(No. 1133.)
"MARIA."
REPORT of an Inquiry held before the Mauritius Marine Board into the loss of the barque "MARIA" of Coringhy.
The Board having carefully considered the evidence of Louis Emmanuel Estienne, the master, and an extract duly sworn and attested from "The Declaration of Protest and Act of Abandonment," report as follows:—
The "Maria," as far as can be ascertained, was formerly the Italian barque "Princess Marguerite," constructed in or about 1869, and having been abandoned, was bought by some natives at Coringhy and repaired. The master's evidence states that she was registered as a British vessel, but her official number is not known, as all her papers were lost.
She was commanded by Mr. Louis Emmanuel Estienne, who is not in the possession of a Board of Trade certificate, being a French subject, and holder of a certificate as Capitaine au Long Cours, which he produces.
It appears that on 18th July 1881 Mauritius was sighted, the master intending to pass to the southward of the island, and that after losing sight of Isle aux Fouquets Light he altered course to the northward before being clear of the reefs on the S.W. extremity, having over estimated the speed of his vessel, thereby running straight on to the dangerous reefs in the neighbourhood of the Bay du Cap, where nothing could save the "Maria."
The Board are of opinion that the loss of the "Maria" is due to the want of prudence and error in judgment on the part of the master in hauling to the northward, without making sure that he was clear of the reefs (the night being, as stated in the evidence, thick and foggy), by not waiting till daylight, or laying to under easy sail if he was under the impression that he had run far enough to the westward.
Mr. Estienne, being a French subject, holding a French certificate, the Board are unable to deal with the same.
(Signed)
C. Q. G. CRAUFURD, Harbour Master and President of the Marine Board.
JOHN P. ELLIS,
Marine Surveyors.
J. COWIN,
31st August 1881.
L 367. 903. 70.—10/81. Wt. 203. E. & S.
