The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-02-28 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH.

THE SaWiens DispUTE. This inquiry was
resumed on Saturday morning before the same
magistrates as sat on the previous day. Mr.
Welsford commenced the proceedings by addressing
the Court on behalf of his client. In the course of
so doing he said that he considered the claim which
the pilots had put in (£160) to be a most disgraceful
one ; and maintained that the services rendered
were of the nature ef pilotage and not of salvage,
and that the signal which wits hoisted was for a
pilot, and strongly condemned the conduct of the
pilots in slipping the anchors of the chame manic
contrary to the wish of the captain. The drat
witness he called was the captain, who, through an
interpreter, said his crew consisted of four hands,
including himself. On the 15th of February he left
Tregniey with a large cargo of potatoes for Parr,
Cornwall. From that time to the 19th he
experienced very indifferent weather, and on the
last named day, as it was not favourable, he lion-
suited his crew as to what course should be adopted,
and it was decided to make for Portland. He did
, so, and soon after hoisted a flag for a pilot to come
lon board, but not a signal of distress. If he had
required assistance he should have hoisted the signal
lin the rigging—demi-mast. He had never placed
a flag for • pilot anywhere else than on the mizen.
I mast ; there was no halyard td the foremast. He
I did not have a smaller flag on board than
the one which was hoisted. The vessel came
within a mile of Portland, and about in the centre of
the Breakwater when the pilots boarded his vessel.
As the cutter passed by her, he asked the crew if
they were pilots, and they said "yes." There was
no danger of the little boat in which they left the
cutter to collie on Board being upset, and it did not
ship any water. There waif a little lop, but he
(witness) would not have hesitated in going oh board
his vessel in a smaller boat than that used by the
pilots. When they came on board they imme-
diately went forward and began unfastening the
anchors. They did not speak to him, nor he to
them, has he was at the helm. He did not see his
crew make signs for them to come on board. He
wadi dot agate that the pilots were going to anchor
his ship, and he did not like where they brought
her up to. He thought they would hate taken her
into Portland Roads, as it could have been done.
If they had not been on board he thought he should
have done so as his crew could work, and the
vessel had good canvass. She was quite under
ethitroli apd he, could have brought her where he
wished. He did ndt elk for the asaistsnoe of a
steamer, but intended to convey tO the pilots that
one had driven from the roadstead. After his
vessel's anchors were let go, she dragged, but did
tint when more cable was let out. She remained
at anchor for about three hours, after which the
wind moderated, and he gave orders to his crew to
heave them up. As he understood the pilots they
Informed kith that was impossible, and he then said
hi Would remain at anchor until the chain parted.
The pilots, however, slipped the anchors, but it was
Contrarjith hid wish of orders. Be thought they
I dilly hid charge ot 0,4 veadel as pilots, as his crew
could have managed her 'Very well. *hen the
' pilots came on board he was at the helm, and did
' not give up command.—The cross-examination
failed to shake this statement, and did not elicit any
important features. —The mate anda sailor belonging
to the Finistere were examined at considerable
length, but their evidence corroborated that given
by the captain. In addition to this, after some
disenesion between the solicitors and the Bench, Mr.
Welsfordcalled two pilots belonging to Weymouth,
named Edward Tieard said William Beale, who I
denied that the Weather vtals so boisterous as had I
abfre eani
dmtado
he
aovuet
and that when the pilots boarded her she was only
'boa: rad irdidthtebFe they
issii;ueldi in da
t hrtiaall bboeaetitt
about from a quarter to half a mile distant from the
Breakwater, which she could have easily made for.
—Mr. Howard replied at some length on the whole
of the case, contending that his arguments had been
hilly borne out, by the evidence adduced, and trusted
the Bench Would give fair amount of compensation
to men who had fisked theif Ifvea in order to
save life and property.—The Mayof said the Bench
would adjourn the case until Monday, when the,
would give their decision. The proceedings lasted
nearly seven hours. On Monday the Mayor and E.
Bayley, F.aq. „ again took their seats on the Bench
for the perpoee cff closing the salvage dispute
respecting the Finistere.—The Mayor said as the
evidence was very conflicting the Bench had deemed
it advisable to refer the matter to an umpire, and
had selected Mr. E. C. Ball, R.N., as such; and
consequently they had nothing further to do with
the, case.—Mr. Ball asked if the anchors and
cables whioh had been slipped from the Finis-
tere had been taken tip I—Mr. Howard replied
that one had, and the pilots were now endea-
vouritig to Tillie the tither. He would, how-
ever, guarantee that both shodld be recovered.
Mr. 'gall dondidered that ii Would be adVisable not
to give his award until the ititelicite had been
restored.—The case was then adjourned until three
o'clock. When the Court sat the other anchor had
not been discovered, but the umpire gave his
decision, awarding £2O to the salvers and £8 Is. 6d.
coats, and in case the anchor was not found, .£7
to be deducted from this sum.