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moorings, both wire and manilla rope. For some time I was unable to find out where the smoke was coming from, but eventually found out that it was coming from burning debris that evidently had blown on board or found its way on board when the burning sheds fell. This I personally threw overboard. The "Picton's" bow was within a few yards of the burning pier. Her hatches had been all blown off and the explosive matter in the holds was all exposed. I examined the holds to see if there were any burning embers and at the same time to see if there were any injured men. I found nothing and came up again and completed, with assistance of the two men, to cut adrift of the moorings and ordered the tow boat to commence towing off to the stream. Eventually I hailed two more tow boats and it took the whole three of them to haul the "Picton" from amongst the wreckage of the wharves. When we got the steamer well clear of the range of fire, I had another anchor cropped down so as to hold her. At the time we were on board, there was not any of the crew on board except three or four dead members lying about the deck. The ship was at this time in my opinion safe. However on the 8th December we got instructions from the Admiralty to have the steamer taken from her position off the Dock Yard and take her to the Eastern Passage to be beached, some three or four miles from Halifax. We did this and left her had and fast on the beach. She was afterwards pulled off by the Admiralty tugs and moored with one anchor, but she had not sufficient cable chain out and was dragging around the harbour. The Admiralty seeing this, ordered us to procure another anchor and try to hold her. We did this as early as possible with the assistance of the Admiralty's tow boat. The steamer now lies where we left her. I may say, in reference to this matter, that I made no statement to any reporter