STEAMER LOST ON GREYMOUTH BAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 239, 30 May 1932, Page 5

STEAMER LOST ON GREYMOUTH BAR

; (Press. Assn.

j STRANDED KAPONGA i rising seas wash over vessel and flood engine room CREW SAFELY ASHORE

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

! GREYMOUTH, Sunday. | The U.S.S. Co's steamer Kaponga, ■which was stranded on the Grey bar :on Friday when outward hound with a full- cargo of coal has hecome. a total wreck on the bar, where her 'position remained unaltered with her how near the northern breakwater on Saturday afternoon. As the tide was rising yesterday, the steaipers' Komata from inside the hafbour, and Kaimai from outside, engaged 'with hausers in an effort to bring the Kaponga's bow upstream, the idea being, if possible, to tow h'er into port. • . They moved the vessel round,:until she faced upstream, but the hull remained fast amidships. : The sea, however, rose with the tide, and from 6 p.m. the southerly weather moved the stran4ed vessel toward the northern breakwater. It then became evident that there was little chance of salvage. »About 40 tons of; the coal cargo had been Jettisoned in the afternoon. Ahout "2.80 a.m. to-day the crew began leaving the vessel, and all had abandoned her- by 4.20 a.m.. They used breeches buoy connected with the northern breakwater to get ashore. This morning's tide saw the seas washing over the vessel, which had developed a considerable list. The engine room was flooded and the fore and aft bullc heads stove in. At one stage on Saturday, when the Kaponga's stern was free and the engines working it was hoped she would be saved. The channel is now clear and there is a depth of 21 feet 8 inches. The tug Terawhiti was recalled to Wellington overnight -before Teaching the roadstead. It is considered possible that ' the deck fittings, winches and other material will be salvaged.