SCHOONER RUN DOWN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12635, 21 December 1903, Page 3

SCHOONER RUN DOWN.

[press association.] WELLINGTON, Sunday. The steamer Rotomahana, which left port for Lyttelton at about 9.20 last night, had not gone half a mile from the wharf when she crashed into the schooner Jessie Nicoi, riding at anchor in the stream. The impact was very severe, the steamer’s bows practically cutting right through the little sailer. The engines were immediately stopped, and the schooner, weighed down by the inrush of water through her shattered deck at the side, settled down by the bows and sank in a few minutes, with the Rotomahana’s bow projecting right over her stern. Only Captain Smith and two members of his crew were on board the schooner at the time, all three being in bed. The captain states that he heard' the shouts of people on board the steamer, and almost simultaneously the afterpart of the schooner and her cabin were shattered to pieces. The seamen were in the fore-part of the vessel. The captain had a miraculous escape. Before. he left his cabin the water was up to his waist. Rushing on deck, he climbed up the bow of the Rotomahana just as his own craft went down by the nose in 39 feet of water and pointed her stern skywards. The after-part of the schooner remained above water for a few minutes, and the seamen took up a position on the bulwarks until a boat was lowered from the steamer, and they were taken on board. The Rotomahana returned to the wharf. After inspection it was ascertained that she had suffered no serious damage, and she proceeded on her voyage South an hour later. Captain Smith, of the Jessie Nirol, stales that lie had the regulation lights for ships at anchor burning, hut he admits that it is possible that Captain Manning may have mistaken his mast light for the lights of a big liner which was coaling at the rear of the schooner. The Jessie Nicol’s cargo, consisting of bricks, produce, and general goods, was valued at £IOOO. It is- believed that the schooner- is not insured. Efforts are to be made to raise hqr.