THE-MISSING DUCO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2666, 23 November 1909, Page 5

THE-MISSING DUCO.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

(Per Press association. 1 WELLINGTON, Nov.. 22. The Magisterial inquiry into the loss of the steamer Duco was resumed today. John McLean, ordinary seaman, who was on the Duco on her previous trip to the Ohathams, said when he was steering her on the voyage back, "the Duoo took a heavy roll, and rolled over so far that she did not come back. Witness could not make out what had gone wrong. There was some sail on, a small trysail, but that was not sufficient. lie woke up the mate, who considered that the force of the wind was responsible. Witness disagreed, and the mate went off the bridge to see what was wrong. He came back in a rather excited state, and told witness to put. her up to tne wind. She was full of water from bow to stern with her port bulwarks under wash. The ports were lashed, and the water could not get away. Mr. Skye gave orders for the wires to be cut, and the wash-ports were opened and the water got away. She was a good sea boat if not overloaded. 'Henry Charles Guthrie, hulk-keeper on the Countess of Errol, said he had been loading coal on the Duco the day she left. They put in sixty tons and a half, and she had some on before they started—about four tons. They loaded her up to 1.30 p.m. He did not see Captain Stringer order-them to cease loading at noon, but he was told that Captain Stringer had given orders not to pile it any higher on the deck. About four tons were put on the deck after this. Was anything said to you by Mr. Menard, the engineer Witness: He said he was sorry he had agreed to go again. James Meadows, who helped to load the Duco, said he thought there was about ten tons of coal on deck. The sacks were not lashed. W 7 illiam Williams, secretary of the Ironworkers’ Union, said he was employed on the Duco 18 months ago. He saw her the day before she sailed. She seemed dangerously deep in his opinion. She was a dirty boat at all times. She was a coffin for anyone in her. Captain Wm. Bendall, Lloyds’ surveyor, said he surveyed the Duco for insurance purposes! before her first drathams trip. He and Captain Abram worked out the weight she must carry to preserve her stability. They made it 130 tons. The Duco was not fit to carry deck cargo, which should never liave been there. Had he seen it he would have got the authorities to call a survey. Sacks of coal on deck would be very liable to shift and block the washports. The witness considered Captain Abram, master of the Duco, a capable officer. When he heard, the day after the gale, that the Duco had gone out with deck cargo, he told the owners that if there were 20 tons of coal on the Duco’s decks they would never see her again. A clerk told him there were only five tons. Witness said that was better than 25. The witness was asked what he would have done if he had had that cargo on deck. “I should not have done it," said the witness. “But if you had?” persisted counsel, to which the witness replied, “I should have thrown it overboard.” Witness added that even if a captain was ordered to take the cargo on .board, he was master of the situation when he got out of sight. The inquiry will be resumed to-mor-row afternoon.