The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-05 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE SCREW STEAMSHIP

NORTE BRITON.

LIVERPOOL, DEC. 3.
An official inquiry, at the instance of the Board
of Trade, as to the causes which led to the loss of
the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company's screw
steamer North Briton, was commenced to-day
before Mr. Raffles, the stipendiary magistrate, and
Captain Harris,R.N., nautical assessor to the Board.
The inquiry was promoted by Mr. Tyndall, solicitor
to the Board of Trade, and Mr. Squarey, of Messrs.
Duncan, Squarey, and Blackmore, appeared on be-
half of the captain and owners. The vessel, it will
be remembered, was lost, on the morning of the sth
of November, on the Paroquet Islands, on the coast
of Labrador, as she was proceeding on her voyage
from Quebec and Montreal to Liverpool.
Mr. Tyndall, in commencing the inquiry, said the
North Briton was an iron, Clyde-built steamer,
which had been launched in 1858. Her gross ton-
nage was 2,187 tons, and she belonged to the Mon-
treal Ocean Steamship Company. The steamer, he
said, left Quebec on the 2d of November, as well
found in every respect as a ship could be found.
She had a crew of 99 men, all told, 124 passengers,
and a general cargo. Soon after leaving Qaebec
she grounded, and remained for about three hours,
after which, not having sustained any apparent
damage, she proceeded on her voyage. She encoun-
tered very boisterous weather until the time at
which she struck on a rock of Paroquet Island.
Fortunately, the whole of the passengers and crew
were saved; but up to the present time not much of
the cargo had been saved. At present the ship was
still on the rocks; it is hoped she will eventually
be got off.
In answer to a question by Mr. Raffles, Mr. Tyn-
dall said the second officer had been left behind,
with several hands, to watch the wreck, and if he
could save anything of the cargo he would do so.
He proceeded to say that perhaps the Court would
remember that en the occasion of the in-
quiry into the loss of the Canadian, belonging to the
same company, which happened in the Strait of
Belleisle, that vessel was taking the same course as
that adopted by the North Briton ; the owners then
said there were some orders usually given to their
captains as to the course they should take at a par-
ticular season of the year. He had made inquiries
as to any orders having been given to captains as to
the course they should take when leaving in the fall
of the year, and found that the orders only applied
to vessels leaving in the early part of the year.
Mr. Raffles said he had looked at his notes in re-
lation to the case of the Canadian, and found that
the orders only prohibited captains from attempting
that passage before a certain date in the spring, and
the recommendation made by the Court only dealt
with that season of the year.
The first witness called was Robert Brown, chief
officer of the North Briton, who said he held an
extra master's certificate, having passed an exami-
nation in higher branches of navigation than those
included in the ordinary course. He had been nine
or ten years a master. Had been 24 years at sea,
during 16 of which he had been master and chief
mate. Before starting he had gone over the ship
thoroughly, and found she was in a very complete
state for the voyage. As the vessel was going down
the river, about 8 o'clock on the 2d ult., the day she
left Quebec, she grounded off Hose Island, and re-
mained till 11 o'clock. Having had the pumps
sounded, it was found she had not sustained any
damage. After passing the Point de Monts, on the
following day, the course was steered for the west
point of Anticosti. The log book was lost, having
been put into a bag belonging to the witness, which
was lost from a schooner into which it was put
after the wreck. Subsequent to passing Point de
Monts the weather was very wet. The ship con-
tinued on her easterly course till noon on the 4th,
going about six knots an hour; her rate of speed
had varied as at different times it blew harder.
Occasionally she was going as much as six or
seven knots, and sometimes not more than four.
At 2 p.m. the course was altered to east-south-east.
About 4 o'clock land was seen, which was thought
to be Thunder Point. No bearings of this land
were taken, because there was nothing to take bear-
ings from. The loom of the land was seen, but no
accurate bearings could be taken, but it was com-
puted to be about five miles distant. Iu proceeding
soundings were taken about every half hour, or
every quarter of an hour. The last soundings be-
fore midnight gave about 65 fathoms ; between 8
and 12 the average soundings were 40 fathoms.
About 12 the wind was blowing fresh, with drizzling
rain and a heavy sea on. About 120 a.m. witness
was awakened by the ship striking. Before witness
went below full speed was on; previous to that the
rate had only been half speed, or less. When the
vessel struck the witness dressed and went on deck.
The master was there then, and the men were com-
mencing to clear the boats. The ship was then
thumping on the rocks. The engineer reported
that water was rushing into the engine room. Wit-
ness assisted in getting out the the boats, six in
number ; four of these were fitted as lifeboats. The
women and children were placed in two of the boats,
which were lowered into the water. They had re-
ceived instructions to remain by the ship till day-
light, but they broke adrift before that. The whole
six broke adrift. The ship made water so rapidly
that in less than an hour the water inside was level
with that outside, which was within about two feet
of the 'tween decks on the lee side, the ship having
a list. At daylight it was found that the ship was
on Paroquet Island. Soon after daylight boats Nos.
1,4, and 5 regained the ship. Assistance was ob-
tained from the Violet, a schooner, and the passen-
gers were all landed on the Paroquet Islands, which
rfsareehveenrwoatleiasntchnhaeobroin tee d, and are not much more than a reef.
becamerswas ecalhmtaionnetdhe 6th, anwdetrheehaaiudled
on of
alongside the North Brit which The schooner Two
Brothers, after having taken on board as many as
afterand parting two
possible, sailed for Ming an, and
cables she was driven ashore,most of her
Thespsoartiodn
of the mails on board that schooner wa
On Sunday, the 10th, all the passengers vaend
crew who had remained by the ship were
taken to the mainland. On the 11th they were
picked up by the Anglo-Saxon, which had been inter-
cepted by one of the schooners. There were four
sets of compasses on board the North Briton, viz.,
masthead, bridge standard, before the mizenmast
on deck, and steering.the masthead
Theship's
compass,cour and there
was at esearl-
ways shapedby
was no reason to believethat thene
of
the compasses
were
incorrect. From the
master of o
had schooners
witness heard that there been a very strong
ocunrer
wayent;
forthat,
f 0 fact,
the tide had been setting in
days. When on shore witnessed