A NEW STEAMER SUNK.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1079, 27 July 1871, Page 2

A NEW STEAMER SUNK.

On Saturday, May 6, a collision took place off the bar of the Tyne, in which a ihe new steamer was entirely lost. The David Burn, a steam ship of 1,200 tons, the property of Messrs D. Burn and part' ners, of the Quayside, Newcastle, wag announced to make her trial trip on Saturday. The steamer left the entrance to the Tyne Duck about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, with a party of about fifty ladies and gentlemen. She went out to sea, the weather being delightfully fiue, and the sea smooth. She had been to sea little more than an hour and a half when becoming enveloped in a dense fog she brought up about a mile south-east of the harbor to lie to until it cleared away. About five o'clock, while in this position, the party on board the steamer were thrown into the greatest alarm on seeing another steamer, which proved to be the screw-steamer Earl Percy, which had left the harbor with the tide to proceed to London with goods and passeugers, emerge from out of the fog close upon them. When first seen, the Earl Percy appeared to be about 15Q yards off, and was bearing right down upon them under a full head of steam, The Earl Percy struck the David Burn amidships on the starboard side With a tremendous crash. The Earl Percy was well down in the water, and the blow took effect upon the David Burn to a large extent below the water line. The plates and side were completely stove, The London steamer lay with her stem on beside the David Burn, and the master of the former kept her in that position until the people were taken off the David Burn. Soon after the blow had been struck, the cry was raised that the Davi4 Burn was sinking. The visitors on board the new vessel had been considerably knocked abvut by the collision, and several of the ladies were thrown on tQ the deck, but none were hurt. The ladies were hurried on, to the bridge an 4 rapidly passed from the David Burn to the Earl Percy, amid a scene of frightful excitement. Dresses were torn, bonnet* and hats were lost, and most of the ladjtl

found themselves on board the Earl Percy in a ragged condition. As soon as the female passengers were safe, the gentlemen and crew and workpeople were passed on hoard the Earl Percy, and the last man had just scrambled up the bows 0 f the latter, when the David Burn gave a lurch and sank stern foremost. The David Burn went down in deep water, aQ d when the Earl Percy drifted away from her into the fog, the last seen of her were the tops of her masts, and the flags upon them flying level with the water. The only living thing that went down with her was a little dog, and no one was hurt but the man at the wheel, who was struck by the wheel flying round when the vessels came into collision. When the party were all gathered on board the £arl Percy, they found the officers, seamen, and passengers on board that vessel in as great a state of excitement as themselves? as the Earl Percy was a good deal stove about the bows, and fears were entertained that she might sink also, but fortunately, in the emergency, the steamtug Rambler got alongside, and the visitors and people from on board the David Burn were passed on board the Earn bier, and the party were lauded at the New Quay.