STEAMER LOST.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1158, 9 May 1884, Page 3

STEAMER LOST.

Wellington, Mav 3rd. News has reached here that the Westport Colliery Company’s steamer Kangaroo had strnok a rock off Cape Campbell, and had sunk. From those who werq on Hoard it is ascertained that the Kangaroo, with a cargo of coal, left Westport for Lyttelton on Thursday last, and all went well until reaching off Cape Campbell at 11 o’clock on Friday morning, when the steamer, which was under the command of Captain Dyball, struck heavily on the rook outside the eastern reef, off the Cape. After striking the vessel rebounded, and the pumps were al once sounded, but she was reported to be making no water. Her course was therefore continued, but a faw minutes later a second attempt waa made with the pumps, when it was discovered that the steamer was making water, and that fast. As the only course open to him, the captain steered the vesael|for !the shore, the idea of saving both life and property by beaching her. The vessel’s course for the beach was continued for twenty minutes, when it was found that the water was gaining so fast that all hands were ordered to stand by the boats. The order had not been given too soon, as when the boats were a few yards from the steamer she gradually settled down and disappeared, with the exception of her foro and mizzen topmasts. ' The Kangaroo was a fine-handy vessel, and had carried several cargoes from the West Coast to vatinus parts of the colony, but the reasan of her hugging so close to the shore at Cape Campbell in broad daylight has yet to be explained. The rock she struck is not unknown to mariners, and it is said that the Government steamer Stella once bumped on it, but did not sustain injury. The officers and crew of the ill-fated vessel numbered about 1(5, and there was only one passenger on board, who intended booking at Lyttelton for Melbourne. Nine of those on board took the life-boat, and steered for the bay to leeward of the reef, and thoso in the smaller boat ran before the wind endeavouring to find any nook where they could land in smooth water. Their critical position was fortunately noticed by those on board a small trading schooner, the Ocean Bird, who rescued this portion of the shipwrecked crew and took them on to the mouth of the Wairau River (Blenheim), whence they were transhipped on to the little steamer Mahaka, which had just left Blenheim for Wellington. As soon as the captain of the Mahaka heard that there were several of the crew who had made for Cape Campbell, a course was shaped for there, when others were taken on board and brought on here. Nearly all the officers and crew suffer considerable loss by the wreck, as in many cases, owing to the sudden foundering, there was little time to save anything exeent what they stood up in. Tire chief officer is said to be the heaviest loser. The Kangaroo sunk in about seven fathoms of water, add it is considered doubtful if any effort to raise her would be successful. It ia not known whether the vessel or cargo is insured, but most probably var ous Sydney offices will have lines on the vessel. An inquiry will of course be held.