SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14979, 27 April 1909, Page 7

SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

/ FATAL COLLISION. ' United Press Association—By Electric ' Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 25. , At Christiania the British steamer 'Oxford collided with tho Norwegian Bter.mer Edith. The latter sank, and the captain, his wife and sixteen of the crew and passengers were drowned. ROUGH WEATHER IN THE STRAITS. A BARQUE’S EXPERIENCE. ’ [Pee Press Association.] , WELLINGTON, April 26. The barque Weathersfield, after a week at sea, has put back to port again. In heavy north-westerly weather on Thursday and Friday last she lost some canvas, and the master decided to put back for a refit. In the height of one of the worst gales known ih the Straits she was. swept close to Hokio beach early on Saturday morning, and sighted the low sandhills of the coast about two miles away, and anchor was dropped. The vessel rode there all day, dragging slightly. The clock of the port anchor was carried fiway. Signals of distress wero flown and detonators fired. Tlio wind veered round off the land, rendering the situation of the barque less precarious. Later the little steamer Wootton came .up, and stood by for some time, and /then went to Foxton to make tho position known and send a message for the tug. The Terawhiti .was to be despatched, but the Wootton was unable to get a response from tho signal station, and returned and stood by all night. Meanwhile parties in-shoro observed a signal flying from the baTque, land word was sent to Wellington, and ’the Terawhiti went out, experiencing heavy weather arid taking four hours to cover eighteen ■ miles. At daybreak on Sunday she sighted the barque and took her in tow at 4.20 p.m., reaching Wellington at three o’clock this morning. The Weathersfield was going to Suva to be turned into a coal hulk.

During the gale experienced by the Weathersfield, a seaman named Morrison fell from the rigging and was seriously injured.