S.S. NGAHERE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1924, Page 1

S.S. NGAHERE.

WRECKED AT GREY.MOUTII A TOTAL LOSS.

(Grey Argus.. When the Anchor steamer Regains (Tossed the Grcymuuth bar outwards bound for Picton with coal and timber yesterday between two end three o’clock, she whistled, and this was all indication she had touched bottom. The Master of the steamer Xgahere which was up to sail cm the same tide, was informed that half an hour later there would be more wafer on the bar, a- the tide would he at its height about 8.Ill) p.ui. Leaving the wharf short Iv before 8 o'clock, the Xgahere carried a cargo of overoOO toils ol coal and about 1 *-H,;;00 feet of timber, tlie loading of which was destined for Miramar and Wellington respectively. At the time, besides a heavy swell on the bar. there Hits a strong south westerly wind blowing. When the cessed reached the bar those watching Iter progress from the wharf were surprised to see her bow suddenly take tt northerly burn. It- became speedily evident that she had grounded hard upon the bar itself, and the .succession of big rollers ibat were advancing front the southwestwald upon the rocks ~f the North Tit) Head, took control ot the vessel, preventing any attempt to extricate her in any direction whatever. The steamer’s siren was sounded, lull as the townspeople rushed in hundreds i" the vatei front the general expression was that, the career of the Xga-bt-re was over, and that she had, like many another ill-fated ship, become, as it were “purl and parcel” of the North Tip. until such time as the elements break her up. And so it proved. From the outset tin* breakers dashed upon Iter, and swept across in an ineessanl deluge. The crew, wearing life jackets, were seen In have congregated upon the bridge and upper deck, and the setts constantly heat upon them, making their experience a most trying and tiring one indeed. At first tlie hull swayed up anti down, and gave with the ecus, but soon it began to settle down, and uu-relv swung as upon a swivel amidships, where it appeared as if a rock had penetrated tho bottom. At first the bow laced north, hut later it. was turned eastwards bx the elfeeis of t lie. seas, and the hull.

which was located almost exactl.v where that of the ill-fated Perth mine to grief, appeared its dusk was Filling to have moved slightly towards tin* channel. It was about •'( o'clock when the vessel became stranded, and Iter vhistio must have been heard l*x the s.s. Ore puki, which was making meant into to'port at full speed, she getting up to the bar about 8.2*1 a.to., and s|au nng about half a mile out. :.L •*•> Iwhen she got the l.ar I •alls ibe Signal Station beckoning In' to cemo in. She was : wtlug in a northerly direction repeal edit by th** heavy southerly seas, but inside live mintlEs -he had negotiated the bar, and was sale!.' inside. By this time there was a crowd of ever a thousand people congregated at the* South Tip Head, -while several hundred were to he seen nit the opposite side of the bar. All eyes were focussed on the upend ions for bringing ashore the c-rew of the Xgahere on the lifeline bv means of a breaches buoy. The hull of the vessel was only about three chains out from tin* North lip. but tlie sight cf angry breakers rolling between tin* two suggested the rescue work would prove possibly dangerous, especially when it. was seen that dusk had begun In fall ore the last ol the men had gotten ashore. Many cameras were to lie seen focussed on the wreck.

MOW SHE STRANDED. The first intimation aboard that anything fa, wrong was a bump that was felt aft. the ship almost immediately grounding. Having lost all way. which would have enabled her to push through the set of the sea. it was immediately apparent that she would remain aground. The vessel was put hard to starboard, but tin* set was too strong, and. swinging her bmv round, a few big seas sent her broadside on to (lie North Tip, where she grounded in the same position as tin* Perth. The crew stood by their 'respective pests until the order was given by the skipper to desert and gather amidships, it being useless io do anything else*. The sens were now breaking over nor with considerable force, the li’eboat on the* weather side, being smashed to atoms. All aboard wore liiehelts, athe manner in which the sens broke over the vessel rendered it probable that at any time all would be swept overboard. No attempt was made to gather clothing or valuables, as il was impossible to gel to tile cabins torward or alt. The captain, however, managed before* leaving to get bis uniform and ship's register. Prior to tho arrival of the rocket apparatus, it was thought advisable for someone to try and swim ashore. Mr E. 1 pliant being the first volunteer for this risky act. The crew have lost practically everything but what they stand up in, and it is doubtful if anything can now bo saved from the wreck.

At 8 p.m., the vessel was rolling heavily, the captain having sounded ihe whistle repeatedly up to that time. Although die firemen had clambered up on deck, it was seen that the fires were still going, as steam was blowing off through the safety valves. This showed that the water had ie.it made its way to the boiler room, but (he pounding which the shin's bottom was getting tilion tin* rocks soon had its- oftcct; tho vessel soon stopped her lilting an: 1 rolling, and instead only swung from side to side. The sudden stoppage of the escaping steam showed the water to have made its way to tho boilerroom. The forward and after hatches quickly burst, and the timber cargo was swept around the deck and some went overboard. Huge waves broke over the wreck continually, and the officers and crew took what shelter they could on the leeward side of the bridge and deck houses.

By means of lil’e-lines, the crew of 88 were safely lauded on the North Tip bv 0.15 p.m. Included in the personnel is Air Sid. .Murray (chief engineer), son of the late Air AA'. G. Alttrray. a former Commissioner of Crown Lands at Hokitika.