THE WRECK OF THE STORMBIRD.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13666, 7 September 1916, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE STORMBIRD.

INQUEST OX THE VICTIMS. (Tor Press Association.) i WANGANUI, September 4. This morning' a gang of men was employed in placing beyond high-water mark the material and articles which unci been washed ashore from the wreck of the Stormbird. These included one t f ■ the lifeboats, the captain's deckhouse (practically intact), oars, lifebelts, rockets, slings, ropes, etc The wooden fittings of the vessel arc strewn along the beadi for miles, testifying to the complete break-up .oil Ihe steamer and Ihe strong action of the waves. About itiU feet of the overhead staglug of the breakwater has been carried .-.■ way, while another 50 feet has bee.ii strained and will require readjustment. The gap leaves about 220 feet standing on the seaward, side. The damage to the staging is estimated at £OOO. As evidence of the fact that Ihe Slorinlji'rii was practically an empty ship when she was wrecked, the manifest shows (inly llio following cargo: 11 cases of pickles, -ISS boxes of soap, and one bale of wool. The body of Ihe I bird man who was drowned—James Hunter, fireman—was recovered this morning near Ihe nioulh of the Wangaehii River.

An impicest on I lie victims was held 10-ilav.

(.'aplain Arthur Sutherland Gibson deposed that Kyle was drowned about one o'clock on Holiday morning, and llinehey was drowned a few minutes later, liollt men were about 70 years of age.

The coroner rclurncil a verdict of death by drowning through misadveutin i'. DUXEDIN, September .]. (.'aptain Easson, of I lie Woslralia, ipiestions the statement .thai the Slornibird was the oldest iron steamship in I he, world. The Edina, now in Melbourne, must be older. She mis in the troop service in tho Crimean War.