SHIPPING DISASTERS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9691, 15 January 1910, Page 5

SHIPPING DISASTERS

A STEAMER WRECKED,

THIRTY PERSONS DROWNED,

HELPLESS SPECTATORS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright Received January 14, 8.50 a.m. OTTAWA, January 13. The steamer Czarina has been wrecked at Cook's Bay, Canada. The crew clambered to the rigging, but were swept out, thirty persons being drowned, The disaster was witnessed by about one hundred spectators on shore, who were powerless to render assistance.

KAIPARE WRECKED.

IN RONGITOTO CHANNEL. PASSENGERS LANDED SAFELY. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, January 14, Shipping circles were thrown into something like consternation this afternoon, when the rumour that the New Zealand Shipping Company's fine steamer Kaipare, which had left at about half-past two fcr London, laden witha large cargo, had met with a mishap in the Rangitoto Channel, and was in a serious condition. Gradually t'je rumour was confirmed, and the fact became kbown that the vessel had struck something in the channel, ani her position was serious, and that there was a good deal of water in two of her forward holds. The vessal now lies in the channel, her keel resting on the bottom, and there is some feet of water in No. 1 and No. 2 holds. Lieutenant Elves, of the British Army, who is travelling for _his health, was one of the seven or eight passengers who embarked on the steamer for London, was sesn soon after the accident, and he gave the following account:—"We were going at full speed when just between the two light buoys there was a slight grating, and the steamer, which had a considerable list, when we left the jetty, listed over a good deal more—in fact I thought she waa going over altogether. Then the ship suddenly righted, the engines were stopped, and the wells were sounded. It was found that in No. 1 and No. 2 the water was making rapidly. Lifehelts were served out, and the boats were lowered in remarkably quick time. The water around us I was fortunately very shallow—a 1 little over five fathoms—and the vessel gradually settled down with her keel on the bottom, and she lies hard and fast. While we lay in this plight a little coastal boat, the Chelmsford, came alongside, and several of the passengers went off in her back to Auckland." The steamer when she struck made 22 feet of water in three minutes, and settled down by her head, having her bow about 12 feet out of the water. Ihe stern water line showed about two feet above. She appears to have been riped along the bottom "from under the furemast to near the funnel, The passengers were taken off, and brought to Auckland, It was decided to salvage the cargo, and the Northern Company's Taniwha was sent down with a number of workmen, and the salvaging is now proceeding. After the cargo is taken out it is intended, as far as can be gathered, to pump the water out to effect temporary repairs and place the steamer in the Calliope Dock. It was low tide when the vessel struck, and the water has now crept up the forward part of the vessel to such an extent that it reaches within a foot or more of the deck.