Accident to the s.s. Queen of the South.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 4 August 1891, Page 3

Accident to the s.s. Queen of the South.

We are sorry to report that yesterday morning, as bur regular trader the Queen. of the South was entering the bar on her trip from the Greywi'h coal, she waa suddenly brought' to by grounding, though in the usual ohannej, having the beacons true in line. There was a very heavy *ea on ■ the bar, raised by the gale of Sunday-, 1 and though the steamer after striking made not one inch pro. gress forward, the seas forced her bitty bit on to the South spit. The bumping she got, heavily loaded with 180 tons of ooal on board, may be # imagined, and the captain says it jfl^HH^the worst he has known. Everyesort' was at once made to move her, anchors, with nauoh labour g were put out, and a tight strain kept r on them, so that at every lift of the vessel an inch or two could be gained. This went on to yesterday evening when some progress was obtained towards the channel. Early this

morning the cable parted, and another one was fastened on, this also parted, and a very ngly accident occurred. A boat's crew of three were kept on the lee side of the steamer in the big surf boat to be ready at a moments notice to attend to the lines, and when the cable parted, a heavy sea caught the steamer aud partially swinging hei round, bringing the surf boat to the force of the sea, and another heavy sea following, caught the boat and tnrned her completely over, with two of the crew underneath, one man having got on to the bottom of the boat. Those on the steamer threw over life belts and lines and thus fortunately rescued the men. This last sea seems to have completed the launching of the steamer, as a line having been got on shore, she gradually came off into the channel. The rudder got damaged in hauling off the spit, and the steamer's progress up the river was naturally slow and cautious. It says a great deal for the steamer that after so many hours knocking about she shows no signs of making water. We congratulate the owners in getting out of a nasty place so lightly, and the captain and officers on the success that has followed their hard and risky work.