The Loss of the Jane Vosper by Freeman Wills Crofts Page B

finished there was not much about the vessel that he had not covered.
    ‘As to the actual voyage and to the extraordinary series of explosions as a result of which the ship sank,’ Mr Armitage went on, ‘I propose to say very little, as I think you will get a better idea of these direct from Captain Hassell, her master, who is with us today. But very broadly speaking,’ and Mr Armitage went on to describe both, not indeed broadly, but in the utmost detail. He told the story vividly and well, from the loading of the cargo in the London Docks right up to the point at which the Barmore picked the crew up from the boats. Nothing was omitted from the tale, except the explanation of what had really occurred. Mr Armitage didn’t say in so many words that this was a mystery, but indicated that all the available evidence on the point would be put before the court. Then after a short peroration on the importance of the case and the number of interests involved, he sat down.
    But immediately he was on his feet again. ‘James Hassell,’ he called, glancing over the assembly.
    Captain Hassell, looking anxious and thoroughly woebegone, rose from his seat with the other officers and moved round the room to the witness box. There he was sworn and invited to sit down.
    ‘You are James Hassell, master of the Jane Vosper ,the ship which is the subject of this enquiry?’
    ‘I am.’
    Then ensued a long questionnaire on Hassell’s age, qualifications and career. He had been twenty-five years with the Southern Ocean Company, eighteen as a skipper, and eight in command of the Jane Vosper . He was adequately qualified for his job and had never before been involved in any serious mishap.
    A similar but more detailed questionnaire on the ship herself followed. Her size, age, design, workmanship and equipment were taken in turn and legally established. The captain said she was a good sea boat, steady, easy to steer, and very dry, as well as being well built and well found in every way. There was nothing about her, he declared, to account for the explosions or to warrant any suggestion that she had been sunk more easily than a ship should.
    Mr Armitage then turned to the voyage and took Hassell through each step from the London Docks until the first explosion.
    ‘Now,’ he went on, ‘during those six days of the passage, up till the time of the first explosion, did you notice anything abnormal or unusual about the ship or crew?’
    ‘Nothing whatever. Except for the delays from fog and wind, the voyage was entirely normal and satisfactory.’
    ‘You were satisfied with your crew?’
    ‘Absolutely.’
    ‘There was nothing to suggest that disaster might be approaching?’
    ‘No, sir. Nothing.’
    ‘Except that you had lost some thirty-three hours, you were entirely satisfied with your progress?’
    ‘Entirely.’
    ‘And before you started? Was everything perfectly normal and satisfactory?’ ‘Perfectly so.’
    ‘Were you satisfied with the nature and stowing of the cargo?’
    ‘Quite satisfied.’
    ‘Very well. Now we come to the explosions. Will you tell us in your own words what occurred?’
    Hassell told of his being unable to sleep and his decision to go on deck, of his doing so, of the sea that was running, and of the first explosion. Then he described the steps he had taken to ascertain the damage. How he had rung down the engines to S LOW A HEAD , reducing the speed as much as possible consistent with keeping the ship’s head to the seas. How he had called for information to the engine room and taken over the ship himself, so that his deck officers might go and find out what had happened.
    Slowly Mr Armitage took him through the events of that dreadful night. The second explosion, the third, the fourth. The orders he had given, the wireless messages he had sent, his inspection of the damage in the stokehold and No. 1 hold, and his consultations with the chief engineer and first officer. Finally, his conclusion that the