He submitted therefore, that there had been an error of judgment on the part of the Second Officer for which he should not be held unduly Table because of his. inexperience of the China Coast, the difficulty these waters and the reasons Syby he was prevented from taking ibis. second bearing' until seven Weleek, and that he should not be held blame for the occurence, yair., McDonald, in addressing the Ceatt for Capt, ' Mill, pointed out that the inquiry was "held at the request, of, his client, and that he Rsv ask the Court to consider the ge-vand experience of his. silent Me, wonld not go-through the fuats: Uf the. ease which, had beer. s0 r6- cently. told. but would state that a: structions to the Second Officer, Mr. Thatcher, proper instructions in every way, and given to an experienced and thoroughly qualified officer, who gave the appearance in the witness box of being thoroughly, ible in every way. As soon as Capt. Mills was notified that Button Island was three miles away he came up immediately to the Bridge. It] would have been impossible for him (Capt. Mills) to have given more careful or definite instructions." He bad been seven hours on the bridge before leaving. If within the powers and province of the Cours counsel world ask them to put of record that owing to the presence! of mind and skilled handling of his ship Capt. Mills averted a really grave disaster.
The Finding The Court then adjourned to three o'clock in the afternoon at which time the following finding and order were rea It appears from the evidence given before the Court that th str. Sunning sailed from Shanghai on or about 11 a.m. on March 14, bound for Amoy and Hongkong. 'AN about six o'clock, the Master, Captain George David Stoker Mills, left the bridge in charge of the Second Officer, Mr. Walter Albert, Thatcher, giving orders that _he was to be called when Button Island was sighted. At about 6,21 p.m, hho was told that Button Island was sighted and he came on the bridge for about five minutes, and during these five minutes he altered—the course to south 18 East and gave the Second Officer, Mr. Thatcher, orders to let him know when Button Island was three miles off and to inform him if the ship experienced _any abnormal set. He also pointed out the land on the starboard bow, During the next 40 minutes, the second, officer's, Mr. Thatcher's, attention, was principally occupied with wats ching the movements and bearings of two approaching steamers. He finally fixed the ship's position at about 7 p.m. by Gutzlaff and Bonham Lights, which were almost in straight line and very unreliable} for fixing the ship's position, The Jand on the starboard hand had faded out of sight and could not} be used as a check.
The Grounding By this fix, he estimated Button Island to be' three miles off, and after laying this position off on the chart, and looking at an approaching] ship, he called the Master, Captaii Mills. The Master arrived on the bridge almost at once, and noticing that Button Island was very close, he immediately gave the order hard.
port, but not in time to prevent hip from grounding, after ing ubout eight' points. Engines were then stopped and steps taken to safeguard life. After investigation the ship was refloated and anchored, when it was established that she could return to Shanghai in safety under her own steam. She left for Shanghai xt 8.30 the next morning and arrived there at 6 pam. March 15, where the extent of the damage was ascertained to be several plates and frames damaged in the double bottom and No. 2 tank top set up.
The Court having regard to the circumstances above stated firds as follows:—
That the accident was due to an error in judgment of speed on the part of the Second Officer, Mr. Thatcher, inasmuch as he estimated the speed of the ship at 12 knots over the ground, whereas in fact it was nearer 14 knots.
That on losing sight of the land fon the starboard hand the Second Officer, Mr. Thatcher, failed to notify the Master as he should have done.
That in view of the Second Officer's Mr, Thatcher's, short experience of these waters he should have verified is estimation of speed by asking the Master, Captain Mills.
That in' view of the short experience of the Second Officer, Mr. Thatcher, in these waters and the difficulty of establishing the position by bearing of lights alone, it would have been wiser for the Master, Captain Mills, to have given definite time to be called, in addition to the distance, or to have returned to the bridge at such time. as he would expect to be three miles from Button Island.
That the Master, Capt. Mills, on arrival on the bridge -took ' all possible steps to avert an accident, and that, subsequent to the strand-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.