Shields Daily Gazette, Saturday, May 4th, 1895:
WEST HARTLEPOOL STEAMER IN COLLISION. A Court of Inquiry has been held at Galle to investigate the circumstances attending the loss of the native brig Malakal Bahar, of Chittagong, 183 tons, through collision the British steamship Picton, of West Hartlepool, 1,529 tons, about 10 miles W.S.W. of Barberyn Light, on the 12th March, 1895.
The Court found that the loss of the brig was caused by the neglect of the second mate, John Henry Mathias. He was the officer on the watch the time, and if he was doing his duty must have seen the brig. When he did act, he acted wrongly in putting the helm a-starboard instead of a-port. No blame is attached to the master, who did his duty by the brig after the accident. The second mate's certificate was suspended for six months.
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Picton - a general history
