STEAMER COLLISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1639, 28 December 1905, Page 2

STEAMER COLLISSION.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.

NARRATIVES OF EYE-WITNESSES

Further particulars in regard to the collision in the Auckland harbor between the steamers Kapanui and Claymore, show that the night was very dark, and there had been a good deal of rain just prior to the disaster taking place. Whether the captain of the Kapanui saw the lights or the Claymore or not cannot be ascertained iast now, for he, under medical advice, is confined to his bed and not permitted to talk, but at all events the Kapanui turned in to the wake of the Gael,. ana it is stated that somewhere about this stage one of those little things happened which era often responsible for great, catas- | trophes, the port light, the red danger signal, the constant burning of which is the price of a ship’s safety, flickered and went out. The turn of the vessel brought her port side round to the advancing Claymore, and the green starboard light wa», it is said, obscured by the body of the vessel. A boy was sent forward on the Kapanui to tiim the wick of the poit lamp and rrslight it, but his mission was never accomplished, for a dark shape came out from the dark background of sea and sky, showed itself against the distant lights of the city foe a moment ; bore down with fearful suddonness, and hit the little Kapa* nui square on. The wotk nf rescue . soroowbat Hampered by a squill of wind and raiD, which oamo on, but the burning of Holmes’ lights oo the water proved a valuable adjuDetto the lifesaviDg apparatus, and clusters of electric lights were shown over the side of the Claymore. - On Sunday morning there was nothing to show where the trim little Kapanui Jay, not even a masthead showed aboye the surfsoe, and along the shore were soma dead fowls, a drowned horse, a cabin trunk, a few pieoes of timber, and a lady’s dress basket; two boats .together, full of water, and one stove in, were, floating down the Rangitoto Channel, and the blue waves danced and sparkled in the sun over the scene of the tragedy of the night before.

As the s.s. Kaikoura entered the Auckland harbor from London on Monday, her flag was dropped near the scene of the collision as a mark of respect for the dead, STATEMENT BY CLAYMORE’S'"' CAPTAIN.

Captain Jamei Mewett. of the CEy more, when seen by a New Zealand Herald reporter, expressed his reluctance to be interviewed, but aftsr soms persuasion he consented to give an account of the occurrence. The Claymore, ho said, left Auckland for Waiwera shortly after half past eight on Saturday evening, the Gael, belonging to the same company, being a lib-la ahead. “ When opposite North Shore, just behind the Gael,” continued the captain, ‘-I saw a steamer carrying a green light, wish another light at the masthead, rounding North Head, and when 3he passed the Gael she was green to green, The vessel’s green light then suddenly disappeared, and the steamer, which proved to be the Kapanui, instead of keeping the same course, crossed on to the Claymore’s bows, with the result that a collision ocourred. I immediately stopped the Claymore, ordering 1 fu*l speed astern,’ and the Claymore was receding when the Kapanui sank. She settled down stern first, disappearing in about five minutes from the moment of the impact.” Captain Mowott said that the Kapanui had no red light.