COLLISION IN SYDNEY HARBOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 827, 16 February 1903, Page 2

COLLISION IN SYDNEY HARBOR.

UNION COMPANY'S WAKATIPU BADLY DAMAGED. BEACHED TO PREVENT SINKING. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright Received 4.58 p.m.. Fob. I.Y. Sydney, l-’eb. 10. A collision occurred shortly after midnight beaver n tiio Union Company's steamer Wakatipu, inwall bound from Ta smanii, and the Kuribala, outward bound to Melbourne. The vessels met near Bradley's Head, down the barber, the Euribala euttiug into the Wakatipu ait on the port side | with such effect that the Union bom ran into Neutral Bay, and was beached to prevent her sinking. The passengers are quite safe. They were landed shortly after at Neutral Bay, but many returned aboard the Wakatipu again. Precise information as to the cause or damage is not at present obtainable. A NARROW SHAVE. THE LAST KICK OF THE ENGINES AN EXCITING TIME. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 12,25 a.m , Feb. 16. Sydney, Feb. 15. The water police launches were soon on the sconce. The night was a clear moonlight one. After the collision the Wakatipu began to settle by the stern. The passengers were all on deck. The water was pouring in through a great gap in the port side. There waa s question whether the vessel would reach shallow water in time. The boats had been swung out, the crow standing by for any emergency. All danger was soon allayed by the vessel taking the mud. “Ic was only tke last kick of the engines,” one of the ollicers explained, “ that saved her. She just had way enough to get- into shallow water when the fires went out.” The engineers and firemen stuck to their posts to the last. They hurriedly made their way on deck as the engineroom becamo flooded. The passengers were immediately transferred to boats and lauded, but when, later on, it was seeu that the vessel remained hard and fast they returned to the ship, and after daylight lauded at the wharf. FURTHER DETAILS. NARROW ESCAPE OF STEWARDESS By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright^ Receivod 12.25 a.m., Fob. 16th. Sydney, Feb. 15. The captains of both vessels aro reticent as to tho cause of the collision.

A passenger states tnat he saw the Eurimbla bearing down on tho Wakatipu at right angles about fifty yards oil'. A few seconds later ho heard the captain say, “ Where are you going to ? Immediately the telegraph sounded, the engines stopped. The Eurimbla slewed round a little to starboard, but too late to avert a collision. The impact was terrific.

The stewardess had a narrow oseape. Her cabin, from which she got out just in time, was smashed to matchwood. The Eurimbla’s damage is principally above the water lino.

There is a big rent in the bow, but those forward wero warned in time and got out of danger. A passenger on the Eurimbla was thrown out of a deck chair by tho impact,

Wonderful coolness was displayed by the passengers on both boats. Captain Livingstone, of the Wakatipu, exhibited splendid coolness in getting tho vessel to a place of safety. The vessel lies with tho water flooding the engine-room, holds, and the main saloon.