LOSS OF1 THE VENTNOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, 4 November 1902, Page 2

LOSS OF 1 THE VENTNOR.

ARE ATIVE UF OFFICERS. A TERRIBLE AND IMPRESSIVE UGH T. [united tress association.] AUCKLAND, This Day. Mr Cameron, mate of the wrecked steamer Ventnor, slates (hat he was below ivhm tho steamer slruck at 1.3U a.m, on Saturday. He found everybody on deck ond land ahead. Number 3 hold wao full of water, and tbe tanks were filling rapidly. The engines were reveised and the vessel got off and went on at half speed. The captain decided to attempt to reach Auckland to secure docking facilities for repairs, as the vessel was not considered in immediate danger. The pumps were worked constantly and kept the water under until 9 a.m. on Monday, by which time 60 or 70 miles had been traversed. Tbe Ventnor was new down by the head, with five feet of water in the hold. On Sunday afternoon the water showed in the fo epeak, and the vessel was down by Ihe head as far as the 'tween decks. The course was then altered with the view to beaching the steamer, but she bad become unmanageable, irndwassi ted 40 mile south of Hokianga af 2 pan. The decks were now flush with lhe water, and the boats were provisioned and ordered to sta d by. Ten miles off Hokianga (be engines stopped (at 9 o'clock on Sunday nigh.'), and the main deck was almost under water. The boats were lowered and manned, and then the side lights disappears '. 'Two minutes later the Ventnor foundered bow firs'. As tbe vessel was sinking Ihe captain sto."d on tho port side ar.d CBlledout "Shove off, doys." He t v .-u crossed to (ho other side of the ship, where tho other Doits were 7 hat ' was the last Mr Cameron saw of the I captain. ' 'I be third mate says that the captain and himself jumped overboard. He was unceitain what became of the captain subsequen ly, but he supposed i hat the , davits struck the captain's boit and' capsized it. Someone cried out for a! bailer but there wan no cry for help. Iha third mate's boat picked npth.ee men, but whether from the capta.-.'s boar or not ia not ttnted. The third mate's beat bad a fearful experience in the breakers before landing at 5 30 a.m Another account says tbat the captain stayed on deck with the second engineer when the Ventnor sank. Engineer Baillie states that despite! pumping the water continued to me in ! the holds, and the angle of tbe deck was greater every hour. Tne hak increased greatly between ei wl it and nine o'clock, and the deck was full of water, and the steamer lost buoyancy, as the boats pushed off the sight was awfi.l. Tbe water gradually rose over the deck to the stokehold w hen Ihe stern lifted, rising quickly and more quickly. The steamer then stood upright for three or four eeconds, and sank with a whizzing sound. A jet of flame burst from the funnel as the vessel sank.