FATAL STEAMER COLLISION.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 77, 31 March 1924, Page 5

FATAL STEAMER COLLISION.

MATATUA-AMERICAN MERCHANT. INQUEST ON SAILORS. LONDON, March 30. At the resumed inquest at Gravesend on the victims of the disaster to the Shaw, Savill steamer Matatua, the pilot of the American Merchant said he called the captain's attention to the Matatua being on their bow and showing a green li"ht. The Matatua, when she showed a"red light, was only 200 yards away. She gave a warning blast, whereupon he immediately ordered the engines to be stopped, and then put the American ship full speed astern. The coroner said the pilot's evidence did not agree with that of the American Merchant's captain. The pilot replied that tho Matatua had not opened her red light soon enough to avoid a collision. The American Merchant did everything possible to avoid the collision. A verdict was returned to the effect that the men were accidentally killed in' the collision between the two vessels.— (Reuter.) The American Merchant crashed into the Matatua damaging her on the port side and killing eight of the ship's company, mostly greasers. Her rudder was put out of action and tlie American boat kept her nose in the breach and pushed the Matatua a long distance and aground. When the collision occurred the Matatua was proceeding to Holehaven. She was turning round at four o'clock in the morning when the American Merchant, on her maiden voyage from New York, crashed into her hoardside on, striking amidships in the engine room. The scene in the Matatua's forecastle was a terrible one. The American Merchant's very sharp bow cut clean through the Matatua's plates like cutting through paper. Water rushed into the hold, and the ship began to sink, but the captain managed to beach her. The American "Merchant proceeded to summon the assistance of tugs from Tilbury, with pieces of the Matatua's plates hanging to her bow and with her flag at half-mast.