The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-01 00:00:00

BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY.

Yesterday an official inquiry, instituted by direction of the
Board of Trade, was commenced at the Greenwich Police-
court before Mr. Traill, the magistrate, and Capt. Harris
and Capt. Domett, nautical assessors, into the circumstances
attending the wreck of the Caledonia steamvessel, belong-
ing to the General Steam Navigation Company, near Flaw-
borough Head, on the morning of Feb. 29, whilst on a voy-
age from London to Granton.
_ _

Mr. O'Dowd attended on behalf of the Board of Trade to
condact the inquiry; and Mr. Pratt, secretary, with Mr.
Pearce (of the firm of Pearce, Phillips, and Pearce), ap-
peared on behalf of the company to which the vessel be.
longed.
Mr. O'Dowd, in opening the proceedings, said that the
Caledonia was a paddle-steamer, built at Blackwell in the
year 1836, her net tonnage being 423, and her engines of
the nominal power of 220 horses. The vessel belonged to
the General Steam Navigation Company, and he thought it
his duty to mention a fact which reflected uo slight credit on
the excellent management of the company, that although
they possessed a fleet of 50 vessels, afloat in perhaps tome
of the most dangerous navigable parts in the world, this was
the first time the machinery of the Board of Trade had
been in operation in respect to any of their vessels since the
passing of the Merchant Shipping Act in 1854. This no
doubt was owing to the admirable skill of the class of men
chosen as commanders, and to that class he believed Capt.
Joseph Clark Hest, who had command of the Caledonia
at the time of her loss, belonged, he holding a cer-
tificate of competency as master from the Board of Trade
dated the 14th of July, 1855. The vessel left London at
eight a.m. of the 27th February, with a general cargo, a
crew numbering 29 hands, and nine passengers, bound for
Granton. Nothing worthy of note occurred until about 7
p.m. of the same day, when the vessel was brought to
anchor off Harwich, that precaution being adopted in con-
sequence of the density of the fog which prevailed. She
remained at anchor until 9 a m. of the 28th (14 hours), when
the fog somewhat clearing off, she was got under weigh,
and at three in the afternoon the vessel passed Yarmouth
Roads. At 8.30 p.m. the Dudgeon Light was observed,
bearing W. and distant about five or six miles. At this
time the weather became somewhat clearer, but at 1 a.m. of
the 29th it became thick again, and at 3.15 (it being then
low water) the weather was very thick, with the wind
blowing fresh from S.E. The vessel shortly afterwards
stranded about a quarter of a mile inside Flamborough
Head, the light being right a-head, carrying at the time
fore and aft sail, and proceeding through the water at the
rate of nine knots an hour. Captain Hast had charge of
the watch at the time of the vessel striking, the second mate
being also on the deck, and a proper look-out being kept on
the forecastle. On the vessel striking Captain Hest
ordered her engines to be stopped and turned astern, and
they were kept backed two hours and a half, when the
engineer reported that the engines were disabled and that
water was over the engine-room floor. The vessel was then
striking the rocks very heavily, and about an hour after-
wards rockets were thrown up, blue lights burned, and
several guns fired for assistance. Seeing no hopes of saving
the ship, at 7.30 a.m. the boats were got out, and one left
with portions of the crew and passengers for Bridlington,
and the remainder of the passengers and crew were landed
at the village of Southsea, near Flamborough. Shortly
afterwards Captain Hast retuaned with Lloyd's agent to the
scene of the wreck, but little or nothing was to be seen of
the ship. These were the short facts of the case, and in
the inquiry which the Court was called upon to make he
(Mr. O'Dowd) believed that every tare would be displayed,
and that justice would be done towards those whose oon-
duct might be called in question.
The chief mate, Charles Holmes, the second officer,
Thomas Hall, and other witnesses were called and examined
as to the courses steered, the whole of them stating that
from 12 o'clock on the night of the 28th until the time of
the wreck the engines were not "slowed," the speed of the
vessel being nine knots an hour, nor was the lead hove;
and in answer to a question from Captain Harris,

The chief mate said he was not aware of any written or
printed instructions being issued by the company as to the
rules of navigating vessels.
Mr. Pratt said printed instructions were issued to the cap-
tains of vessels, and he was surprised at the statement the
chief mate had made, that he had not been made acquainted
with such instrucions.
The inquiry was then adjourned.

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