reduced for about four or five minutes after eleven o'clock. They were reduced from 72 to slow. When the ship struck it was about a minute before the engines went astern. They were stopped immediately on striking. Striking did not make any difference in the engines.
Lieut. Riobards was recalled.
Cross examined by Captain Nugent-In the position he had marked on the chart he had allowed less then one knot for the tide. He allowed no deviation. According to the latest deviation tables there was a deviation of one degree in two minutes. That would tend to put the ship more easterly, and in the position in which she found herself,
Captain Nugent submitted that the letter which he had pat in was not evidence before the Court.
Witness added that the new buildings on Blackhead's Point considerably altered the appearance of that point. In the early part of his evidence his calculations were based on the position of the buoy which he found, was incorrectly placed.
Captain Nugent said the Court was not aware of the erroneous position of the buoy aut he suggested that the position be taken from some well defined point such as
the Dooks.
Witness then stated the position of the ship from the Admiralty dook gate at Kowloon and indicated that the position marked on the chart was where with the data in his possession he had calculated the ship would have been at 11.25.
By Captain Nugent-The ship would have gone clear of Cust Books if she had continued south 63 west and not altered her course when the buoy was sighted.
Certain other questions were asked but woes disallowed by the Court.
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Inside Hongkong harbour was obscured by olonda and difficult to make out anything. The search- owing to the innumerable Higħts it was found lights were ready but he did not consider it advisable to employ them as steamers might lave been coming out of the barbour. Before coming into the harbour he told Lieut. Mackenzie Grieve that as he had only been ones in Hongkong before he (Captain Nugent) was prepared of anything happening. As to the charge to take all responsibility in the grant of neglect he submitted that no evidence
bad been produced to substantiate that. He explained that when he found the busy on the port buoy he was puzzled and after a minute's consideration he came to the conclusion- that it must be either No. 1 Admiralty buoy or else a large mooring laid down in miti channel for merchant ships. He was further misled by the new buildings on Blackheads Point which completely altered the appearance of that point. He had ascertained since the accident that the buoy was 450 yards south quarter must of its proper position. Had it been in its proper place he would not have seen it and the course he was steering would have taken him- clear of the Cast Rooks. He attributed the grounding of the ship to the erroneous position of this boy. He considered Lient. Mackensie Grieve an able officer and he was in no way to blame for that the richest port in the world should what occurred. He thought
be accessible at all times and if the accident leads to some improvement in the lighting of the bay some good may have resulted thereform. In conc`usion he added that he had been in the servico nearly 33 years and that was the first occasion on which his conduct had been called in question. For 27 yours be had been narigating officer on all classes of ships without accident and had during Ave yours beeu ia command of four of His Majesty's ships.
were
Lieutenant Mackenzie Grievo's statumont, read by his friend, said that the new godowan on Blackend's Point had caused bim ti think Island. There
it WAS part of Hongkong по prominent points by which he could fix the position of the ship and when the captain altered the course he (Lisat, Mackensie Grieve) saw no reason to differ from his position. His belief at the timə
Admiralty buoy. was that the buoy they had seen was No. 1 piloted a ship, a small sloop, into Hongkong He had only onos b-fors harbour. Since then many alterations had been made in the way of reclamation and other works of which he had no intimation on the charts. Under the circumstances he submitted that the charge of neglect had failed and the ulmost he sou'd be blamed for was an error of judgment.
Lient, Butterworth mid he received the Com. modore's order to verify the position of Ne, 2 dooking buoy and the result showed that it was roughly 450 feet south quarter sast of the position marked on the obärt. It was not an authorised position. His position was correct within 10 or 15 feet. He had no idea how long the buoy was in its present position. He may no reason why the buoy should have shifted its position between the 28th August and the 21st September. As the King's Harbour Master it was his duty to have a govorni knowlege of the buoys and moorings in the man of wae anchor. age. He did not consider the telegraph Mght on Hunghom Point a navigational light. He did not think it was shown on the chart. Witness. believed the light had been moved,
Do you think the Admiralty chart and sailing directions gɩre sny-idea-se to the direction and strength of the tides in Hosnko «Harbour F · No. It wonki be impossikka
Lieut. Seriron mid he'1⁄2 This concluded the case for the prosecution | moders's or lees to verify. and the Court was adjourned for an hour and a dooking buoy and found half at the request of Captain Nugent.
south-quartae sunt.
He
Captain Nugent read his statement of defence. | red light on Hunghom Point sản At the outset he gave his reasons for entering / light and he would not uan. ik - comi the harbour at the time he did. There was a harbour.
the Oom- jou of No. 1
450 feet-
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