Shanghai, June 4th, A. Davesrort, Eaq., Vice-Consul, President, Lieut. J. J. Prrox, H. M. S. Mfodeste.
Nav.-Lieut. PowNat APLIX, G. F, Cates, Esq, Master, P."& O. steamer Zambesi.
J. M. Wuvre, Esq., Master, British shi W. ©. Gruutes, Esq, Assistant-Paymaster, HLM.S. AModeste, Olerk of the Court, enquire into the circumstances attending the stranding of the British brig Georgina, on the night of the 9th of May, on the Blockhouse shoal, and her subsequent abandonment by the master and crew. A narrative of the incidents leading to the wreck was handed in by Captain Mitchell, which it is unnecessary to publish, as the whole of the facts contained in it are included in the subjoined evidence Jasnes ALEXANDER MircnEtt, examined by the Court, deposed—I was master of the Georgina.' I_have no complaint to make against any officer or man for his conduct onthe occasion ofthewreck. I passed the Lightship at about half-past eleven on the night of the 9th May, 'The weather was gloomy and overeast—clear onthe horizon, with heavy scud coming up from the 8.E. 'The Georgina was drawing 12ft. Sin, at' most. 'There was' no pilot on board. I am'not a licensed pilot. "I haya frequently taken the Georgina up and down the river myself. "I did- not consider there was any particular danger, from weather or other causes, in my doing soon the 9th of May. The brig's draught was about a foot lighter than usual. All sail was set, and she was going about four knots, "When I sed the Lightship, the tide was nearly If flood. 'The precautions I took on going up the river were to, keep the lead going, lation a good: look out, and make allowances for' the When I' let go my anchor, Kintonn Beacon bore $.W. by W. 4 W., terly, distant about 2h or 22 miles. "There is no deviation in my compasses. I have taken no means to ascertain that, I know how to find deviation.' When the water first shoaled, the brig was ruining before the wind, the tide setting N. W., and the wind'S. E. When we passed the Lightship, the tide was rauning about W. $8. Tkuow that by the Lightship and another vessel lying near ier. he lead was going from the time of our passing the Lightship to coming to an anchor. I have been in charge of the Georgi ten months, running'from Shanghai. I had scale, Tanchored about half past one oclosk the latest Admiralty charts of the river—large
a.m, and it was then nearly high water, 'The tide must have fallen a little at five o'clock, when I tried to get underweigh, but as near as I could judge it was high water. The stream was still running up, The brig dragged her' anchor after letting go, and" previous to shortening in at five 'o'clock. It was before the sails were furled that she dragged her anchor:" [had to let go my anchor before the vessel had time to get treme 8.E. end of the Blockhouse shoal It head to tide, 1 expected I was on the ex was because there was immediate danger that Llet go my anchor then. T cannot account for the position I was in—the tide must have been stronger than 1 thought it was. The last master of the brig told mo there was no deviation in the compasses, and the Georgina being a wooden vessel, I judged there was none. up and down the river com) T expected 6 ground. The in the cable.
It was blowing half-a-gale of—having increased gradually from the brought up. On finding the water shoaling, I rounded to, and let go the anchor immediately. I'did not haul my wind to the southward, because I thought I should run on the Blockhouse shoal. I rounded to, to the' southward. I thought by anchoring there, that if the weather moderated in the moraing, I could get away: Tt was blowing too hard to got' away next morning, and the brig drove further up the bank as the tide rose. I commenced to shorten la at Sam, I began to shorten in, to try to get my anchor, before the vessel took the ground. The water had fallen so much before I got my anchor, that she took the ground at about 6.10. I consider it safe fora vessel of the Georgina's draught to anchor in three fathoms at Tow water. The rise and fall of the tide at the place where she struck was about or seven feet. could have taken soundings in a boat, before the brig atruck, but] Gid of think it necessary. 1 knew by the chart and the bearings taken where I was. have taken a ship up and down the Yangtsze about 20 times. It has occurred to mo that the Blockhouse shoal' has extended to, the southward and eastward, but not to such an extent as it actually has done. I thought it bad extended about a mile. I did not see the buoy on the S. E. extremity of the shoal when I was steering up the river, Isaw at daylight, before the brig struck. It bore 8. W. a mile distant, as near as Tan remember. I knew the' position of the Blockhouse shoal, when the water shallowed. T thought I was in the Channel by the round ings that [had taken before, and by bearings, I did not try if the water was the same d all the time the brig was at anchor. I tried just before anchoring and shortening-in, round it three fathoms each time. 4 Epwan Sxvis wis' next called, 90 deposed—I was boatévrain of the Gear9! sas
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.