SINKING RAPIDLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1928, Page 9

SINKING RAPIDLY.

S.S. IRON CHIEF. STRIKES MERMAID REEF. CREW ABANDON SHIP. (By TeJpgraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day.

The secretary of the General Post Office has received advice that the s.s. Iron Chief went ashore on Mermaid Reef, off Crowdy Head, with her propeller smashed and holed badly.

The s.s. Mildura is proceeding to assist, and was expected to arrive at 2 a.in. this morning.

Later messages indicate that the Iron Chief is now off the reef and sinking rapidly.

At 5.32 a.m. the crew were reported to be abandoning the ship.

Crowdy Head is on the New South Wales coast, about 30 miles south of Port Macquarie. It is the northern point at the entrance of the Manning River. Last Friday morning the Sydney wireless station broadcasted a warning that the Crowdy Head light was out. This may afford some explanation of the disaster.

The Iron Chief is a steel vessel of 2720 tons gross, built at Sunderland in 1910 by J. Priestman and Co. She was formerly the Maindy Lodge. She is owned by the Inter-State Steamships, Ltd., trailing on the Australian coast.

A later telegram reads: —

"The inter-State steamer Iron Chief, en route from Port Stephens to CoflPs Harbour, to finish loading, went ashore on Mermaid Reef, near Crowdy Head, on the New South Wales coast. She is reported to be leaking badly. The crew of 33 men remain aboard."