The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-28
THE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMER RELIEF.
Omcial Inquiry Concerning the Cause OF
the Loss OF the Vessel-Decfsfon OF the
Court-Assent OK the Assessors.

Omcial Inquiry Concerning the Cause or
the Loss OF the vcssel-Decfsfon OF the
Court-Assent OF the Assessors.
YOKOHAMA, Japan, Feb. %, 1874.
informed you In my last letter OF the loss OF the
Pacific mail steamship Relief on the night OF the
10th ult. Since then court Of inquiry has been
held at Nagasaki. The following is a condensed
summary OF the
CAPTAINS STATEMENT.
Left Kobe January l6, at twenty minutes past two
through the Inland Sea. Passed Straits OF SimO-
neseki on the morning OF the 18TH, hard gale
ity OF the weather anchored at forty-hve minutes
past ten A. NJ In Whitsned Bay. Remained there
tii quarter past seven next morning, Wien the
N. passed Madara Island and steered for 0bree
Channel; night moderately starlight. Left the
steer southwest hall west. Returned on deck q
lew minutes before eight. Night extremely dark.
land OF Hrado, which l soon knew to be
the peak OF Dosima Immediately gave orders
to 'starboard" and then 'hard.a-starboard."
my fears. Ran to the pilot house and rang three
bells. heard the engines stop and at the first
clock ofreversing ordered the helm 'nard-aport.n
remained immovable Soundngs were taken
about the ship and the pump.well was sounded.
The chief engineer reported that the engines were
reversing at lull speed and that the snip was not
making water A few minutes later the chief
plates badly bent and the ships bow lying over q
shelving rock.n Ordered the engines stopped but
steam to be kept up. Chief engineer reported
That she was all right abalt the forward compart-
ment Gave orders to have all the boats lowered.
and sent passengers and mails ashore to town
where we saw lights. Sent the second officer with
another boat to another town for boats aud assist
ance During all this time the whistle was blown
at short intervals, and the gun was fired several
times.
About eleven O'CLOCK the water in the ship had
increased to Jour feet.
AT three A. NJ the ship lay over SO badly as to
completely disable the engines.
then gave orders Tor all hands to pack up their
traps and then sent them ashore. At daylight the
Golden Age was sighted. l sent on board and re-
quested the Captain 10 return to Nagasaki with
the passengers mails and treasure. Took out the
cargo and landed 1t.
On the night OF the 21st the ship broke in two.
EXAMINATION.
Question by Court-Is it usual to take the Obree
Channel on dark nights A. That depends have
been In the habit OF using Obree Channel Tor over
year; when shaped the course from Madara the
night was starlight.
z DO you consider 1t a safe passage2 A. ! 90; it
is used by the Pacifl Mail steamers; also by the
pilots with the heaviest men-ol-war vessels.
O. DO you attribute the vessel being out of her
position to unknown currents9 A. Yes the tide
instead OF being at the last quarter llood was
probably nearly full and setting to the westward.
DECISION OF THE COURT.
From careful consideration OF the circum-
stances attending the loss OF the Pacific Mail
steamer Relief on the night OF the 9th inst, In
Obree Channel, am clearly OF the opinion that 1t
was due solely to an unknown current driving the
said steamer from her course upon the land. which
being low point, but a lew feet above the water
and the night cloudy and very dark it was lmpos-
sible to see In time to avoid the accident; that no
blame can be attached to Captain Corning or his
officers and that the skill, energy and sound judg
ment displayed by them after the steamer struck
in saving the passengers, crew, mails treasure
and cargo. are deserving OF high commentator.
W. p MANGUM, United states Consul.
Assented to and slgned-Captaln }. u. Smith,
Captain A. s. Arnold and Captain d. X. SPEEDING,
Assessors.
BAD LUCK.
The Pacific Mail have had terribly bad luck for
the last two years. Besides the loss OF steamers
three on this side alOne-several minor disasters
have been encountered. Besides, 1or the year 1873
only three vessels arrived here from San Francisco
on time. This may not be altogether owing to bad
luck. 1t seems that II the cOmpany's officers would
be little more strict and pay for little more coal
happier results might ensue. The management at
this end OF the line has been oil that could be de.
sired, but the head office at New York Is not spoken
OF favOrably out here in Japan.