THE ACCIDENT TO THE CORSICAN

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3603, 16 August 1912, Page 5

THE ACCIDENT TO THE CORSICAN

VESSEL PROCEEDING TO LIVERPOOL. COMPANIES ABANDONING THE NORTHERN TRACK. [UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPTEIGHT] OTTAWA, August 14. Th© latest wireless message from the damaged steamer Corsican states that the- vessel is unable to proceed on her voyage to Liverpool. The cause of the inability to proceed is not known, and the- message has caused great anxiety. Liners report exceptional ice in the Atlantic. One encountered one hundred large bergs, and another eighty miles of floes. The companies are abandoning the northern track.

A RE-ASSURING ANNOUNCE- " MENT. [UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPTEIGHT] (Received Aug. 16, 12.10 a.m.) OTTAWA, Aug. 15. The Allan line announces that the Corsican is safe and is proceeding on her voyage. ( The delay was due to fog.

VAST FIELDS OF ICE.

AS FAR AS WE COULD SEE

In his evidence before the Board oi Trade inquiry into the loss of the r J i-tan-ic, Captain Rostrom, of thy Carpathia, which went to the assistance of tlie ill-fated liner, said that they counted 25 large ones from 150 ft n> 200 ft high. They stopped counting the smaller ones. There were dozen* and dozens all over the place, and from two to three miles from the position of the wreck there was a huge ice-field extending as fill’ as they COllld see from north-west to south-east. The Attorney-General: These icebergs must have been close to you without being seen ?—-Y r es. Leaving out the one only a quarter of a mile away, how far off was the nearest of the large icebergs?—Probably about three or four miles. Was there anything, so far as you know, peculiar in tlie atmospheric- conditions that night?—No; I never saw a clearer night. It was a beautiful night. The witness said lie had navigated for a good many years on the North Atlantic track, but had never seen icebergs on this track during April. The Attorney-General: Suppose you had had a. wireless message giving you the position of icebergs and an icefield which you would reach in the ordinary course of things within a few hours, what precautions would you take when approaching that region at night ? —lt is very hard to say what I should do. It is no use trying to avoid an iceberg that lias been reported by altering your course, because it may drift for miles. In the case of an icefield 1 think I should try to get away out of it. The President: You mean you would alter your course? The witness: For the field ice, yes; for an iceberg, no. The Attorney-General. Supposing you had liad a report if icebergs and icefields in the region you are bound to cross, would you take any precaution in regard to speed?—A great deal would depend on the weather. '■ The President: Suppose it is perfectly clear?

Tlie Witness: If it .was a perfectly clear night, unless 1 knew there was a. lot of ice about I would feel perfectly justified in going at full-speed. The Attorney-General : If you thought there was a lot you would not P—l would not.