ACCIDENT TO THE ARAWATA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 13, 15 January 1878, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO THE ARAWATA.

The following particulars of the collision ' between the steamer Arawata and the brig Albert the' Good, which we reported yesterday, are from the Post of Saturday: — The ' fine steamer Arawata has had a very narrow escape this trip of adding another to the formidable list of vessels sunk by collision ( during the past twelve months. It appears that as she waa steaming down Hobson's Bay sgaioat a strong S.S. W. breeze, it was discovered that one of the bearings had become heated, rendering it heceeciry" to stop the engines, in order to allow the heated brass to cool, which process was accelerated by pumping cold water on it. Shortly after the engines had been stopped it was noticed that •a brig which was beating down the Bay against the strong head wind was heading a course which if she held it steadily would take her just across the Arawata's bows, but clear of the steamer. Apparently, however, ±he steersman on board the brig fancied that Abe Arawata still was moving ahead, and that, if he held on he would run into her. At any; rate he put up his helm seemingly with the object of passing astern of the steamer. Those on board the latter aoa» , caw that -unless immediate steps were taken to get out <3f:the way a serious collision was inevitable , iif the brig continued onthe same course, and Captain Ludcrwood told: the engineer to stsrt the engines if possible aDd move ahead, while the brig was hailed, and .called on to . jput her helm down. This order apparently ■was not heard until too late, for when ,at 2eagth -the brig's helm was put down, although she came up iuto the wind instantly, she could not clear the steamer, but ran into her with tejrific force while going fully eight knots. Had the Arawata beeu under way the consequences probably would have been fatal " to both vessels, and equally so had the brig's course not been changed before the collision; as then she would have efruck the Arawata fall ih tbe waist, and bot& vessels almost certainly have sunk instantly. As it was, the Arawata being stationary, and the blow •delivered obliquely, the resistance was dianiHished, the steamer, yielding to the shock, I Being driven round fully eight points, or at | a right angle to her course, while as ths blow was received on the strong part of the ship — the bow—it caused comparatively little ■damage to the Arawata, the iron plates not toeing even dented. The rail aud staunchions were carried away, ani jthjs comprised all the injury the steamer receive^ but the brig •was much injured forward, fee? /Jjjfcwater being stove in,#nd other damage dose tp ho;-. Unfortunately saoje of the Arawata's pas.- 1 sengers were on dexsk, and two were some- ' what severely hurt. Cue,, Mr John Edmunds, •■of Wellington, received some injuries to his .leg. He was standing ou the forecastle, and ■on the collision taking place, endeavored to »clamtier by the davits ou board the brig, be- i dieving that the steamer was going down. He was caught amongst the ropes aud sparß, and ; much <eiit and bruised, then missing his (hold, fell overboard, on which Mr Miller, the purser, Barnes, .the butcher, and another 'man instantly ctiqibe^jpn to the brig by way of the bowsprit, whic'p stretched over the Arawata's forecastle, and promptly lowering a rope, pulled up the drowning m^i^a to the brig, and carried bim back alpng'fcfce t bowsprit. _.on to the j3teao3^r before the two i

vesseis were separated, one of the smartest feats and most striking instances of presence of mind, Captain Underwood says, which he ever saw. A little girl about seven years of age, Mary Mor3ehead, of Auckland, was more seriously injured; she has sustained some very severe lacerations and contusions about her head and legs. Luckily there was a surgeon on board and both the sufferers were promptly and carefully attended to.