WARSHIPS IN COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11949, 25 April 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

WARSHIPS IN COLLISION.

A collision took place in the harbour on April 7, between H.M.s. Lizard and the flagship Royal Arthur. The Lizard was anchored close to and on the south side of the flagship. There was a. strong breeze blowing from the south-east, with a strong ebb tide running, and as the anchor of the Lizard was being weighed an extra strong squall of wind struck her, causing her to drag somewhat in the direction of the Hagship. At the same moment the Royal Arthur was caught by the same squall, and turned her round nearer to the Lizard, with the result that the ram of the flagship struck the Lizard amidships under the keel. The Lizard was then carried against the side of the flagship, and had the end of her bridge broken, her bowsprit carried away, and some other damage done on deck. The tugboats Admiral and Durham went to the assistance of the Lizard, and made fast, but the hawser of the Admiral (a very heavy and almost new rope) carried away as soon as the strain came on to it. At the time of the accident, the Lizard had not steam enough on to give her way enough, but by the time the tugboats had made properly fast there was sufficient steam on the engines for her to steam to a sale anchorage to the westward of the Royal Arthur.