12th November.
Before Sir H. S. Wruxtxsox, Chief Justice, and Captain C. H. H. Moone, R.N., and Navigating Lieut. A. 8.' Houst, N., H. M.S. Sirius, Assessors, Toe Inrenta, Carxese Goversment, Ownens oF THe Cruiser QuaNorar Owners or Tar Bririsn Steamsury Express of INpra.
(Continued.
Mr, A. S. P. White-Cooper and Mr. W..N. Symonds appeared for the Imperial Chinese Government, and Mr. EH. H. Sharp, K. C. (Hongkong), and Mr. W. A.C. Platt, instructed by Mr. H. J. Goige of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes, and. Master (Hongkong), for the defendants.
John Godfrey—I am an able seaman on the Empress of In On the night of the collision I was on watch from 8 to 12 and I was on duty in the crow's nest from 10 to 12. I have been at sea about 15 years, first saw the stern light of the Quanglai shortly after going to the crow's nest. The light bore straight ahead. It continued to bear straight ahead until about 20 minutes before the collision, Then it broadened out on our starboard bow. I remember reporting a junk without a light, I reported her at 11-45. She was about mile away and bore about a point on the starboard bow. I called out "A vessel without lights on the starboard bow." that time the Quangtai bore 3 points on the starboard bow. When about. 4 points she altered her course and began to swing round to p rt. When she was 4 points away the distance between us was about mile. I heard the orders on the bridge, I think given by the Captain, "starboard" and *f hard-a-starboard " in quick succession, I heard shouting from the bridge.. I heard the Captain singing out to the Quangtai to port her helm. (Showed with models how the collision occurred.) Isaw the two vessels. After the first impact I saw the cruiser swing alongside and then go off astern. A minute or two minutes elapsed -between the orders starboard and hard-a-starboard and the collision. It was about 8 minutes after I reported the junk that the vessels came together. I judged, when I first saw the junk that she was heading out to sea, If the Quangtai had kept her course she would have cleared the junk.
Cross-examined by Mr. White-Cooper—I did not know what course the Empress was steering when I went up to the crow's nest. I don't know whether the Empress made any alterations of course subsequently to my going to the crow's nest, nor can Isay whether the broadening of the cruiser's light was due to her changing her course or an alteration of ours. (Marked on a sheet of paper the position of the three vessels when the cruiser was 4 points on the starboard bow). The junk would be mile away at that time. T was waiting to hear the bell ring when I reported the junk so that I remember the time. (Plan handed in.)
Mr. Sharp said that witness said he had not drawn before.
Mr. White Cooper said the witness had given his evidence so clearly that he could probably draw a fairly accurate plan of the positions of the ships.
Witness—The positions in which I have drawn the ships were as nearly as I can remember those at 11.45 T could net see the hull of the cruiser clearly. We were gaining on the cruiser.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.