KONINI WRECK.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1924, Page 1

KONINI WRECK.

Interviewed at Bluff on arrival from the wrecked steamer Konini, John William Irvine, one of the few members of the crew on duty at the time of the accident statist—“l was taking my trick at the wheel when we struck the rocks. The night was black dark, and heavy rain prevented me from being able to see my band in front of my face. Fortunately for all of us there was no sea running, because bad tlicre been a heavy gale. T am certain none of nr, would It* alive to-day. I was

steering as usual on a given course, and all appeared to be well. when suddenly from the bridge where T was .standing I caught sight of the phosphorescent- streaky Hashes of whiteness in tin* blackness about thirty yards a.leail. I realised instantly that wo were in for it, and at tile same moment I got the shouted order, ‘Hard astarhoard, hard down.’ -AYe had been travelling dead slow ever since visibility got. so had. and I put her hard over. Her how swung slowly out. hut it was too late, and with a sickening hump we flinched by the how. swung iv,unil. and went aground amidships. She stopped dead and I could hear my mates tumbling out of their hunks in the darkness. It was a terribly trying time for a while, the ship crashing and humping on the rocks, while we were Paial at if rigging a light, but when we had lighted the decks with a Hood lamp from the mast, and got the boats away it was not so bail. I did not go below, but others told me we were making water lore and aft. 'l'lie how plates must he torn about to a. great extent. When we left the ship she was hadlv water-logged and was sitting light on' Hie rocks. Pv this time it was daylight, and we stood by in the boats until the Bln If tug arrived. AYe wen* heartilv thankful when wo stepped ashore at Pin IT at half-past seven.”