THE ELINGAMITE WRECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 68, 4 December 1902, Page 2

THE ELINGAMITE WRECK.

SECOND OFFICER'S EVIDENCE

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, last night. Mr Reuaut deposed that he —. " second officer since April. He was watch from midnight, to -1 in the morning of the casualty. The wheelmen of ins watch were Tallon and Tanner. The steamer's position given at noon on Saturday Was not the true position. The captain remarked that he was a few iniius uoilhwards of Ins truo course ; he did not remember bow many miles, but not, more than live or six. Tiie log fouled on >Satmd,i\ '■ ternoon, showing about eight miles short. He was not aware now long it had been fouled. The weather was thick during his watch on Sunday. Ait 3 a.m. he awakened the captain, and reported that the weather was getting worse. 'Hie captain looked and said that, he did not think it, was as nail as it appeared, ami if it, lieeanie worse to call hint again. it. was slightly better at four o'clock, when the chief officer relieved him. He gave the Grief the captain's instructions. He Knew they were then well clear of the land according to the position worked tho day before. lie relieved the third officer at nine o’clock, the captain being in charge. He worked Die position by dead reckoning shortly alter nine. They were eleven miles west and south of the Kings. lie allowed twelve knots speed from noon on Saturday. lie reported Ug.v— — captain, and the captain replied, “ All right.” Witness then retired to his own room till lie heard the telegraph ring. Jlc went on deck and saw rocks. He went on the bridge immediately. The rocks were on the port side and right, ahead, two or uirec lengths, .m the port, haw. 'Hie vessel was still moving, lie noticed nothing special about, the color of the water. The telegraph rang several times before lie reached the bridge, and when the. vessel was still moving ahead. Continuing his evidence, Mr Rcna.ut said that he thought, there was ample time for the engines to reverse ..More the steamer struck. He was unaware

why they did not reverse, lie thought, she struck bow first. He was not sensible of any movement in the engineroom. Mr Ilaseldeu : We are satisfied that Ihe people on deck were not sensible oi a movement, in the engine-room. Witness; rout inning, said that, he had not heard any hammering. He had no reason to believe, that there was faulty steering. On the previous voyage they were carried southward by a current and picked up the Cape Maria light. Thov took every precaution, and did not ’run ashore intentionally. FURTHER EVIDENCE. Captain M. T. Clayton and the Chief Officer, Mr Burkett, gave evidence at to the position of the wreck. Mr F. Chambers, the purser, said that, lie heard the telegraph an appreciable time before the vivssel struck. It would not lie more than four minutes. Mr Tate asked witness- if lie was not confusing - minutes with seconds, and witness said that he did not think so.