Findings of the Board of Trade Inquiry London, July 31.
The Board of Trade inquiry, into the loss of the Vestris, the Lamport Holt liner which went down off the American coast last year, has now delivered its findings. It is Stated that the vessel was in an] unsafe condition when leaving, Hoboken and was unfit to encounter the perils of the sea.
The following are enumerated s contributory causes to the disaster:—Loading the vessel beyond the of stability land buoyancy reserve for heavy weather, causing a list.
The half-doors on the upper-deck were not watertight, 'The inquiry found that the lifeboats of the Vestris were in a seaworthy condition, that the arrangements for manning and launching' them were efficient, and that the vessel was ficiently officered and manned.
Two Officials Blamed It is stated in the newspapers that actions for huge sums, in the: 'American courts, depend on the' Judgment given out by the Board of Trade inquiry regarding the Sinking of the Lamport and Holt The Court of Inquiry has held forty sittings since April 28.
The judgment was a very Iengthy one, the President of the Court answering ad seriatim 68 questions put by the Board of Trade, The Court held, among other} things, that some disorganization resulted from placing women and children inthe boats on the port ide ina mistaken application of the traditional order "Women and children first". The Court held that} there was no lack of order or discipline among the crew, that the S.0.S. signal should have been sent out six hours earlier, and that the captain was unduly optimistic before the foundering of the vessel.
The Court held that David Cook, Vice-President, Harry Wheeler, the marine superintendent, of the New! York agents of the shipping company were guilty of a wrongful act} and default which was contributory to. the loss of the Vestris, ordered David Cook to pay £500) towards the expenses of the Court, of inquiry.
Finally the Court recommended' that all foreign-going passenger} ships should enjoy the same tection as regard safety of life afforded emigrant ships by monas of Board of Trade supervision—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.