STEAMER AND SCOW COLLIDE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3776, 5 April 1928, Page 2

STEAMER AND SCOW COLLIDE

NARROW ESCAPE OF CREW. Auckland, April 3. Less than two minutes after she had been struck by the coastal steamer Hikurangi, the scow Havoc, filled and capsized off North Head at about 10 o’clock last night. Her crew had barely enough time to let loose the towing lines before the scow heeled over.

At the time of the mishap, the Havoc, fully loaded with stone from the Rangitoto quarry to be used in finishing off tht breakwater forming the boat harbour at St. Mark’s Bay, was being towed up the harbour by the launch Orere.

The Hikurangi was bound for 1\ hangarei when suddenly there was a crash of splintered timber as the iron bows of the vessel drove into the port shoulder of the scow, ■making a hole through which the water at once poured. Almost immediately the scow, with her dead weight cargo, began to settle down. Realising that they were likely to be in the water before many minutes had passed, the crew of two worked feverishly to east loose the tow lines. 1 Without attempting to rescue any of their personal belongings within the cabin of the scow, the men scrambled on board the launch .which had put about with all haste and come alongside. No sooner were they safe than the scow turned turtle, tipping her cargo of one hundred boxes of stone and the crew’s personal effects into the sea. Being, of wood construction, the scow floated bottom upwards. The anchor and chain were among the gear tipped to the bottom and as the chain was attached to the winch it was impossible for the launch to tow the vessel ashore. The scow was raised the following morning without much difficulty.