The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-05-04

Kamahai one of the crew of the EMgsnia Briggs:
Left vessel because she was full of water. Could
not pump her out. It cams In faster than We could
do So Pumped from Saturday P. N. to Sunday
P. Mill night Bows down and she was settling
forward Looked down foreclstle. Saw she was
full all full. We left because it was dangerous to
remain on board.
3 o'clock took orr own things ashore. Came back
and waited for captain. Pumped again. Left
finally after dark. She wac anchored fast. We
slept at landing. NJ lsts and rigging all right.
Sails furled. Went aboard MOndly morning early.
Vessel WAS still afolt, but the dscklold of lumber
had hoated away. She WAS loaded for Hilo and
Honokaa; some freight for Oakala. Machinery
and general msrchandse; iron wire, railroad iron,
and machinery This was principal part of freight.
She was full of water when we returned on Mon
day morning. Left anchor and moored to buoy.
We unslacked cable and cut her loose from buoy
and let her drift ashore to save freight. Went to
pieces soon after she went ashore.
Keliikalaea, another of the crew, gave evidence
to the same effect.
Terrier, mate of the vessel: On arriving at
Huelo wind was blowing on shore from NE. and
N. Shifting on the Tuesday, blew 50 hard we
could not land. Most water came in Friday.
Kept pumping. Water kept gaining until evening
of Sunday. Crew refused to stand by, as the YES
sci was sinking Captain did not want to leave.
Asked crew to stay as long as they could. Captain
refused to go shore before dark. Vessel sinking
and water gaining four or five feet of water in
her and captain went ashore IN last boat. She
was opsniny fors aud aft B1lk-heads opening
and shutting Beams all working from Friday
morning worked athwArt ship. Had got the coal
o1t put all lumber below that we could, to ballast
and get load of deck. Sanctions all working
every TINA she rolled. Thought we we're justified.
Ship good for nothing when we left on Sunday
evening. Planks and seams open. Abreast of
fore-rigging seam was open about four feet long,
Just above waters edge. Saw that from below /;
about half an inch wide.
Cross-examined: There was some lumber on
deck on Sunday night. Not there on Monday
Cha runu1d havp ANIL If iuuhar in hold
had not kept her up. She was loaded with ma
chinsry, railroad irol. nils, aud iron wire. She
was anchored aud m)0rsd to buoy; one anchor
down. We cut r0ps an1 u1Slacked chain 50 as to
let her 90 ashore to save cargo. Took short time
to drift on shore; about ten minutes. Masts were
standing
Rs-exsminsd: Guild not have got her of. Had
disch lrgsd her Huslo cIrgo. Did not know If she
was insured We were delayed By calms.
Daniel Foster: Have lived ninstssu years in
Honolulu. Am a ship carpjnssr, Gn1 owner of
colsting vessels. Used to inspect vessels. Have
heard eYdsacs of previous witnesses. In my opin-
ion they were perfectly justified in abandoning
her on Sunday evening. She WAS not worth much
m)re on S1n1ly evening when they left than on
Monday morning. Sio1ld call her a wrecked yes
sci that Sunday evening
Cro55-examinsd: she was not total loss
long as anything was in sight Think would have
cut her adrift to 60 ashore for benefit Of all con-
cerned.
Rs-eramiued: do not regard the vessel as of
any uss for the purposes OF vessel after Sunday
evening if the evidsncs have heard is true. If
there had been no cargo it would have been for
the benefit of the ship to beach her, for she was
worth more on the beach than i'll the condition
she was.
Captain Jackson Retired commander Royal
Navy. Heard the evidence of Ferrier. Should
call her a wrecked vessel. Derelict Sunday
evening. proper case for Abandonment.
Cross-examined: Equally derelict on Monday
morning, and proper to be abandoned.
Plaintiff rests.
The defendants counsel put in and read the
protest and rested.