STEAMER FOULS BRIDGE

Evening Star, Issue 17710, 11 July 1921, Page 5

STEAMER FOULS BRIDGE

HUIA’S UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE

[Per United Press 4 JfssociATiox.]

WANGANUI, July 11Tho steamer Huia, from Wellington, had an exciting experience last night, colliding with tho town bridge. The berth at tho top ond of the wharf assigned to the vessel is not a great distance from tho bridge, The vessel' was approaching her berth when, it is stated, tho engines jainbed qn tho centre, rendering the vessel powerless. Continuing on her way, tfin Huia cut between the Togo and the Mascottc, tho Harbor Board tugs, lying abreast at the tqp end of the wharf, without damaging either, and crashed bow on into the bridge. Her foremast was i snapped about a foot from tho deck. The wheolhouso, whore Captain Campbell and a seaman wove stationed, just cleared the bridge, but the compass binnacle on tho top house was cut out flush with the roof, and the funnel bent ,to a considerable angle. The vessel’s progress was then stopped, the bow \ resting on a pontoon tho other side I of the bridge. By strenuous efforts the steamer was extricated from her I unenviable position and moored safely at the wharf. One of tho drifting launches, the Togo, was .made fast just in time to prevent it colliding with tho bridge, while the other went ashore on the opposite side of tho river, hut was easily refloated.