Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-16
Light on the
 Buoy Was Out
CAUSE OF WRECK OF STEAMER
 co1EouIp.
CAPTAIN TAKES BLAME
Says He Was on the Bridge When
 Trinity Rock Was Struck-Had No Warning Before the Vessel Struck.

St. John, B, Jan. 1.-The light on the buoy that marks Trinity Rock, where the Royal Mall steamer packet Lner Copequ1d was wrecked, was out, salo her commander, Captain John H. Hawson, who arrived here tonight on the government steamer Lansdowne, the last man to leave his ship.
 The fact that this important mark was missing was borne out by the Canadian marine department officers partment says that he received word late on January ! that the light was out. An announcement of 1t was made In the newspapers and the shipping federation at Montreal notified
 Captain Shoulders All ResponsibiIity.
 A new buoy was placed on the steamer Lansdowne last Saturday to pc taken to the ledge. but owing to the sickness of one of the crew and changes among the officers, she was without her proper complement and unable to proceed to sea She was ready to sail on Tuesday, the day the Cobequid struck
 In telling of the disaster Captain Hawson said:
 If anyone Is to blame I am the man. l was on the bridge at the time. Just before the wreck" he said, the air was very thick with snow and the conditions grew worse after the 1 was suggested that she ought to have more sea room but it was considered too late to put back
 No Warning of Danger.
 With the light buoy out of commits sion on Trinity Rock Captain Hawson had no warning of danger. The lodges rise abruptly out of deep water Soundings were taken every half hour and the last one showed deep water. Tho CnhanniH tiously, sruck fairly easily and at near ly low tide. As the tide rose the holds flooded, making 1t necessary to draw the fires, putting the dynamo out of commission.
 In the meantime the "S. O. S." call had been sent out. The captain com mented on the fact that it was 25 minutes before the call was answered from Sable Island.
 The first day when all the ships company was crowded into the cap tain's cabin and the ladies' cabin ad- iosl1ing, the captain described as law -ful,'' the second mot so bad" and last night as quite all right
 Small Boat Formed a Breakwater.
 The fury of the sea which threatened to sweep away the cabin at aany mo- ment on the first day proved the sal vation of probably all the company. One of the ships boats was torn from US dt1NllS dIlo CdIIlGu dSdlIl5L IIl6 CdD- in door, where it damned and froze solidly into position, thus forming a breakwater for the last shelter of all on board.
 Had a rescue steamer arrived earlier said the captain, 1t could have done nothing owing to the terrific force of the seas. After the first day these conditions moderated. Captain Flaw son spoke highly of Captain McKin- non of the Westport, Captain Burns of the Lansdowne and the master of the steamer John L. Cam, which took off all the CobeqUid's company. Every body on board, said the captain, show ed good spirit.
 An inquiry at Halifax.
 With the captain on the Lansdowne were the ships surgeon, pr. Lister; the fifth engineer. H. P. Gladwin, the junior wireless operator, E. T. Shrimp ton, and ten members of the crew. AS the Lansdowne came up the har- Dor she was given a noisy welcome by the sirens of all the vessels in port.
 Captain Hewson and those with him will leave at noon tomorrow for Hal flax, where it is expected an inquiry into the wreck will he held