Page:Inquiry into the shipwreck of 'Geffrard' 1875-07-07.djvu/10

 20 years at sea I was on board when the Geffrard came on shore at 7.30 p.m. on 13 June the mate and I were standing forward when the chain parted  the mate never left the deck when the mate said the chain had parted I would not believe it  The reason the second anchor was not down was we considered the chain of the first was good   Had the second anchor been down I do not think it would of helped the ship anything. One of the chains is generally smaller than the other in most ships I believe that ships ride with one anchor better than with two I have seen ships lay with 2 anchors and both parted and another with a single anchor ride safely. We had not time enough to heave in on the first chain I let the second anchor go. At the time the chain parted the ship took a steer & a sea struck her on the starboard bow which I consider was the cause of the chain parting When we found the chain had parted we at once let go the second anchor I can't say how long after the first chain parted that the second went  I can't exactly say the time she struck after the second chain parted; we were busy. Made sail on the ship after the second chain parted  She continued drifting till about 11 PM when she struck I do not think the second anchor would have been of any use having so much of the first chain out  We did not expect bad weather as the glass was high the weather looked fine The second chain is a ⅞ inch one was pretty well worn   The second chain would not have held her  The ship surged on the second chain while they were paying it out & it snapped We could have paid out to 90 fathoms had it held  The men were prepared before the chain parted