> > On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 3:18 PM, Jennifer Murray > > I recently read the following item in an on-line newspaper archive. > > Date of publication was June 1909. What would be the likely fate of > > the captain of this ship? Would he lose his captain's ticket? Would > > there have been an inquiry? Would he have been able to find work again > as > > a sea captain? > > > > Western Star (Corner Brook, N.L.), 1909-06-16: " Geisha " > > a Total Loss > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The previous replies are right so far as substantial ships were concerned, but it did depend on the circumstances - if there was no doubt about the circumstances and the professional conduct of the officers was not in question (or they did not survive), then a formal enquiry would not be held. Remember that hundreds of small vessels were lost every year . In this case. This was a schooner crushed by an iceberg off St John's Nfld 7/6/1909: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=k1vjTfs8JqAC&lpg=PA58&ots=JXVEUnEE2C&dq=%22schooner%20geisha%22%201909&pg=PA58#v=onepage&q=%22schooner%20geisha%22%201909&f=false Schooner GEISHA, en route from Cadiz, Spain hit a berg near the Newfoundland coast [on 6/6] then hit an unlit schooner later that night, then finally another berg. Sank 7th after drifting in to the final berg by which time the crew of six had taken to the boats. Rowed 50 mi through floes to shore. She was probably the 130-ton (98nrt) wood-hulled Barnstaple schooner GEISHA, Capt Enon, built by Cock & Sons at Appledore in 1906 (ON 120097) and owned by Claude W S Gould of Barnstaple, Devon. There was a regular trade with these small vessels between Newfoundland and Cadiz - salt westwards and return with fish. DAvid