STEAMER SUNK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1732, 20 September 1917, Page 3

STEAMER SUNK.

FATE OF THE PORT KEMBLA. CAUSED BY AN INFERNAL MACHINE, ALL ON BOARD SAVED; MAILS LOST. Nelson, Yesterday. The Cnnard liner, Port Kembla, a vessel of 4,700 tons, bound from Melbourne to London, intending to call at Wellington to coal and land a large Australian and overseas mail, was sunk about 1 o’clock on Tuesday morning when about twenty miles from Farewell Spit. A tremendous explosion took place in the forehold, opening the starboard side of the vessel, which rapidly began to fill, and sank within twenty minutes. There was only time to get out two boats. The explosion damaged the wireless plant, which was useless. Strong fumes, which caused nausea in some men, indicated that the explosion was due to an infernal machine. Captain Jack, the first officer (Mr Fletcher), and the third o(fleer (Mr Samsj stayed on the ship, and were in (ho water for about half an hour after the ship sank before they were picked up by the cruising boats. About half-past fi o’clock, when they were seeking a landing-place, those on board the boats were sighted by the Regains. The occupants were taken on board, and brought on to Nelson. The Port Kembla had a full cargo of foodstuffs, and carried the Mayoress of Melbourne’s and Rod Cross parcels for soldiers. The vessel had sighted Farewell Spit light about fifteen miles off when the explosion occurred. The officers and crew look to the boats and remained six hours at sea until picked up by the Regains at (> a.in. The Imperial Government owned the cargo, which comprised frozen meal, jams, rabbits, and wool. The Port Kembla was cn route from Melbourne lo London, and intended to coal at Wellington. The vessel wont down so quickly that she took all the mails and (he ship's papers, but all of the crow, 59 men, got off. There wore no passengers. The mails, comprising 495 bags, went down with (he ship. The Port Kembla left Melbourne on Wednesday, the 12th insi., fully loaded for England, with frozen meat, wool, etc., for the Imperial Government. .Sir Joseph Ward (PosimastevGonoral) said the groat hulk of the mails on hoard were for New Zealand. There wore almost sure to be English and Indian mails on hoard. The Pori Kembla was comparatively small. She was a fine type of her class, and was only seven years old. Built in 1910 by Hawthorn, Leslie 1 , and Company, at Newcastle, her principal dimensions were: — Length, 400 feet; bread!li, 52.7 feet; and depth 20.2 feci. She was acquired some years ago by the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, which has since been merged into the Cnnard Line. Her tonnage was 4,700 gross. She was np to dale in every respect, and was equipped with electric light, wireless, and refrigerating machinery. There was also refrigerated space capable of handling about 45,000 eaveases. C. AND 1). UNITS FOURTH LOSS. The sinking of (he Port Kembla off Farewell Spit makes the fourth loss of the Common wealth and Dominion Line since the commencement of the war. The first loss was that of the Mam-e, sunk in the .Mediterranean in the early days of the war. She was a vessel of (i,l-!3 tons gross. Then the Port Nicholson (ex Makariri) and Port Adelaide (ox Indrapura) were sunk by the Germans early litis year, within a few weeks of each oilier. The biggest loss sustained by the line since the war was that of the Port Adelaide, of 1.1,950 tons. Her captain is now a prisoner of war in Germany. THE CUMBERLAND DISASTER. The Cumberland outrage is still fresh in the public mind, hut the loss of the Pori, Komhla is, a (-cording to present information, so identical with Iho Cumberland sinking Unit it is worth recalling (he circumstances by which the big Federal boat (mine to her end. Of 10,000 tons register, the Cumberland Avas launched barely two years ago. She sailed from Sydney Harbour on slh June of this year, and was just nearing Gabo Island avliou a terrific explosion occurred, practically bloAving out one side of the vessel. She began to fill rapidly, but after groat difficulty she Avas beached. At considerable expense she Avas refloated and made seaworthy enough to reach a neighbouring port, Avhere it was intended to patch her up. Whilst she' Avas being toAyed, a sudden squall sprang up, and the Cumberland sank in deep Avatcr. The Fedeval Government offered a reAvard of £I,OOO for any information leading to the conviction of the author of the outrage. The reward has since been increased to £5,000, but there haA r e been no claimants up to the present.