The Wreck of the "Jane May"
Schooner On Monday, an inquiry, instituted by the Board of Trade, was held at the Greenwich Police Court, before Mr. TRAILL, assisted by Captain HARRIS, (H.C.S.), as nautical assessor, into the circumstances connected with the loss of the schooner "Jane May,"155 tons burthen, which became a wreck off Dungeness on the 19th ult.
Mr. O'DOWD was present on the part of the Board of Trade, and Mr. YOUNG attended as counsel for the master. Mr. O’Dowd, in opening the proceedings, said the vessel into whose loss the court was called upon to inquire, was the schooner "Jane May," 155 tons burthen, and belonging to the port of Falmouth, being the property of the master Capt. May, and others. The vessel was insured at Lloyd’s and Topsham’s at Devonshire, and sailed on the 16th October for Antwerp, with a cargo of railway iron, for Venice, leaving Flushing safe at 6 a.m. on the 18th, on her voyage, sinking on the following morning to the eastward of Dungeness, and becoming a wreck. The captain afterwards made a statement before the receiver-general as to the circumstances attending the loss of the vessel, but he was sorry to say the evidence afterwards taken from the crew put a different complexion upon the case, it being stated by them that the captain was incapacitated from managing the ship owing to intoxication. These witnesses on being called upon to verify their statements, refused to do so.
Richard MAY, of Gerrans, Cornwall, deposed - I was master and part owner of the "Jane May" brigantine. I have a certificate of service as such, and have acted as captain 24 years. I left Flushing on the 18th of October at six a.m. on board the "Jane May, " bound for Venice. The vessel was insured, partly at Lloyd's, and partly at Topsham's, Devonshire - at Lloyd's for GBP850, and at the other for GBP500, and had a full cargo of railway iron.
On leaving Flushing the wind was E.N.E. , and fine weather. I steered W. by N. for about two hours from Fairway buoy, and then steered W. by compass, which course I continued until 8 p.m., having made the North Foreland previously, which light I saw at 7 p.m., about 23 or 24 miles distant. I did not take any bearings, and stood on till eight o'clock, when I sighted the South Foreland Light, which was about 30 miles on the starboard bow. After 8 p.m. I steered W by S. The wind continued during the whole day from E.N.E. to N.E. by E., a fine pleasant breeze. I steered W. by S. course until 12 at midnight. I was on deck nearly the whole time leaving Flushing till 12 o'clock at night.
The position of the vessel at that time bore N.N.E. to the South Foreland Light. I conjectured so, as it was well on the starboard quarter, but I took no bearings. I have no doubt the land was five or six miles distant. The wind had not shifted up to 12 o'clock, but was a little fresher, and the weather a little more hazy. At midnight I gave directions to steer the vessel W.S.W., which is the usual Channel course. At that time the vessel had set mainsail, gallant-topsail, forecastle topsail, topgallant studding sail, and royal. I think the jibs were also set. This course would clear me six or seven miles off Dungeness Point, presuming I was five or six miles off the land at 12 o'clock. At that hour I went below, previously giving directions to the mate to continue the same course, W.S.W.
At half-past one (Antwerp time) I was awoke by the shock of the vessel striking, and by the mate calling out on deck, "The vessel is on shore." The vessel was pretty well off the land. I ordered the starboard working anchor to be let go in order to keep her from going further in, thinking she might get ahead to the sea. I then took in all the headsail, keeping the mainsail standing. The chain cable then broke, and I then as soon as possible let go the port anchor. By this time she had fallen north towards the land, and got further stranded. At the time she struck she was about a mile and a half off land. The wind had freshened a little from the time I went below. I don't know whether the wind had changed during the time I was below. The officer of the watch made no communication to me while I was below. The vessel being laden with iron I think affected the compasses.
Peter CARTER, the mate, said - I hold a certificate of competency as second mate. On the morning of the 18th day we left Flushing. I was occupied on deck during the day. I paid no attention to the steerage. Between 2 and 3 o'clock of the afternoon of the 18th, I noticed the captain a little the worse for liquor. At 7 the same night I noticed he was more intoxicated. About 8 o'clock I took the bearings of the North Foreland Light, and put it down at N.W. ½ N. - I now speak from memory ­- and the South Foreland Light W. No one directed me to take those bearings. I have no right to take bearings when the captain is in charge. At this time I thought he was capable of navigating the vessel. I went below at eight o'clock. I again saw him at midnight. He was then more intoxicated than at eight o'clock. At 12 at night he was not in a fit state to command the ship. He gave me no directions as to the steerage of the ship, but gave me orders to get the stunsail in and to get the topsail sheet bent on, which had been carried away during the first watch. He spoke distinctly when he gave me these orders. They were proper directions to give in my opinion. He was drunk at the time and staggered. His voice was rather thicker than usual. He gave me no orders, but I went aft at half-past 12 and found her head W.S.W. I kept her that course during my watch, until she struck. I then called the captain and all the crew. On going below I found the captain coming up. He was still drunk.
Mr. TRAILL - I will read to you that which you are here said to have declared, and which is signed by Mr. TERRY, the receiver-general. It is this: - "The mate and steward of the "Jane May," Richard, May, master, having made a statement before the magistrate at Lydd, accusing the master of being brunk [mispelled in paper] and otherwise in fault in causing the loss of the said vessel, which is untrue, we, the undersigned, think it only justice to state that the mate and crew came and requested that the papers containing the accusation might be withdrawn, the same being untrue and made in a moment of irritation in receiving nothing for loss of clothes in the ship; and we further regret having made the said charge against the said master."
Witness - Upon my oath I never made such a declaration. The captain came and spoke to me and the steward about the charge we had made, and we told him that what we said was true. He said it was a very serious charge, and we told him we could not help it; that he knew it was true, but that if it would hurt him we would withdraw it.
John CALLAGHAN, the steward on board the "Jane May," deposed - I was asked by the captain to withdraw the statement, as it was very serious charge against him, I asked the captain who was going to make our losses good? The captain said he was going to give us something. He then said it was a mere piece of spite on our part. I said "No, sir, the words we spike last night were the truth, and nothing but the truth." He then spoke of how serious it was to bring such a charge against him. We then went into Mr. Terry's room, and the captain told Mr. Terry we had agreed to make out a contradictory statement. I said, "The statement was made, if it is to benefit you, we will withdraw; but to make out any contradictory statement we will have nothing to do with it." On the 18th, I noticed the captain had a stupid look about him. Up to eight o’clock in the evening, he was in a half stupid state, rather worse that better. The stupidity, I think, was from drink. I saw him take about a third of a tumbler of brandy in water. After the vessel got aground the captain went below. I went down two or three minutes afterwards and saw the captain helping himself to brandy. I asked him if he was going to leave the ship, as the crew were getting ready. He said there was no immediate danger. I told him the vessel was breaking up fast. The captain then said, "She ain't break up too soon for me." He then lay down in the state cabin. The mate afterwards called upon him to leave the ship; and hour and a half after she struck. Further proceedings were then adjourned.

THE WRECK OF THE "JANE MAY," OF FALMOUTH. - We have given a report in our sixth page of an enquiry instituted by the Board of Trade into the cause of the loss of this vessel. The adjourned inquiry took place on Monday last, at the Greenwich Police Court. On the former occasion it was alleged that some of the crew had made statement before Mr. TERRY, the Receiver-General of Wrecks, that the captain was intoxicated at the time of the wreck, and had afterward made a declaration that such statement was untrue. They, however, denied that they had made such declaration, and the inquiry was adjourned for the attendance of Mr. Terry to speak to the fact. Mr. Terry now deposed to the first-mentioned statement having been made and sworn to by the mate and steward. On the following morning he was sent for, and they said they wished to withdraw the statement they had made, as it was quite false, being made in a moment of irritation of account of their not receiving compensation for the loss of their clothes. They, however, refused to sign a declaration to this effect, as they said they would be chargeable for perjury if they did so. Mr. TRAILL said it was highly improper on the part of the witness to have sent in such a statement as that, without mentioning the fact of the parties refusing to be sworn to its contents, as it led the court to infer that this had been done.
Captain May was then recalled, and denied the charge of drunkenness, and also that he had stated the ship could not strike soon enough for him. The mate and steward had told him they had made the charge of drunkenness because he had not offered to compensate them for the loss of their clothes, and were willing to withdraw it if he would do so. He said everyone should be paid what was due, and they then said they were willing to withdraw their statement.
Mr. W. T. PHILLIPS, shipowner of Tooley-street, Borough, spoke to the character of Captain May, who he denied was addicted to habits of intemperance. He also knew him to be an efficient seaman.  Mr. TRAILL said the evidence was of such a nature as to cause the delay of a few days in making a report to the Board of Trade, but this would be done without loss of time.