The Merchant Shipping Acts, 1854 to 1876. In the matter of the formal Investigation held at Westminster, on the 7th and 8th of December 1881, before H. C. ROTHERY, Esquire, Wreck Commissioner, assisted by Captain HYDE and Captain VAUX, as Assessors, into the circumstances attending the stranding of the steamship "FLAMINGO," of Leith, in St. Margaret's Bay, near the South Foreland, on the 16th of November last.
Report of Court.
The Court, having carefully inquired into the circumstances of the above - mentioned shipping casualty, finds, for the reasons annexed, that the stranding of the said vessel "Flamingo" was due to the negligent navigation thereof by John Ellison, the pilot in charge of her, in having over-estimated his offing from Dover Pier when taking his departure for his anchorage ground in the Downs, and in not having, when passing the South Foreland Lights, taken any steps, by a cast of the lead or otherwise, to ascertain his distance from the shore, although the state of the weather at the time rendered it extremely difficult to estimate correctly the distances. The Court also finds that no blame whatever attaches to the master, or to any officers of the said vessel, for the casualty. The Court is not asked to make any order as to costs. Dated the 8th day of December 1881.