LINER IN COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914, Page 9

LINER IN COLLISION.

j FIVE PILOTS DROWNED. % [l'P.01! oris OWN* CORRESPOND EXT. J London*, May 15. The Star of New Zealand, which was at one time in the New Zealand trade, col lidod on Tuesday night in tho Bristol Channel with the Cardiff steam-pilot cuttor, W. W. Jones. The cutter sank within threo minutes, and five lives were lost. There were 21 men, of whom 10 were licensed pilots, on board the ill-fated vessel. Fifteen saved their lives by scrambling up tho chains and anchor of'the Star of New Zealand and another was rescued after having been some time in the water. It is stated that the pilot-boat was manoeuvring with tho object of putting a pilot on IhtTSlar of New Zealand, When that vessel struck the boat all on board the latter, with the exception of Ernest Ponlkw, the second male, who at that time was in his bunk, reached cither the chains or anchor stock of tho 6teamor. They would all have been saved, but unhappily the sinking pilot-boat listed heavily, and her masts and (.pars swept tho side of tho Star of Now Zealand, up which the crow of tho cutter were swarming. Four of the man were struck and hurled into the sea.. Tho Btoamor cruised about till daylight, with tho objoct of rescuing anv who'might be Still alive, and Alexander Foulkes was picked up clinging to a raft of cork fendors.

A graphic story was told by Nicholas Hixson, second engineor of the W. W. Jones, who was in charge of the engineroom at the time of the accident. He said that between 10 p.m. and 10.15 p.m. on Tuesday night they hoard the pilot oall from the Star of Now Zealand, and soon he got the order " Full steam ahead." After running about for five minutes he heard a cry from the mate, who was oil deck, "All hands on dock," and a moment later a call of "Stand by the boats." " Suddenly," said' Hixon, "the side of tho ship bulged in. 1 made a spring for the ladder, but when half-way up I slipped and came down. I made a second rush, and this time I reached tho top, but dipped and fell on tho deck. Captain England caught hold of mo and gave mo a hand up, exclaiming: 'Come up quick over the bridge ; that'q the way, the others are all going up to the chains and anchors.' This was our best chance of scrambling on board the other steamer, but-it was a terrible struggle. When I reached the bridge I saw that the chains woro covered with our men, and so I made a spring for the anchor stock. As I did so I saw Captain England grasping tho chains with both his arms and heard him shout, 'Give mo a rope." In tho rush I lost eight of him, and I don't think he was seen agnin. I was pulled on to tho deck of tho Star of New Zea-1 land."

Tho W. W. Jones was one of threo cutters lately purchased by the Cardiff Pilotage Board at a cost of £200 each, to take the place of the old sailing cutters.