Total Wreck of a Steamer At Greymouth.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 25 June 1888, Page 2

Total Wreck of a Steamer At Greymouth.

THE “GERDA” THROWN AGAINST THE BREAKWATER. ALL HANDS SAVED. Per Press Association. Greymouth, June 24. The steamer Gerda in coming in at an early hour this morning, empty, from. Lyttelton, encountered a heavy sea outside the bar and was thrown on the north breakwater. Her back was broken, her funnel has gone, and her mast has disappeared. She lies a helpless wreck. Considerable damage was done to tho staging of the breakwater; several rows of piles were injured and the derrick has gone. Later. The Gerda was coming in this morning shortly after 8 o’clock, A strong B.W. wind was blowing with a heavy ssa at the time. The Gerda has not been taking the tug lately ; at anyrate this morning Captain Erickson did not take the tug. When coming inside the two breakwaters flying a light she was caught on the top of a heavy sea and thrown against Hnngerford and Mackay’s staging, crashing through eight logs about 100 feet in length, whore she is now lying, wedged fast. She carried away the donkey engine and derrick, monkey and other appliances. No casualty occurred, all hands being able to walk ashore from the ship by staging. Eighteen months ago tho Gerda was chartered by Mr H Guthrie, of Dunedin, for two years, six months being yet to run, The Gerda was built in Elemsburg, Germany, where she is owned by a merchant named'Schultz, who it is understood, has it covered by insurance in German offices.