Collision in the Channel

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 280, 11 July 1888, Page 3

Collision in the Channel

A collision took place in May off the Isle of Wight, between the TSrifcish ships Smyrna, from London for Sydney, ami the Moto, from Bilbao for Newcastle. The Smyrna, which was a full-rigged iron bhip, sank almost immediately after the collision, taking down with her thirteen of her crew. The Moto put into Southampton for repairs, her fore compartment being hi II of water and her bows damaged and stove in. She landed the survivors ot the Smyrna's crew, seventeen in number. The only vessel of this name mentioned in the ' Newcastle Marine List' wab built .it Aberdeen in 1876, and is owned by Mr William Henderson, of that town. The Smyrn-t belonged to Aberdeen, and the captain was Mr Thomas Taylor. She was bound trom London for Sydney, with a general cargo. The Moto, an iron .screw steamer, Capt\ Digman, of Newcastle, was from Bilbao, with iron ore. About sixteen miles south-east of Anvil Point at JO o'clock a.m., Captain Digman and the look-out man .saw the Smyrna, under full sail, on the poit bow. There was a good sailing breeze, and the weather was thick. The engines of the Moto wcie reversed for three or four minutes, and the vessel was almost stopped when the Smyrna collided with her, She grazed tho port bow of the Moto, which then struck her near the mam rigging with great force, causing her to sink very quickly. The bows of the Moto were badly stove, and the vessel was kept from linking by the water-tight bulkhead. The second mate of the Smyrna, named Walker, jumped on board the Moto, and two men wore hauled on board. Three boats also were immediately loweied from the bteamei, and succeeded in .«a\injx fifteen othsis ; but the London pilot. Mr (Joiby ; Thomas Taylor, the captain : Fowler, the third mate ; and the carpenter, cook, and seven able seamen of the Smyrna were diowned. The Moto remained on the spot, lor an hour, and then steamed slowly to Southampton. Johnson, the chief mate of the Smyrna, who was saved, was badly injured.