WRECK OF THE STORMBIRD

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13663, 4 September 1916, Page 4

WRECK OF THE STORMBIRD

THREE LIVES LOST,

(]'er Tress Association.)

WANGANUf, September 3,

. The steamer Stormbird was wrecked on the south mole at the entrance to the river last night. Throe of the crew were drowned—G, W, Hinchey, lamp trimmer; B, Kyle, fireman; and J. Hunter, fireman. Captain A, Gibson, and the remainder of the crew of nine men were saved, There were uo passengers on board. The steamer left the town wharf at 11 p.m. for Wellington, Shortly before midnight, distress signals were seen near the end of the south mole by the men at the pilot station. The Harbourimaster (Captain Mclntyre) with several volunteers immediately proceeded ito the'scene with life saving apparatus, Tliey discovered six survivors on the mole, and four others clinging to the capsized hull of the steamer, which was showing in the breakers about two hundred feet off the structure, With the second rochet fired a lliue was thrown across the hull and [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 the .vessel failed to answer her helm, The vessel was driven against the mole and heavy seas swept over her, extinguishing the fires. The steamer eventually cut her way through the moles until she was held inextricably 'by rocks at a point under the engine room. It- was at ithis stage that six of Iho crew scrambled ashore. The vessel suddenly snapped into two pieces, the forward part drifting four hundred feet before capisizing.

At the time of the disaster, the night was dark and a heavy ground shell made a bumpy sea at the river entrance. It is believed that Hunter -was drowned whilst trying to clamber on to the mole, but that the two others were washed off the wreck. The bodies of Hinchey and Kyle were recovered this morning. Several miles south of the wreck the beach for miles is strewn with debris. The vessel was returning to Wellington practically empty, having only a few tons of cargo on board. The Stormbird was n well-known coastal trader, being the oldest iron steamer in the world, She was built in lS(i., and owned by the Wellingtou-W'anganui Steam Packet

Company. She has been for many years engaged to the local trade.