New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-06
THE GAY HEAD DISASTER WQUlRK
CAPTAIN wRIGHT's TEsTIMONY-THE ORDERS TO
THE SECOND MATE.

CAPTAIN wRIGHT's TEsTIMONY-THE ORDERS TO
THE SECOND MATE
BOsTON, Feb. 6.--lnspectOrs Burnham and
Savage opened the inquiry into the Gay Head disaster
here to-day Captain Wright was the first and principal
witness He deck from $3.50 u. m, January IL,
when City OF Columbus left Boston, until o'clock
the following morning. He at this time near Tar
nauin Cove and he gave the order the second ate
"a soon as Tarpaun bore by NORTH to steer
restsouthwest He does not know whether this order
WA given to the wheenan by the mate, or not. The
witness st in his the floor, his back to the
heater and his head in the pio-hOuse After rectng
the details Of his conduct hearing the cry Port and
the story OF the wreck, as already given by him. he
said:
1.-THE wind was about west-southwest when the vessel
struck The Gay Head light amounts To naught Lights
nabts confuse when close TO- The Bc.ton lSst has run
many pilots ashOre because Of its being so bright Bright
lights not affect bearings, however, although have
often been confused by them. Prom where gave the
last order The vessel must have gone southwest
have reached the place where she struck Inc Eessc
now head. nearly vestsouthwes The snip drew sixteen
feet inches OF water aft and twelve feet three Inches
forward when leaving Boston
"GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW THE SHIP CANE THERE"
"God only knows how the ship came where she struck
The tide slack high water The wind was blowing
fresh and the ship making about knots against
H. The ships average speed was twelve knots We were
not exceeding average speed 1t Is not usual for
make close shave to Gay Head always gave it a
good respectable berth. gave Ii always nile berth IN
summer and further In winter. Ihert II good channel
there for four miles don't think anythlng could be
saved Oy making a close shave there.
eff the had continued on the southwest by west
course ordered she would have cleared
Gay Head ty two miles and II the course had been
changed on Tarpaun Cove 10 wessOuthwest as ordered
Size would have gone three and quarter miles OF Cay
Head.
HAgDING'5 RECORD-SIGNALs OF DISTRESS.
chad trouble with hlr Harding about five months ago,
when he made q slight variation in the never
had trouble with him aerward He at that time changed
the course a quarter of point because he said, he
thought the vessel was falling of little.
1.-The whistle not blown. do not know what good
fl would have done pull the whistle DO not know
what q distress signal with whistle L. We carried
roc kes hut did not burn any could not get al them
They were IN the pilot house. right The door. IL
dangerous 10 60 TO tue pilot house after the water broke
over the ship"
Second Engineer Collins the only other witness to-
day. lie corrObOrated the captains statement about
backing after the ship struck aud going ahead again, and
"a to tue monthly drills OF the crew AT savannah.
1HE BUOY MOVED OUT or PLACE.
The Journal publishes the report Of the lighthouse In
spector the second district upon the examination OF
the buoy at Devils Bridge made BY tho master Of the
tender yerbena, Gbbs. He found that the buoy had
moved 300 yards inshOre from where II belonged He
also discovered hitherto unknown bank or shOal 400
yards north Oueh west % the buoy and marked II with
spar The bank under twenty feet o. water al the
sh0Aest point was seventy five feet long, narrow anI
covered with ANAL stones, keip and mussel.