S.S. HUIA DAMAGED.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1921, Page 8

S.S. HUIA DAMAGED.

/’ ACCIDENT AT WANGANUL COLLISION WITH A BRIDGE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, July 11. The steamer Huia, from Wellington, had an exciting experience on Sunday evening, colliding with the town bridge. A berth at the top end of the wharf had been assigned to the vessel, it being not a great distance from the bridge. The vessel was approaching the berth when, it is stated, the engines jambed on the centre, rendering the vessel powerless. Continuing her onward, way the Huia cut between the Togo and Mascotte, harbor tugs, lying abreast at the top end of the wharf, without damaging either and crashed bow on into the bridge. The foremast snapped off about a foot above the deck and the wheelhouse, where Captain Campbell and a seaman .were stationed, just cleared the bridge, but the compass binnacle on top of the house was cut off flush with the roof. The funnel was bent to a considerable angle and stopped the vessel’s progress when her bow was resting on a pontoon at the other side of the bridge. By strenuous efforts the steamer was extricated from her unenviable position and was moored safely at the wharf. One of the drifting launches, the Togo, was made fast just in time to prevent it colliding with the bridge. The other went ashore on the opposite side, of the river, but was easily refloated.