Bottom Ripped Out.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7998, 21 June 1904, Page 2

Bottom Ripped Out.

No Chanoe Of Floating,

Vessel Off Tha Counce.

Delirious Pilot*

Eeceived June 21,1.14 a.in,

Melbourne, Last Night. The pilot of the steamer Victoria arrived this afternoon with tho passengers and the greater portion of the crew of the Australia The remainder are standing by the wreck. All the personal effects of the passengers have been landad.

The latest reports are that the Australia lies half a mile north of the Petriana. The wreck is close up on Point Nepean, resting on. the rocks from her bow to well under amidships, in 24ft of water at flood tide. She has considerable list to starboard. Her bottom is badly stove in, and her holds are full of water. Experienced seamen aboard consider there is no chanoe of floating her. When Fhe struck the water rushed so rapidly that numbers in the hinder part °l steamer h&d to wade up to the shoulders in ©soaping. The look-out man on the pilot steamer Victoria first noticed the signals of distress, and went in searcn, but owing to tho darkness went outside without finding the vessel, but discovered her on her return journey. It is difficult to understand how the disaster happened, as the Australia's position is nowhere near tho entrance of the channel which the lights at Queenschffe and the south channel indicate. The captaiu states that the pilot was pioked up four or five miles outside, and he was standing on the bridge alongside tbe pilot when she struck. She was going at the rate of 1U knots. He lmmediatelv ga.ve tbe order to close the watertight compartments. There was no excitement or panic. Ino pi ot stated that as soon a« the collision happened he became delirious and was taken below until he recovered.

I had tried many dochtors and swal- . lowed their stuff, And advertised nosatruins more than enough ; Till my coppers were gone, and my throat wbb on fire— And the lungs i n my shtumach refused to reshpire ; When a bottle of " Woods' " gave anew lease of life And brought back the shmiles to the face of my wife: So take my advishe for colds, faith be sure, You get Misther " Woods' Great Peppermint Cure."