THE SINKING OF THE CENTENNIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9461, 4 September 1889, Page 6

THE SINKING OF THE CENTENNIAL.

As reported in our cable messages from Sydney at' the timo, the steamer Centennial was sunk while leaving that port on Friday evening, August 23, by being in collision with the Kanahooka. The Sydney Morning Herald gives the following account of the occurrence :— The Centennial left Mcllwraith and McEacbern's wharf at 8.45 p.m. for Wellington, New Zealand, with 52 passengers and 30 of a crew, Captain Leasing in command. She proceeded through the Pynnont Bridge and down the harbour at half-speed, passing many steamers en mite. The master and the 6ccond officer were on the bridge, it is said, and all went well passing Pinchgub and round Bradley's Head. Tho night was beautifully starlight, and tho passengers were promenading the decks. Down in the fore-cabin » few men were congregated conversing, and aft in the saloon. The ladies wore preparing to retire for the night, but no one, so far as has been ascertained, had actually gone to their berths. Passing Bradley Head, the vessel was probably going at from 5 to 6 knots. When opposite Chowder Bay or Chowder Point, a eteatner bound inwards was sighted. The passengers were looking over the rail wtitchiug her approach, danger being furthest from both their and the crew's minds. A few minutes 'later a shout went up, "She's running down on u.*." Everyone not on deck sprang up from the corapanionways, aud those in the fitnokingroom looked out, thinking it a false alarm or a joke. One occupant of that apartment said, " I thought something had gone amiss with the machinery." There was considerable bustle on the Centennial's quarterdeck, and the ringing of the telegraph to the engine-room from the bridge, coupled with the peremptory orders from Captain Leasing, quickly told everyone that more serious danger than was tir»t believe*. was impending. To the initiated in maritime matters on board it was soon noticed the Centennial's engines -had boon put full speed astern, the way on the ship being perceptibly diminished. "In lead time than it takes, mo to tail you," said a passenger, " a steamer bumped up against us, and glided along our right-hand side." j The bumping here mentioned proved to be a. fatal blow fur the Centennial. Captain Leasing m reported to have acted with remarkable coolness. The etoamer was struck apparently on tho starboard bow, right against the foro collision bulkhead. The steerage was, of course, quickly full of water, " but," said the chief ofilcer, " it- was a matter of doubt which of us was the worst injured, the other steamer orourselves. Aglancodown into the engineroom showed that the partition there was doubled up, and tho water was rushing in and putting out the tires. It was but the work of a few minutes to ge</ out the boate. Some of the passengers would nob, however believe it- possible that, the ship was going down beneath their feet. All they possessed wad on board iu the line of personal Itujga-ge and money, and some of thcui'pleaded hard 10 be allowed to go below to bring up their property. One bad lost £50 in gold, and another the hard-earned savings of a fifetime, and they wero bent upon making a last effort. The officers of the vessel were, however, equal to the excitement of the moment, and with a firmness, which cannot be too highly valued, insisted upon every passenger leaving the sinking vessel. The Kanabooka stood by, and Captain Creer, from tho pilot steamer Captain Cook, had his boats at hand, and rendered every possible aid. The steamer Bee took hold of the lifeboat and jolly boat The chief-officer transferred the ladioa to one of the lifeboats, und thenco to the Kanahooka, whose crew acted with commendable steadiness and discipline. As the steamer filled, the captain (C. (i. Lessing , ), »l>?o the chief officer and Mr. Brown, the purser and chief steward, having seen everybody safely put into either the boats or the Kanahooka, sprang aboard one or the other of the waiting craft alongside. It is said that the second, oiiicer ran up out of the saloon with a boy in his arms almost at the law moment, and in the hurry and excitement, one of the steamer's crew (the cook) hud his leg broken. Captain Lesei:»g was tho last to spring from the ship, and the Centennial sank in twelve minutes after behig struck, in shallow water. When ehe was last eeca her side-lights were burning. It should be stated that an abundance of life belts were available, and were used by passenger-: and crew. On Sunday the work of examining the sunken steamer was persevered in by divers at Taylor's Bay, but nothing was found that led to tLe supposition that anything beyond the loss of ordinar} luggage had occurred. Captain Paulson, the marino superintendent for Mr. J. C. Ellis, went down at 'J a.m. to the wreck, taking with him the steam launches and the divers and their equipment for searching through the sunken vessel. At 9 a.m. the tirdt diver was sent down to search the after-part of the ship and down the hatchway. Some 20 or 30 packages were brought to the surface, consisting of the personal eflecte of the pa.sscnge_rd, but nothing of any particular value. A diver went through the saloon and sent up a quantity of loo.se apparel, and portmanteaux and travelling bags. The quarters of the captain und officers were also searched without discovering anything special, in tho .steerage, later ou, when searching the berths, a valise •.VHS found containing a sura of £100 in gold, which was claimed directly by the owner. A considerable quantity of luggage was also sent up, including frome jewellery, some of which is still in the hands of Captain Paulson, and requires identification. Reports that one or two of the crew were missing were abroad on Saturday evening, and daring Sunday these statements ox: panded until passengers wore included in the rumours. Nothing of a reliable character could bo gathered; however, but early on Monday morning a diver was sent' particularly into the steerage to search for bodies. After spending a considerable time, the diver came to the surface with the welcome news of having fouud nothing more valuable than some trifling effects. Later on a: search was mado through th • ■starboard side of the quarters occupied by the'cooks'and stewards, and the body of what is believed to bo the chief cook was found;iHe was lying in his berth, having been drowned u-itlioutanyapparcntstruggle. It in stated that a sum of £000 in gold was in the possession of one steerage : passenger when he whs at the agent's ofiice, and that lie took it in cash with him on board, but the money had not been found. Mr. Ellis has done all that is possible for the Centonnial.rxvssengers, and is still prosecuting the work of recovering their pro|>erty from the sunken steamer. He fully recognises the unfortunate position the disaster hits placed them in, and in every instance haa endeavoured bo meet their circumstances in the most generous spirit.