Loss of the Steamer Killarney. RUN DOWN IN CHINA.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 236, 7 January 1888, Page 8

Loss of the Steamer Killarney. RUN DOWN IN CHINA.

The following particulars of the loss of the steamer Killarney are from the " Daily Press" (Hongkong) of November 29th :—: — The British steamer Crusader, Captain J. Ogston, which arrived here on November 23rd, brought up Captain James O'Neill, of the British steamer Killarney, "which vessel was sunk in Iloilo harbour on November 14th by the Crusader colliding with her. The following is Captain O'Neill's account of the disaster : We were lying at anchor in the roads (Iloilo harbour) ont November 14th. We were made fast by two anchors, and had 45 fathoms of chain on each anchor. At about 10.40 p.m., all hands being then in bed, the watchman reported a steamer coming right on to us. I immediately got up, went on deck, and ran to the starboard gangway. I saw a steamer, about 40fb or 50ft distant, coming right stem on to our starboard. She bore down on us, striking us about 6ft forward of the main rigging, and cutting our steamer through the plates with her stem. The water at once poured into the Killarney *s hold, and I ordered the chief engineer to go down into the hold, and try and stop the leak. He went down, but returned and told me that the carg o was above the hold m the slap's side, and nothing could be done to stop the leak. We then sounded the pumps, and found 3ft of water in tho hold. I then directed the chief officer to clear away the boats and lower the lifeboats level with the rail ; both of which orders were carried out. We again sounded the pumps, and this timo found 10ft of water in the hold. As I could see that the vessel was sinking, I ordered all hands to get into the boats and save themselves. The steamer which struck and sank the Killarney was the steamship Crusader, of Glasgow. The Killarney went down by the stern within thirty-five minutes of her being struck by the ' Crusader. Fortunately, all hands were saved, but lost everything they had on board. Immediately After the collision I called out to the Crusader that our steamer was sinking, and asked to be towed into shallow water, but before the Crusader could be got into position, the Killarney sank. When I first saw the Crusader coming down upon us I hailed her to reverse and go astern, but got no answer, and after the collision had taken place and I called out that we were sinking and asked to be towed into shallow water, no response was made. The night -was bright and clear, and there were only two other vessels in the harbour besides ourselves and the Crusader, the nearest being about a mile distant. Our anchor light was burning brightly, and remained so above water tor two hours after the Killarney sank.