COLLISION IN AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9046, 12 March 1908, Page 7

COLLISION IN AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

ASSAILING VESSEL SUNK

ONE MAN DROWNED

BTC TEWIGKAPH —PIIEPS ASSOCIATION

AUCKLAND, March 11. The scow Moonah, a vessel of 83 tons, owned by the Northern Coal Company, was entering the harbour loaded with coal shortly before eleven last night, when she collided with the Union Company's steamer Wairuna, bound for Newcastle. The Wairuna, left the Kailway wharf about ten o'clock.and was proceeding down the harbour under easy steam when sudden'y, when nearly off Calliope dock (the officers' state), the lights of a small vessel fere discovered in close proximity »- the steamer. The order "full -speed astern" was given, but it was too late to avert a collision. The steamer crashed int j the scow ; m dships and the scow sank almost immediately. Boats were lowered from the Wairuna and all the men belonging to the scow were rescued excepting Fred Smith, of whom no trace could be found. Captain Silva, master of the scow, had one of his legs badly fractured, and an A.8., named Sterling, sustained severe injury to his back. The officers of the Wairuna and those belonging to the scow are reticent as to the collision. One of the Moonah's crew said:—"lt was a very sudden, call. A3 the tteamer came down upon us I could see what was coming. I seized a lifebuoy and rushed afc followed by Smith. We were all forward when ths big steamer crashed into us, and we were Htajl in the water in a few seconds. I not know how Smith was drowned, but I think he must have gone down with the scow." The scow Moonah was built six years ago, at a cost of £2,500, and was not insured. She is sunk in six fathoms of water right in the fairway. The hull is practically cut in two. The foretopmast just showed abuve water. The mizzen was broken off by the deck. > One of the acow's crew was alo"t furling the topsail when the vessels collided. He was thrown on the deck of the steamer, escaped serious injury and avoided a "ducking." The master of the scow, Captain Sylva, was at the wheel when the Wairuna struck his vessel. His leg was broken by the wheel spinning beyond his control.