In reply to questions from counsel he then outlined in detail the circumstances of the stranding, as appear summarized in the finding published below. The second officer, Mr. Thatcher, then told his story} of the stranding, in reply to questions from counsel, and. the! Hecond. engineer, Mr. Charles Murray, who was on duty at. the time corroborated from the log the statement, regard to the stopping of the engines at 7.21 pam.
Atter a recess of 10 minutes the! Court announced that it would not necessary to call the Chinese! witnesses unless the counsel so desired and, their testimony not be ing asked for, Capt. Mills was re-Hed to the' witness box and on wiry stated that there were no instructions as to who should be the bridge during that part of the voyage and that he had no doubt whatever as to the ability of the Second Officer, In addressing the Court, Int, Master said in behalf of cher that the evidence miscalculation of the distance the vessel from Button Rock, attributable to several causes, a' miscalculation in the mind of the Second Officer with regard to the speed of the vessel at 6.21 pan. when his bearings gave him the distance of 102 miles from Button Rock. did not suggest any" unseamantike conduct on the part of the Second Oficer, whose attention was very much taken up with approaching: vessels, He also pointed out that the difficulties of extin ting" the bearings by the lights made: his second. observations practically useless, Moreover, he added, the Jand on the starboard ide had disappeared.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.