The following is a summary of the evidence recorded at the enquiry into the accident to the "Prinz Heinrich, held at Galle by Mr. Brodhurst in hi capacity of Master of Wreel Tar Evipence or tHe Cartaix, Godfrey Rudolf Meyer, Master of the Prinz Heinrich," said the ship's tonnage was 3,904, and she was built in 1894. He could not give the exact number of the crew. He held a certificate of efficiency. The cargo was' of general goods, passengers, and mails. 'They left Colombo at 8.10 am, on.23rd July, in)|fine weather; the ind blowing in a westerly direction with a high breeze. The accident happened at 2.10 p.m. The weather was fine then, with light westerly wind. The Captain' himself, the 2nd Officer, and the 4th Ofiicer were in charge when she struck on something. It might have been a submerged rock or a wreck, but he could not positively say. The position was Lat. 5.55 N. and Long. 80.97 E. eight miles west of Dondra Head, about 2} miles from shore. Finding the vessel making water he turned back; about 22) ft. of water was made in half-an-hour. He brought her to' Galle. When the pilot boarded her it was 4.55 p.m., and they entered the harbour at 6. The damage had not been estimated. Some of the cargo was possibly damaged by sea-water. He could not give particulars whether the steamer was insured. At the time of the accident the vessel was travelling the rate of 14 knots. It was ten minutes past one when he passed. Woody Island 2} miles off; at 152 p.m. he was 14 miles off, Ho was about 24 miles from shore, Dondra Lighthouse, 8. 73° E. He was on the bridge at the time and had been there all the way from Colombo. Besides him there were also the 2nd and the 4th Officers. There was a lookout man who gave no alarm. There was no appearance of a wreckage. The chart did not show a rock there, neither a wreckage. The vessel slided; they were in deep water—about 20 fathoms. He took no soundings. Thinking something was wrong in the engine-room, he stopped the engine. Then he sent down two carpenters to report the quantity of water in each compartment. They found water coming into the fore coal bunker—s sounding showed about 6 ft—within half-an-hour the water rose 22ft. in the coal bunker. The rest of the ship was all right. He then consulted the chief and 2nd Officers, and it was decided to return to Galle at full speed. A diver examined the ship, but he was unable to ascertain the extent of the damage. He could not account for the accident in any way. Ho knew the coast well, having passed that section last year at a distance of one mile. This time he was 2} miles off, Mr. Lomcke remarked that the Captain had suggested sending boats to discover what it was that the vessel had struck.
Mr. Brodhurst said the suggestion would be forwarded to the Principal Collector of Customs.
Evinesce or tHe Se¢onp Orercen.
Jobo Henken, 2nd officer, said that hho was on duty at the timne of the accident on the bridge, with the Captain and the 4th officer. The accident occurred at about 2 p.m., when the weather was clear, and the ship was from 2}-3 miles from shore. The ship was about 8 miles west of Dondra Head. The course taken was 8.70°E. Hehad been many times on that coast. On this occasion ho felt a shock, and stopped the engines; there was no appearance of a rock. Nothing was wrong with the machinery. On sonding the carpenter down it was found that the ship was making water; then the shipy was backed to Galle.
Curr Ex Carl Beiser, Chief Engineer, said a sudden shock was felt and he went to the engine-room. The engines were all right and were moving slowly; but were stopped by order from the bridge. The ship was brought back to Galle at a speed of 13} knots.
Tue Loox-ovr Man.
William Henken, the look-out man, said at 2 o'clock the weather was clear and the shore could be seen. There was appearance of a rock;-but he felt the ship strike something. He could not tell the distance from land,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.