The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-08

ntecred various courses until the pilot
Jeff could hear the bsIl buoy on the
Fort side.
Q What course did you steer after this
pilot left9 A.-Whsn the pilot left Us the
vessel was headed south, one-half east. 4
received orders from the third officer who
was at the standard compass, to star
board the helm and to bring the vessel
around to east one-haif south. When tbs
report breakers ahead was made the third
offiosr had just steadied the ship ON an
east BY south course. l should say IL was
about i've min utes after this when the
vessel grounded. Two minutes previous
to this or as soon ss the breakers were
sighted the master ordered the helru put
hard apart and the steamer had swung
around east southeast when she struck
aud eventually she came around 10 the
south east. The helm Was kept hard
port until was relieved. then stood
By the lead and found four fathoms OF
water ami1ships of the bridge.
JOHN SHIELDS.
The ne 1t witness was John Shields, the
rbu OlnCoE Vi tuo
In answer to ques tions by the court he
said:
81 was In the wheel house from the
time the Californian left the wharf until
she took ground. saw the pilot whsn
he left and ut this time We were about
ships length from the bell buoy. The
ships head was then about south, 1.2 east.
The helm was Immediately put hard a
starboard and the engines half speed
ahead. The ship steadied on to oourse
about east by the wheel house compass
for about two minutes. After this abe
was headed east, 1-9 south and remained
on that course until breakers ahead were
reported. Her engines were then put at
full speed sstern and the helm hard
port She came round AZ far as south BY
east and took around, remaining fast.
Her engines were kept ct full speed astern
for about five min utes after she grounded
but without moving the vessel. was
ordered by the master to sound around
tine ship aud found her aground forward
90 far as No. . hatch. Fifteen minutes
After / left the wheel house the master
ordered the engines to be put full speed
ahead AND the helm hard aport. This was
continued for about two minutes and the
vessel then took ground astern."
HE LOOKOUT.
A Harold Paine the man on look out was
the succeeding witness.
He said: my name 10 Harold Paine
and am an able seaman. When the.
Californian struck was on duty on the
forecs stle on the lookout. Al or about
the time the pilot left the ship an order
was given from the bridge to keep a sharp
lookout on the starboard bow. The chief
officer who was on the foreoastie head
with me told me to look out for q buoy
and did 30. Perhaps i've minutes after
wards called the chief officers attention
to white streak in front, right ahead.
He told me 1t was breakers. We then
called out breaker ahead and tbs
boatswain aud another seaman took up
the cry and carried 1t 10 the bridge.
minute or two afterwards the steamer
took ground. The chief officer saw the
trsaksrs at the sane time did,"
The ohiet officer, Michael John Ksar-
ney, was the next witness. He said taas
on leaving the wharf his position was on
the forecastle head. He told how he was
instructed to keep q sharp lookout on the
starboard bow and few minutes after
the ship got under way after the pilot
left her he had discovered the breakers
ahead. Thes, questions were then asked
him by the court:
Q.-Have you uEed the Ram Island and
Witch rock channel many times? A.
Yes. always.
Q.-Do you prefer It to the channel be-
tween Jordan's Reef and Witch rock.
Ayes.
OF you had been In command of the
vessel that night would you have en-
to have taken the ship out OF the
,hannel between Ram Island and Witch
,ock. Ayes.
/ O -From the position In which you
we're In and where you noticed her. to be
when the course was given by the cap
lain east half south and then east by
south did you believe the vess ell would go
clear. A.-Yes.
Mr.. Heating now asked II Captain Ed
ward L. Parsons, the pilot, was In the
room, and finding that he was, asked
aim II he Was willing to answer few
questions. saying that it Was optional
With him whether he should give any
.sstimony.
Captain Parsons replied that he would
answer any question the court
might wish to put to him and according.
" MIR. Heating examined him as follows:
Q.-Did you notify the captain or make
. statment before leaving the wharf that
vou would not proceed to ssaP A.@No 1
lid not.
Odd the master offer to take you to
Ale said something about
said had letter 20 to Halifax,
but didn't consider IL as q command.
Odd you In any way draw the cap
sain's attention to the current that was
running as to Its force and direction, be-
fore you left the ships Al considered
there was NO current at that time; 1t was
Just low tide.