ANOTHER WRECK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17264, 4 September 1916, Page 7

ANOTHER WRECK.

LOBS OF THE STORMBIRD.

FAMOUS OLD TRADER MEETS DISASTER.

THREE MEN DROWNED

[P»K Pkbss Association-.]

WANGANUI, September 3.

The steamer Stormbird, of 217 tons, .ra-i wrecked on the south molo at the entrance to the river last night. Three of the crew weve drowned:— G. *W. Hinchey, lamp trimmer. ■B. Kyle, fireman. * J. Hunter, fireman. Captain A. Gibson and the- remainder of the crew of nine men wore fared. There were no passengers on board. TJie steamer left tho town wharf at 11 p.m. for Wellington. Shortly bofore uidnight distress signals were seen near the end of the south mole by the lnen at the pilot station, and; the harbour master, Captain M'ln tyro, with several volunteers., immediately proceeded to tho scene with life-saving apparatus./ They discovered six survivors on the mole, and four others clinging; to .the capsized hull of the feteamer, which was showing in the breakers about two -hundred feet off i.lO structure.

With the secondi rocket fired a line was thrown across the hull, and the four men were brought ashore in a basket.

According to members of the crew the Stormbird was in light trim, and on reaching the harbour entrance failed to answer hor halm. Tho vessel was driven against tho molo, and heavy seas swept over her, extinguishing tho fires. Iho steamer eventually cut her way through the moles until 6he was held inescapably by rocks at 'a point under the engine room. It was at tins stage that six of their number scrambled ashore. The vessel suddenly snapped into two pieces, the forward part drifting four hundred feet before, capsizing. At the time of tho disaster tho night was dark, and a heavy ground swell made a lumpy sea at the river entrance.

It is believed that Hunter was drowned when trying to clamber on the mole, hut that the other two were washed off the wreck. The bodies of Hinchey and Kyle were recovered this morning several miles south of the wreck.

The vessel, was returning to Wellington practically empty, having only a few tons of cargo on board. The Stormbird is a well-known coastal trader. She was the oldest iron steamer in the world, being built In 1854. Sho was owned by the Wellington and Wnnganui Steam Packet Company, and for many years has been engaged in the local trade.