STRIKES AND SINKS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1334, 11 January 1912, Page 5

STRIKES AND SINKS.

LOSS OF S.S. JANE DOUGLAS.

END OF A CHEQUERED CAREER. THE CREW SAVED. Word reached Wellington yesterday morniug announcing Uio wreck of the small coastal steamer Jane Douglas whilst on a journey from Wellington to llokitika. All hands were saved. Tho vessel loft Wellington at 5.20 p.m. on Tuesday, with 45 tons of general cargo, including' a number of transhipments, and at about 1 a.m. yesterday, when passing through Stephens , Passage, between Stephens Island and D'Urvillc Island, she struck Saddle Rocks and sank iir a. few minutes. The Jane Douglas was an iron screw steamer of 95 tons gross register, and was built in Dunedin in 1873 to tho order of the Man.awu.tn Shipping Company. At the time of tho mishap she ivas in charge of Captain Vendore. The Marino Department lias instructed the Collector of Customs at Nelson to have a magisterial inquiry held os econ as possible. Tho nautical assessors have yet to bo appointed. Tho Jane Douglas has had a rather chequered career. In 1885 sho stranded on Long Point, Kapiti Island, and again went' ashore ou the same spot during tho following year. 'At that time she was employed in tho Wellington-Foxton trade. In August, 1901, she grounded on , tho south spit in the Okuru River, and a few months later sho went ashore in the Hokitika River. Fivo times subsequently she has took tho ground in the same river. !

WHERE SEE SANK. Saddlo _ Rocks are a cluster of rocks about midway between Stephens Island and D'Urville Island. The current runs very swiftly through' this passage, and there is deep water in the vicinity. HITS END ON. (By Toleeraph-Prcss Association.) ,_.,, Nelson, January 10. With regard to tho wreck of tho Jane Douglas, tho vessel was going along- the passage between Stephens and D'U'rvillo Islands when sho struck the Saddle Rocks end on. Nothing was saved, as the vessel sank within fivo minutes after striking. Iho vessel was wrecked at 1 a.m. Tho crew are safe. Mr. Maude, of tho island, is bringing the crew in a launch to theFrench Pass. The steamer was owned by Messrs. Keech and Malfroy, of Kumara. She was uninsured. The crew consisted of Captain Vendore; mate, A. Ingrain; engineer, G. M. Brown; cook, J. Brookcrj firemen, J. Henohon and A. loung; lamp-trimmer, W. Woolf; il 01 ? , , K- Pci PP° and ■!•' Thomson. It took tho crew four hours to reach e>-< Hfiv A labr message states that they arc brought to Nelson by the latecua arriving early to-morrow morning. . HER PREVIOUS HISTORY. (By Telegraph-Press Association.)

Christchurch, January. 10. . Iho s.s. Jane Douglas was well "known in, am about, Lyttelton. She was first engaged m tho Wellington-tfoxton trade nnd, some years afterwards, was taken over by Messrs. Cuff and Graham, of Christchurch. This firm ran her on tho tianks Peninsula trade, being then in charge of Captain Wliitby. Captain Murray was his successor, and, in tho lato nineties, the vessel was taken over bv Messrs. Pitcaithly and Co., who replaced her with tho s.s. Cygnet. She was then sold to Mr. H. Michel, of Hokitika, and was engaged until recently in the Wei-liugton-Hokitika-Greymouth service. From Mr. Michel tho Jauo Douglas passed into the hands of her present owners, Messrs Keech and Malfroy, of Kumarn.