STEAMERS COLLIDE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3057, 19 April 1917, Page 4

STEAMERS COLLIDE

WOOTTON AND QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. , Shortly before nine o'clock last evening sonw excitement was caused by tiro Queen of the South, while attempting'' to draw out into the stream, colliding with tho stern of tho Wootton and damaging the latter vessel to a considerable extent. .. _ ■ The! Wootton was lying at no. 13 (south) Queen's Wharf,, and was waitin g-'f or the weather to moderate before putting to, sea. The Queen of the S'outh was lying at No. 11 (south) Qnecn's Wharf,; and at about 8.40 p.m. commenced to put out to for Foxton. ' . The. vessels were/lying with sterns together. It is suggested that the mishap was duo to the heavy southerly, which caught tho Queen of the South, and drove ; her on to the Wootton. To get out the Queen of tho South's , stern had to be swiing out to an angle of about 45 degrees to the wharf. • / The vessel's engines were going astern, when it was seen that she was swinging on to the. Wootton. One of tho crew gave a warning, and the captain put the engines ahead. The vessel's way could not bfe_ stopped, however, and she crashed into the Wootton, carrying away the lines, lifting the Wootton's decking,* breaking in the railing, and bursting in the door of the cook's room. The cook was ashore, at the time. The strong wooden belt round the Wootton probably saved her from greater damage. ■ .... Last nicht there was no indication that the Wootton was taking in water, and it is assumed that the Queeif of the' South's propeller must have missed her. The Queen of the South is at present under the command of Captain Brigden, the usual master (Captain Harvey) being ashore. . . Whether any damage was done to her is not known, as she proceeded to sea. She.probably escaped injury, however, as .she is a ,strongly-built iron ship, whereas the Wootton is a wooden one.