SERIOUS COLLISION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 262, 21 December 1903, Page 2

SERIOUS COLLISION.

A SCHOONER SUNK AT NIGHT. ACCIDENT IN WELLINGTON IfARIiOUH. MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF THE CKEW. (Per Press Association.) ~ WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. The HatoiinaHuina, wilvich left this port, for Lytteltom at aJbaut 'J.3O la»t wight, had not gone half a mile from tilitt wharf when s'he crashed ' into the schlooniar Jessie Nic-01, which was riding at a'lichio'r in the stream. Tine imj)U/Ct wan very severe, the .steamer's biow prat-tnoaliy cutting; right thi-ougfh the little sailer. The Rotoniahanu's engiUnes were iinaiield'kitely slopped ;■ au>d the schooner, weig|tod down by the inrusli of water tihroKg'h luer shattered deck amid side, st'Ukll 'down by the bow umd sunk in a lew miJuutes witji the 1 toloimuli ana's bow projecting right over her. The stern only was viisibJe. Captuin Smith and two niembei-s of his crew were on Ijoaiti the schooner at the time, all three Luiug in bud. The captain states that he 'liuaKd shouts of the people on boaad the steamer, atntd almost simultaneously the after inart of the schooner and the eaMin were shatteitjd to pieces. The seamen were in the fore part of the vessel. The coipta'i'u liuid a minaculous escape. Before be left his cabin ttoe water wok up to bis waist. Kusahimg on deck lie clinnbad up into the bow of the Itotoniatuiuia jusit as his own craft went down by tihe nose in 39 feet of water and pointed lier stern sky wands. The after pairt of the sdhioolner remained aboive the water for a few minutes and the seamen took up theiii position on the 'bjulwa.i ,ks- u]ntil a boat i wiftis lowered fi on) the ste*amer uiktl tliey were taken on bimrd, The Rotoniaihsainu i-eUurnwid to the wharf. After Inspection it was ascei-Uainwd that S'he haid suiierad no serious tiainagie amid slue pioceiAted oin her voyage southwards an hour later.

Captain Smith states that he had the regulation lights for ships at anchor burning, but admits that it was possible that Captain Mammnw may Ivaive mistaken his mast-IMit ior th w lights of a big; iin CT wws coal-in® at the rear of the schooner.

Ihe Jessie Mod's cargo, carasdstlriig oi briciks, produce, mud general loaid, was valued at i;i<X>o. It is bel'ittvod the schooner is not insured. 1-. 110 rt aie to be maide to raise 'ber.