RECENT COLLISION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1081, 24 December 1903, Page 3

RECENT COLLISION.

FURTHER PARTICULARS,

Wellington, Monday. Captain Smith, master of the Jessio Niccol, spoakiDg to a Times representative concerning Saturday night’B collision, remarked that he could really say very little about how tho Rotomahana came to run his vessel down. It was an accident pure and simple. Ho said ; —“ I arrivod from Lyttelton shortly after noon on Saturday, and anchored in what I thought was the safest and most favorable ground, pending tho allotment of a berth.” In answer to a question about lights, ho said he bad carefully complied with the Harbor Board’s regulations. “My anchorage light was burning at tho masthead,” he remarked, 11 and, mind you, it is more than possible that my light may havo been confused with tho lights of tho lliverdalo, which was coaling in tho background. Tho ship went

down with the light burning. Beforo the crash I heard poople shouting and calling out. A few minutes later water was in my cabin, and up to my waist.” Then tho captain related how he had scaled the bows of tho ltotomahana without having saved an article of any kind. Every stitch of clothing except what ho slept in was lost. *' I would like to say this, though,” he addod, “ tho officials of the Union Company have been exceedingly kind, and havo done everything they possibly could for me. Already they have made arrangements to send down a diver to ascertain tho extent of tho damage, and havo intimated their intention of rsnderiug all tho assistance they can.” In answer to further questions, Captain Smith said he had beon in command of the schooner for four months. Puring 27 years he had been in command of many vessels, and this is the first time a mishap has befallen a ship

W. Windland, a member of the ere\Vi was ft seaman on the Ida and Eva, which foundered a few months ago on the West Coast. Potorson, one of the A.B.’s, states that when he felt the crash ho rushed on deck, and managed to scramble into his clothes. He says that the steamer remained foul of the wreck for about throe minutes, long enough for tho captain to got up the rigging and on to the Kotomahana before she went astern and got free of the schooner, Tho Jessie Niccol has had a rather interesting career. She was built in Auckland 32 years ago, by the firm of Niccol and Co., and was originally intended for a At, one time owned bv the

yacnc. DUO ouy vuijo late Sir George Grey, who used her for that purpose. After passing out of his hands sho was put into commission as an Island produce carrier, and eventually became tho property of Mr W. Cook, of Lyttelton (the present owner), who also owns the well-known schooners Aratapu, Lily, and Annie Hill. The Jessie Niccol was an exceedingly fast sailer, and in good condition. It is stated that her owner recently refused an offer of something like £IOOO for her,