The British Court was crowded th afternoon when the decision in the abet case was given. Mr. J. F, Lowder, representing the master, officers, and crew of the Ravewna was present; well as Mr, Rickett, P. & O. agent in this port; Capt. J. Ingles, R.N., Foreign Adviser the Japanese Naval Department; Mr. Montague Kirkwood, who has watched the ease on behalf of the Japanese Naval Department; Capt. Sato and Capt. Dewa of H.LJ.M.'s Navy; Mr, Ideura, of the Naval Department, and Capt. Browne of the Ravenna, The President read the decision as follows:—Finding and order of a Naval Court held at Yokohama on the 20th—24th and 28h to investigate the cireumstances attending a collision between the British steamship Ravenna of Glasgow, oficial number 82,300 and the Imperial Japanese cruiser Chiskima, on or about the 30th day of November, 1892, where: serious damage to the Ravenna ensued, and to equi fo the conduct of the master, mates, and crew of the Racenna, The Ravenna is a steam vessel of 3,256 tons, registered tonnage, official number 82,300 and belonging to the port of Glasgow. Tt appears from the evidence given before the Court that she sailed from Kobe on the 29th November, bound for Nagasaki with a cargo of merchandise, and with about 150 souls on board all told, of whom 23 were passengers. That on the morning of the 30th November, 1892, at about 4.20 a.m., the Ravenna's course was S. 40° W. true, speed 12.5 knots, Teurushima light in sight right ahead, distant 14 to 15 miles, no other light in sight, and the deck in charge of Mr. E. W. Browne, chief officer, No. of certificate 06585; the pilotage was being conducted by Kitano Yeshibei, licensed pilot for the Inland Sea Mr. Gerald Alderton, fifth officer No. of certificate 02439, was on the lookout on the forecastle head, and both the steaming and side lights burning brightly. About4.20a.m, Capt. Browne (the master) No. of certificate 12193, having been eleven hours on deck, left the bridge and retired to his cabin (situated on the upper deck 163 ft, abaft the bridge); about 4.55 a.m. he felt the shock of a collision and heard one blast of the steam whistle. On which, he instantly rushed on deck and was met near his extin dour by a lascar, who reported the ship in collision. Capt. Browne immediately shouted below:—- Send all the passengers on deck," and then ran forward to the bridge and found the engines were going slowly astern, and, as the ship had lost her way, he stopped them. Cupt. Browne thon-ordered the boats away, viz., the mail or accident boat, No. 3 life-boat, a nda jolly bout. The remainder of the boats he ordered to be lowered in a line with the rail so as to be ready, if necessary, to embark the passengers, The boats had been previously ordered away by the chief officer. The captain next tured his attention to the damage done to his own ship, and, having assured himself that she was not in immediate danger, decided to remain upon the scene of the disaster, The boats appear to have boon despatched promptly, and after being away from 30 to 40 minutes saved the captain, Kaburaki Makoto, the French guarantee-engineer, Francois Esneaud, and 13 seamen; also sub-lieutenant Tsuchiyama Tetsudo, who had climbed into the damaged bow of the Ravenna, was discovered and taken on board. Shortly before daybreak all the boats returned and were hoisted up, excepting the mail boat which was again despatched to make a further search in charge of Mr. Allerton, the fifth officer, but finding no one he rejoined the Rucenna at 9am. in Horiye Bay, whither Captain Browne had proceeded to " safe anchorage in consequence of the damaged condition of the ship. From the evidence of the following persons, viz., the chief officer, the fifth officer, the pilot, in his certified statement made before H.B.M Consul at Nagasuki, the quarter-ma: of the watch, and the A.B. on the lod out, it appears they all agree that at about 4.45 a.m, on' the morning of the 30th November, both a white and a red light were sighted, a little on the port bow, and that the Ravenna ported 10 degrees, than steered n course, and then again ported; as the red light got nearer, the other ship apparently starboarded, When the other ship's three lights were seen the Ravenna's helm was put **hard-aport" and one blast on the steam whistle was blown: the other ship attempted to blow her whistle, which was choked with water, and starboarded to cross the Racenna's how. The Ravenna's engines were stopped and helm reversed at the moment of striking, and also the whistle blown, At the time of striking the Ravenna's head was N 85' W. Accnrding to the evidence, as the Ravenna on firat seeing the red light of the other vessel adopted the correct course according to the rules of the road, we cannot consider the action of this ship to be the primary cause of the collision, When a collision was imminent, at the time when the Ravenna blew one blast of the whistle, and put her helm hard-a-port, the response of the other ship in showing her green light immediately after, left the Ravenna no option in the use of her helm; but had her engines then been instantly stopped and reversed the effects of the collision might have been modified, We do not attach any blame for the collision to the master, chief officer, and others on duty, We find that proper discipline appears to have been maintained on board the Ravenna, and that every assistance practiexble was rendered towards saving the lives of the commander and crew of the other vessel.
That in accordance with the powers contained in sec, 263 of 17 and 18 Vie. ch, 104, the costs amounting to £29 19s. 8d. ($197.02) of the proceedings before the said Court be paid by George William Frederick Browne, the master of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.