The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1875-06-09

then brought into Court. 1hey stlll look
ed very i'll.
James Jonah, able seaman, deposed that
he was one of the crew OF the Crossbones
he had been so ever since she was launch.
ed she was then called the Deaths Head
she went ashore on her first voyage, and
strained herself; she was afterwards
heightened and re-christened. Everything
went well till the fire broke out. Couldn't
imagine how she could have possibly tax
en- fire. The cargo was composed of tar,
pitch, resin, oil, paraffin, petroleum, rum,
brandy, spirits of wine, fireworks, gun.
powder, &c. Did not consider that an
infammable cargo. Thought the fire
must have originated in one of the water
tanks. There were quite enough boats.
None of 'em were any use. Was saved
by clinging to a bit of a raft with the
boy.
SERGEANT Buzfuz.-And that is how you
were buoyed up. Uaughter.)
Witness--Was rescued by the Peruvi-
an bark Pick-me-up, the Captain of which
treated us most kindly. Hit everybody
but us over the head with belaying-pins.
SERGEANT Buzfuz was most happy to in
form the Court that it had been intimated
to him that her Majesty's Government in
tended presenting the captain, in the
course of year or two, with a kaleido-
scope and tin speaking-trumpet.
Examination resumed: Considered the
Crossbones one of the safest ships afloat
until she was lost. Would not have had
the slightest objection to have gone to sea
in her again, with the same cargo, pro-
vided he was saved, and it was made
worth his while. Considered lucifer
matches on the top of a powder barrel,
or petroleum cask, rather ornamental than
otherwise.
Mr.. Phunky was proceeding to cross
examine the witness, when the Court ad-
journed for lunch.
On its re-assembling, Mr. SERGEANT Buz-
fuz submitted to the Court that Mr.. Plum
ky had no locus Standi.
Mr.. Phunky said that he appeared for
certain persons who were not quite salts
fed.
SERGEANT Buzfuz.-Some people are never
satisfied.
Mr.. Phunky.-I mean to say that they
are not satisfied that the vessel was well
found.
SERGEANT Buzfuz.-How could she have
been well found" when she was lost !
Granddaughter which was not suppressed.)
The boy whowas saved was then called,
and corroborated in every particular the
evidence of the former witness. Thought
the fire might have originated in the fore
topgallant mast. Felt very hot after
climbing up there.
experienced stevedore was then call
ed by Mr.. Phunky, and said that he con-
sidered the cargo most dangerous one
When he was stopped by Mr. SERGEANT
Buzfuz, who called the attention of the
Court to the fact that witness dropped
his CHS" and was evidently a most OBJ
jectionable and untrustworthy person.
The Court allowed the objection, and
the witness was ordered to stand down.
The learned SERGEANT then said that it
appeared to him quite unnecessary to adj
dress the Court any further.
The Court after consulting for two min
utes and three-quarters, said that it was
certainly most unfortunate that the majo-
rity, in fact, large majority, of the pas
sengers and crew of the Grossbones should
have met with such disagreeable fate,
but it could not be helped. Everything
that science, experience, and skill, as well
as petroleum, pitch, tar, gunpowder, spir
its, and other powerful agents, could do,
had been done, and the Court only hoped
that the owners were fully insured. If
the unfortunate captain were before them,
the Court would have Immediately grant
ed him a new certificate in case his old
one should have been burnt. The Court
were unanimously of opinion that the car
90 was of most harmless description, and
slowed. They would, however,
that in future the boats should |
not be launched keel upwards, and that
when Captain Shaw returns from Egypt
lie should be consulted upon the best
method of suddenly extinguishing ignited
spirits and petroleum, as well as fireworks.
Mr.. SERGEANT Buzfuz entirely concurred
With the Court, and was happy to say
hat the owners were more than fully in
ured.
The inquiry then terminated.-P,uaeh.
Useful Cinnamon.