BADLY DAMAGED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1940, Page 5

BADLY DAMAGED

NEW ZEALAND CARGO STEAMER IN SYDNEY HARBOUR COLLISION. RUSSIAN MEMBER OF CREW MISSING. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. SYDNEY. March 8. Dawn today revealed the full havoc of the harbour collision. The Union Company freighter, with bows shattered, forepeak flooded, stern high out of the water and top of the foremast snapped off, presented a battered spectacle. She was held precariously in position off Goat Island by two tugs, and late this afternoon was lightened sufficiently to be towed slowly to Walsh Bay.

The missing member of the crew is a Russian, J. Sharz, of Auckland. Two other members of the crew escaped death by inches. Their bunks were smashed.

The New Zealand vessel had loaded 3000 tons of coal and steel at Newcastle, Port Kembla, for Now Zealand and was in Sydney to complete her cargo loading. So far no explanation of the collision, which occurred near midnight, is given. The Blue Star liner was outward bound. The Union Company’s steamer was coming up the harbour to berth., The weather was clear and the heavens starlit. The collision occurred just off the number one wharf in Walsh Bay, slightly west of the harbour bridge. The impact was heralded by a hooting of sirens followed by an car-splitting crash.