THE OLD S.S. DORIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1138, 27 May 1911, Page 6

THE OLD S.S. DORIC.

HER LATTER END. STRIKES ON TAICHU ISLANDS. Old residents will remember s.s. Doric, which was among the growing steam fleet which worked New Zealand ports for London cargo in tho early 'eighties. lonic and Catalonia, were, the pioneers on tho bill, but tho Catalonia (though advertised) never came here. Aorangi, Tongariro, and what not, followed, and what all that fine bravery has now came to nmy bo judged from the plight ot s.s. Aoraiißi, which has just been alongside Clyde Quay for repairs and overhaul, and is to be docked at Sydney. Some of tho other "veterans" have long been demasted, and arc mere vile-smelling caltlo boats, flyiug soma Spanish house flag. Tho bravo old Doric (someticie rechrisrened tho Asia) has gooo to her Jasc account, and the "San Francisco Chronicle" tells tlie story as follows:—

The- Pacific mail passenger steamer Asia, ono of the oldest liners in the trans-Pacific service,- struck a submerged rock off Finger Eock, South China, and sank.

i\ T o lives were lost, but the entiro cargo and most of the mail went down with tho ill-fated vessel. The Asia was homeward bound from Hong-Kong to San Francisco, having left the Chinese port on April 21. Tli3 passengers were taken off by tho Chinese liner Shaun Shing, bound for Shanghai, and tho .Tapanefe liner America, Maru is proceeding to Hong-Kong with the crew.

Finger Point is 'a dangerous projection from the Heau Chu islet, southerlymost of tho Taiclm group, (lie most treacherous part of Chinese waters, situated about 200'miles'south of Shanghai. Thn Asia was on her way to Shanghai and steamed into a heavy fog. Captain Harry Gaukroger was proceeding cautiously when suddenly tho liuer tore into the submerged rock, which pierced a ragged hole in the forward section of the hull.

Wireless signals of distress were picked up by the Toyo Kiseri Kaisha liner America JUaru, en route- to Hong-Kong from Shanghai, and that vessel slowly proceeded in the fog, but was unablo to locate the Asia for several hours. Meanwhile tho Taku liner Shaun Shing, bound for Shanghai, discovered the Asia and rescued all the passengers and part of the mail from the sinking vessel. The America Maru located the sinking vessel during the transfer of passengers, and took the entire crew and officers of the Asia aboard. The Asia, sunk shortly alter tho transfers wero effected. , ' T . he T Asia was built in 18S3 by Harland and Wolft, of Belfast, for tho Oceanic ?i enl " tfarasnt'on Company, known as tho . } vl "te Star Line, the- .vessel being christened tho Doric. .