COLLISION IN PORT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 75, 31 March 1910, Page 3

COLLISION IN PORT.

FERRY STEAMERS IN TROUBLE. COBAR BEACHED AT THORNDON. A. collision between the feriy steamers Duchess and Cobar, both owned by the Wellington Harbour Femes Company, occurred off Point Jerningham last evening. There were no personal casualties. The Cobar was so badly damaged that she had to be beached at Thorndon. The Duchess had her bulwarks stove in and several stanchions carried away on the starboard side; but was otherwise uninjured. She proceeded on her way to the city wharf from Day's Bay. The Cobar was bound for Day's Bay. having left the Ferry Wharf at about 6.30 p.m. There vets about thirty passengers on board. The vessel was in command of Captain Williams. The weather was rough but clear. There was a strong south-east wind blowing out of To Aro and Evans Bay. The I>UChcS3, lit command of Captein J ODft ,, was coming from Day's Bay when the vessels met. When the impact took place, notwithstanding the crash, it is reported that thero was but little or no excitement on tho Cobar, but the passengers on the Duchess were much alarmed. They were relieved, however, when their vessel headed for the Ferry Wharf, arriving there- a tew minutes after the accident. WATER IN THE ENGINE-ROOM. The Cobar kept on her way across the harbour until water was making in I the engine-room, when Captain Williams decided to return to the city. He made up his mind to bearh his vessel at Tnorndon, and this he succeeded in doing, not without difficulty, as it was blowing hard and the course to the bank which the captain selected to rest npon lay between the coal hulks and laid-up shipping. The Cobar was settling down by the head when she was turned towards Thorndon. The forecastle was flooded, | and the crew's effects were awash. There was just sufficient steam to keep the Cobar going unti 1 sho was beached. THE PASSENGERS. Captain Williams real i bed that his passengers were naturally . nervous about crossing over in tho disabled steamer and this was the chief reason why he beached her. The passengers were here safely landed in boats, and were taken across the bay later in the evening by the company's other ferry steamer Admiral. Captain Williams reports that there was admirable order observed by passengers on his vessel when the collision took place. The passengers on the L'obar, on their part, praise Captain Williams and the otfeers «vjth him for the seamanship displayed in bringing the vessel back to port, and landing everyone on board without accident or injury of any kind. The Cobar was built in 1903 by G. de Frame, Sydney. She is a wooden vessel of 159 tons gross, and has been engaged in the Wellington Harbour Ferry service for some years. The Duchess was specially built for her present owner by Mackie and Thompson, Glasgow, in 189?, and sh» is a popular vessel with excursionists.