The Mercury Newspaper:-Thursday 23 June 1927
TOGO . CARTELA COLLISION
. OPENING OF STATE INQUIRY.
EVIDENCE FOR TOGO OWNERS.
Tho Court of Marino Inquiry set up by the State to Inquire into the collision between thc river steamers, Togo and Cartela, on December 25 last, and the subsequent stranding of the Cornier vessel at Castray Esplanade, began its sittings yesterday. The Court consisted of the Police Magistrate (Mr. E. AV. Turner), who is chairman, and Captains J. T. Shimmins and C. H. Goldie, nautical assessors.
Mr. C. S. Page appeared tor James Rowe and Sons Pty. Ltd., owners ot the Togo, and Mr. A. I. Clark for the Huon Channel and Peninsula Steam Ship Co., owners of the Cartela.
Mr. Page pointed out that Mr. A. F. Rowe, who was in charge of the Togo when the collision occurred, was at present in hospital, and he suggested that the statement made by him to the Commonwealth Court of Inquiry prior to the litigation between the State and the Commonwealth as to the powers of the Commonwealth to hold an inquiry, should be accepted.
This course was agreed upon In the event of Mr. Rowe being unable to attend the inquiry.
There was no formal opening of the inquiry and Mr. Page called evidence on behalf of the owners of the Togo.
Joseph James Nathaniel Barnett, a photographer, produced photographs taken from "Blinking Billy" Point showing tho positions of the vessels as they passed "Blinking Billy" and Long Point.
Dr. Frederick Stansfield said that be watched the vessels as they passed his house at "Blinking Billy" Point. Witnessess had been under the impression that the Cartela, which was on the shore side, was in such a position that "she was likely to ram the Togo". The bow of the Cartela seemed to turn in towards the stern of the Togo as they went past.
In answer to Mr, Clark, he said that when the two boats turned the point at Sandy Bay, they appeared to veer shorewards.
Henry John Ashcroft, produced a photograph of the ships, which he had taken from the Maweena nearer the middle of the river. He said that the Cartela was coming up on the port side of the Togo and appeared to be boring inside the Togo's running. He heard a bump and immediately after, saw the Togo running ashore.
Wilfred Gifford, secretary and accountant of the firm of James Rowe and Son, said that he was at Long Beach on Christmas afternoon, and saw the Cartela and the Togo come inside the buoy. At that time the Cartela was to the left, and slightly behind the Togo. When he saw the vessels coming round "Blinking Billy" Point the Cartela was about two lengths behind, and opposite Long Point the Cartela's bow was overlapping the stern of tho Togo by about 10 feet The vessels appeared to be going about the same speed with the Cartela hanging on to the Togo's stern, and witness remarked at the time that the Togo would be rammed. He watched the vessels and saw the Togo suddenly swing towards the shore, and run aground.
To Mr. Clark: Both boats seemed to bo headed direct for King or Queen's pier. A course inside Prince's wharf was not usual.
Max Edward Barwick, a moulder, said he was on the Esplanade, and when the vessels were about 100 yards away from the shore he took a photograph (produced). Immediately afterwards the Togo swung round and made straight for the shore. Tho Togo was leading at the time, but the Cartela was catching up, and her bow was about two-thirds along the Togo's length.
-Joseph Eccles produced photographs taken on December 26, showing marks on the stern of the Togo and the bow of tho Cartela.
EVIDENCE BY TOGO'S DECK HAND
Hugh Herbert Price, a master mariner, said he was in charge of the Togo for about three parts of the journey on Christmas Day.' The Togo and the Cartela left Hobart together, and round Green Island the Togo was four or five lengths in front. The Cartela, which had up to this time, been running on the starboard side of the Togo, crossed to the shore or port side. During the journey tho Cartela waa making spurts arid then falling back. At Sandy Bay both boats, went inside the buoy, with the Cartela the closer inshore. The Cartela was then a little astern and began to gain on the Togo.
Two or three minutes from the collision, Mr. Rowe took the wheel from witness. At that time there was no suspicion that there would be a collision. When witness left the wheel and went aft, the bow of the Cartela was level with the Togo's stern, and gaining. The Cartela's bow stuck the Togo, but there was no heavy impact, and the latter vessel swung round and ran ashore. It was possible that the Cartela came too close and the suction drew her on to the Togo.
In answer to Mr. Page, witness said that the Harbour Master's direction was that the following vessel should keep two lengths away from the leading boat, but that rule had been infringed on several occasions.
To tho chairman: Although witness was a master mariner, his official position on that day was that of a deck hand.
To Mr. Page: He denied that It was the Togo which was making spurts and then falling back on to the bow of the Cartela. He heard the Cartela blow as he was coming away from the bridge, and he thought that it was an indication that she was going to port. When the impact occurred the engines were stopped. The Togo had been steering clear of the end of Prince's Wharf. The vessel had gone inside the buoy at Sandy Bay; but he did not know why. He knew they were not supposed to go Inside the buoy.
To Mr. Page: Before the collision the Cartela had been steering the same course as the Togo, and if the latter vessel had not been able to clear Prince's Wharf the Cartela would have been in a worse plight, because she was closet to the shore. At no time on the home- ward journey did the Cartela make any attempt to go to the starboard of the Togo.
NO BURSTS OF SPEED.
' Olaf Alan Ford, marine engineer on the Togo on Christmas Day, said that Immediately after the collision he received an order through the telegraph to go full speed astern. Witness stopped the engines and immediately reversed them. They were in reverse when the Togo struck the shore.
To Mr. Clark: lt would take about 5 to 10 lengths to stop the Togo.
The Chairman: As the Togo is 120ft In length, that would be about 300yds.?
Witness: lt would be thereabouts.
The Chairman: If you were going to Bellerive you would have to start pulling up in the middle of the river?
Witness: There were a lot of passengers, and the weight would make a difference.
In answer to Mr. Clark, he said that at no time during the journey did he have to get the aid of a passenger to keep steam up. One man named Heror had volunteered to assist the fireman but he had not been a passenger, and there was no necessity for his assistance.
To Mr. Pago: The pressure of steam varied, but he had no trouble in maintaining the pressure. The variation in pressure applied to every steamboat There was an auxiliary utilised on the Cartela whereby there would be extra pressure which would result in burst of speed for short periods at a time The Togo did not have such an auxiliary thee steam pressure varied from 1501b to I60lb during the afternoon, but ii would not affect the running of the Togo so far as bursts of speed were concerned. He could not estimate the speed of the Togo at the time of the collision.
"SPUN LIKE A CORK."
James Fannon, :apassenger on the Togo, said he was standing near . the wheel during the whole of the trip. During the run home the Cartela seemed to be coming up close on the port side of the Togo, and then dropped back. When the Cartela struck the Togo, the latter vessel spun like a cork and turned toward the shore. Mr. Rowe had been at the wheel from three to five minutes before the collision. Witness did not hear him signal to the engine-room, as he was watching the Cartela when the bump occurred. When Mr. Rowe took the wheel he did not alter the course, which appeared to be for King's Pier. Both steamers appeared to have the same course.
CARTELA PASSENGER'S VERSION
Capt. Frederick Thorne, master of the Star, who was called by Mr. Clark, said he had been a passenger on the Cartela, which was about a length astern on the port side of the Togo off "Blinking Billy" Point. From the buoy at Sandy Bay the two boats seemed to be running for the red light at Prince's Wharf. The Cartela was astern at first, but began to pick up till a third of its length over- lapped the Togo. About 40ft. separated the boats, and, in his opinion, they were keeping in too close to the course for Prince's Wharf. As the Cartela got closer the captain blew his whistle, and witness took it as an indication that he wanted room. After the third blast the Togo kept out a little. Just before the collision the Togo came on a course across the Cartela's bow, and then she straightened up, bringing her stern into the Cartela's bow. The Togo was inside the course for Prince's Wharf until she straightened, and when her bow was thrown out again lt brought her stern on to the Cartela. The Cartela reversed her engines at the impact.
To Mr. Page: The Cartela certainly was the overtaking vessel, but it was optional on which side she should come. The Togo had gone inside the buoy at Sandy Bay, and the Cartela had gone still further Inshore. The Impact was not a blow, but a pushing contact.
The inquiry was adjourned till 10.30 this morning.