FURTHER DETAILS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 17 May 1912, Page 7

FURTHER DETAILS

GREYMOUTH, May 17. The Kotukn, 662 tons, was commanded by Captain Jolm Christian and was carrying 461 tons of State coal* and 317,724_feet of timber. The night was very disagreeable but there was very little sea on the bar. While proceeding down the river the vessel struck the retaining wall, which, it is presumed, carried away the propeller, rendering her unmanageable. It is supposed she then struck the submerged Hawea, as part of the Kotuku's bottom was ripped out. She then drifted over the bar and went ashore outside the north tip head, her head pointing shorewards. The captain and crew remained aboard all night, but as the sea was making this morning they came ashore, as evidence that the vessel was breaking up was visible. The captain was brought ashore in a state of coma and sent to the hospital. The deck timber is now floating ashore and the sea is breaking over the vessel, which is becoming a total wreck.