METAGAMA’S RACE TO PORT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 September 1924, Page 8

METAGAMA’S RACE TO PORT.

fine DISCIPLINE

, M° ntr eal, which, was sent kt- John s to convey the passengers ot the damaged Metagama to Montreal was able to take only two-thirds, ox tuem. lhe unmarried men stayed behind to await another ship. >V hen the Metagama reached St Johns some of those on board gave vivid descriptions of the collision and the subsequent successful race for safety by. the damaged linen When the collision occurred, several cabins were demolished, hut the occupants were fortunately absent. Most of the passengers were having break+f S *L The first warning, that the passengers had of danger was tho crash of the oncoming ship against the Metagama’s hull. The force of the impact threw the ship over slowly lhe passengers rushed up to the deck! but through the exertions of the officers and stewards quiet was soon restored, and though the ship was listing badly and in a serious condition all: through the day, no further trouble ensu*d.

Several passing ships reached the Metagama within a few hours of the collision, and accompanied her to port and all preparations were made to transfer the passengers to these ships it the damaged vessel showed a disposition to founder. She contrived to reach port, but virtually in a sinking condition, and when she anchored passengers appealed to the boats and tugs surrounding the vessel to take them off, as it was apparent to everybody that her condition was critical. The captain rushed her to a shoal, and beached her on a mudbank. ~ In the collision the bow s of the Clara Carhus were driven back to the forecastle winch, and the flooded, lhe Metagama’s starboard side was holed amidships, and the forward stokehold flooded. The ship on reaching St. John’s had a list of nearly 30 degrees on the port side, due to" the flooding of the water ballast tanks there in order to lift the starboard side and thereby reduce the inrush of water. The crew of the Clara Camus say, that the collision occurred at 10 o’clock in the morning in a • dense fog, and they allege that their yessei was struck by the Metagama when passing, although the nature of the damage would indicate the contrary. Nobody, was hurt on the Clara Camus, and there was no panic.