The herald., 1894-11-21
AN UNKNOWN CURRENT
CAUSED THE LOSS OF THE CROWN
OF ENGLAND.
The Court of Inquiry Takes Testi-
mony at Santa Monica-Captsin
Hamilton and Other Wit
nesses are Examined.

SANTA MONICA. Nov. 20.-Hon. @.
White Mortimer. British vice. consul,
and Messrs. F. A. Blake and H. A. Fer
guson. sitting 40 q court of inquiry,
heard testimony here today regarding
the loss of the British steamship Grown
of England. which went on the rocks at
Santa Rosa island early on the morning
of November 7th. The inquiry devel-
oped nothing of a sensational nature. and
was merely the details OF what has been
heretofore published.
Captain John Hamilton WAS the first
witness, and his account was complete
for ali the time between the vessel leav.
ing San Diego early on the morning Of
November 9th, in Y heavy fog, to the
moment of her grounding on the fatal
rocks. He said in substance that the
fog was go dense at the time the pilot
started out OF the hsrbor, that twice in
tine channel the boat was found to be on
the wrong side OF the channel buoys.
Once outside, nothing WAS TO be seen but
the course was set regularly at 7:45 q.
m. at north So degrees west. which
would carry him five miles outside OF
Point Firmin. st noon the weather
having continued foggy. the log regiat-
cred 81 miles. By the reckoning the
steamers position at this time WAS 33
degrees l minute north, III degrees 40
minutes west, the log was reset and no
land having been sighted at 6 p. M, it
was determined, upon consultation, to
| ln - al nd snn nf ;vn; 10
For this purpose the course was reset
to south S5 degrees west. Had the log
been accurate this course would have
taken the boat 13 miles south OF Santa
Rosa island, no allowance being made
for the drift of currents. AS matter of
fact the log had been proved 10 per cent
fast, which would have made the course
% miles off the island.
at ii AS the speed was reduced one
half, and at this rate the boat went on
the rocks at 2 O'Clock q. m. The fog
had continued very dense and sharp
lookout was maintained. The whistle
was blown every two minutes, for the
purpose of catching an answer if land
was near, but no sound had been re-
turned. The watch called "breakers"
! almost at the instant of striking.
The witness only theory was that an
unknown current had carried the boat
out OF her course. 1t yas his first trip
outside the islands; the chart showed
no current and be had no means Of
knowing that he should encounter one.
Having by the log passed Santa Barbara
island. witness had apprehended no pos.
sible danger in his course.
Captain A. Smith of San Pedro, for 81
years familiar with this coast. was called
for examination concerning the currents
that prevail or are occasionally noted in
nearby waters. His evidence was to
the effect that erratic currents are fre-
auent along the coast. bus he had no
theory and had heard of none by which
they could be foretold or accounted for.
At Catalina. for instance, it is quite
usual to encounter current running
from east to west, yet few weeks ago,
on q sailing voy age to Avalon, he had en-
countered q similar current at the same
place, running in exactly the opposite
| direction. His theory of the wreck oi
the Crown was that she had encoun-
tered an unknown current and been
drifted out of her course. As com.
mander he endorsed the course laid by
the captain Of the Crown. and thought
any or the best of captains might have
come to the same disaster through the
same cause.
The other witnesses examined were
First Mate John P. Poole, Second Officer
James McGeorge, First Engineer Robert
McHaffey, Third Engineer John L.
Clark, who was on duty when the boat
struck, and eeamen Michael McLaUgh-
lin, who was at the wheel, and Emil
Smith. who was on the lookout. Their
testimony corroboratsd that OF the cap.
tain in every essestial point. each in
his capacity repeating the salient points
of the loss OF the ship.
The investigation was at this point
adjourned to Wednesday morning at Ii
O'Clock to await the arrival OF deposi-
tions from San Francisco captaint
touching the currents in the waters
contiguous to the wreck. These will
close the evidence and the findings o
the court vii! then be made.