LOSS OF THE STORMBIRD.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1916, Page 4

LOSS OF THE STORMBIRD.

THE WORLD'S OLDEST IRON ;*; BTEAJIER. WRECKED AT WANGANUL. THREE LIVES LOST. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wanganui, Yesterday. - The steamer Stormbird, 154 tons, was wrecked on the south mole at the entrance of the river last night. Three of the crew were drowned, namely, ft. W. Hinckey, lamp trimmer; B. Kyle, fireman; and J. Hunter, fireman. Captain A. Gibson and the remainder of the crew of nine men were saved. Noj passengers were on board. The steamer left the town wharf all 11 p.m. for Wellington, and shortly be fore midnight distress signals w«re seen, near the end of, the south mole by tha men at the pilot station. The harbormaster, Captain Mclntyre, with several volunteers, immediately proceeded to, the scene with life-saving They discovered six survivors on the) mole, and four others clinging to thq capsized hull of the steamer, which wad showing in the breakers about two hun< dred feet off the structure. With ' - second rocket that was fired ii line v,. , thrown across the hull anJ, the four men were brought ashore in W' basket. "■ According to the members of the ercw(. the Stormbird was in light trim, and on reaching the harbor entrance she failed ' <o answer her helm. The vessel was driven against the mole and heavy seas swept over her, extinguishing the fires. The steamer eventually cut her wayi : through the mole, until she was held; inescapably by th« rocks at a. poinft under the engine-room. It was at this .itage that si.v of their number scrambled) ashore. The vessel suddenly snapped into two pieces, the forward part drifting fou< hundred feet before capsizing. At tha time of the disaster the night wai dark, and a heavy ground swell ■made o| bumpy sea at the river entrance. * It is believed that Hunter wa* drowned in trying to clamber on to tha mole, but that the other two were washed off the wreck. The bodies ot Hinckey and Kyle were recovered this morning, several miles south of tha wreck. The beach for miles i& strewn! with debris. j The vessel was returning to Welling*' toi practically empty, having but aj few ton? of cargo on board, $ The Stormbird was a well-known coastal trader, and was the oldest iron steamer in the world. She was buili in ISP£, and was owned by the Welling* In Wanganui Steam Packet Company* For n.niiy years she has been engaged ia tii': local trade.