SHIPPING DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 224, 19 September 1894, Page 5

SHIPPING DISASTER.

WRECK OP THE STEAMER

COLONIST.

FULL PARTICULARS,

The following particulars of the wreck of the steamer Colonist on Newcastle bar are to hand by the Australian mail. The Sydney *• Daily Telegraph " of Monday, September 10th, says : — The steamer Colonist, while leaving Newcastle at 1.30 o'clock on Sunday morning, the 9th inst,, coal-laden, for Adelaide, gob ashore on the oyster bank near the entrance to theharbour, and is likely to become a total wrock.

The vessel loaded 2,450 tons of various coal, besides taking 300 tons for her bunkers, and 370 tone of coke, and lefb her berth ab the Dyke (shortly after one o'clock, in tow of the steam tug Bungaree. When near Nobby?, Captain Mars sang oub bo bhe captain (Dunnett) of the Bungaree to cast cfi. The order was obeyed, and tho tug reburned towards tbo Dyke for the purpose of taking out the steamer Industry, which vTiis also waiting to sail. Shortly after, the Colonist's whistle was blown, and in quick succession several rockets were senb up, and blue lights were burned. The Bungaree promptly wenb back to tho assistance of bho Colonist,' which was found to have grounded. •' Immediately upon the appearance of the* signals of distress, the usual course was taken ab the signal station, Forb Scratchley, by the firing' of two guns, denoting a wreck. The lifeboat . pub off at once, and the southern breakwater was soon crowded with anxious ' spectators. Upon the arrival of the lifeboat ab, the scene of the disaster, Mrs Mars, wife of tbe captain, was taken off the stranded vessel. The Bhip's papers, chronometers, sextants, etc., and the greater portion of the officers' effects, were also placed in tbe boat, and sevoral of the crew were landed.. Captain Mars and the officers and a number of the crew remained on board until aboub 7 o'clock this morning, When, seeing thab bhoy could do no good whatever by remaining any longer, they came ashore. The crew saved mosb of their belongings, and up to noon to-day were, busily engaged in landing their clothing, etc.

Captain Mars and the officers are extremely retieenb concerning the disaster, bub ib has been gleaned that ab bhe time of its occurrence the captain and the second officer were on the bridge, while the firsb officer and bhe carpenter, were on the lookout forward. When the tug cast off everything wenb all right with the Colonist until reaching just abreast ,of Nobbys. The sea was nob rough, but heavy rollers were experienced on the bar, and the veßeel met two very heavy swells in quick succession, which caused her, it ie conjectured, to touch' the bank of the channel, and to slew round, so that she became broadside on to the rollers* Her steering gear then appears tp have failed, to act, and she, therefore, was rapidly carried over towards tho Stockton Bight, whore she now lies, strangely enough, exactly in the spot where the Cawarra was wrecked when tryins to enter tlio harbour- on the memorable July llth, 1866, Ibis said, indeed, that one of the ribs of the Cawarra has penetrated the bottom of the Colonist. The ill-fated vessel is settling down in bhe sand, and all day to-day. the sea has been making clean breaches over the alter parb.

The steamer Colonist was built of steel in ISB9, ab Sunderland, by Messrs Osbourne, Graham and Co. She was 2,286 tons gross register, and carried Lloyd's highest certificate. She measured 290fb in length 38fb in breadbh, and- 20fb in depbh. According to," Lloyd's'R^ tlie Colonist was owned by the Angier Line, Limited. Since her arrival in Australian waters she has been employed in tho coal trade between Newcasble and Adelaide, and she made several trips from South Australian ports to Sydney with bullion. Tho Colonist recently received, a thorough overhaul ab Morb's Dock, Sydney.