The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-10-06
Findings of the Court

At nine yesterday morning the
court of inquiry resssembled, when
the president, vice-consul Cherry,
read the following:
"The court having found on delib-
Grafton that no observation were ia
ken for FIVE days prior to the loss of
the vessel, owing to fOggy and thick
weather which prevailed all that time;
that soundings were taken at two P.
II. and at 8 P. VI. Of the day she
struck without finding bottom; that
ship was reduced to short canvas at 8
P. NJ, that another cast without bot
tom was taken at 10 P. n, and that
the lead was ordered to lie cast very
shortly before IL P. n. 1T which time
the vessel struck.
Asking all persons present it the
same was correct, an affirmative an
swer having been given, they were
asked if any one had any further evi-
dence to give. a negative answer was
unanimously returned. The court
was then cleared, and after due de-
liberation and consideration Of the
facts and circumstances as detailed in
the evidence given the court finds
that the Ca;rHSmOrs was an iron
bark, official number 80 ,053. and
974.79 tons register, Il years old,
well found in every condition, and
well manned when she left
London on this present voyage; that
the vessel after nearing the Oregon
coast encountered extremely thick and
foggy weather having been prevalent IN
this district for some weeks prior To
the loss of the vessel. That the
masters reckoning was about 30 miles
w. \. w. of the true position of the
vessel st noon Of the day she was lost. q.
That the vessel must have passed
within five miles of Tillamook rock
where there is lighthouse and fog
horn. Said fog horn not being in
operation owing to scarcity of water
which is a well known fact from re-
peated complaints and from the pub
lie press.
The court is of opinion that every pre-
caution has been taken by the master
in the matter of heaving the lead and
handling the sails, also, that In the
courts opinion the master was quite
right in standing on his course under
easy sail until he obtained reliable
soundings; that the error of his posi-.
ton as above stated was not excessive
considering the five days thick
weather he had experienced without
being able to take observations.
The court cannot understand the
fact of no bottom being found durin.
the repeated soundings taken, and af-
ter long deliberatiOn has come TO the
J conclusion that they can only attrib
ute this to the fact that the bottom
| must have been of such 4 nature a
not to adhere 20 the srmTng of tn,
lead, and also that there must have
: been 3 very strong current runnin!
, which has also contributed to wasl
| off any deposit that may have been Ol
A the arming: also that the curren
? must have been strong enough to ma
3 terially alter the position of the yes
< sci, and SD interfere with the sound
D ing line. The court is of the Opinio
g that every exertion was used by tn
= master after stranding, both to hel
the vessel off and to save life. Th
court has much pleasure in returnin
his certificate to Capt. Fulton Gi6t
i and generating him from all blam
: in this matter" The mates certif
Gates were also returned TO them, til
g report signed by the court, and th
: papers In the case forwarded to th
; London Board of Trade.
/