LOSS OF THE STORMMBIRD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16326, 5 September 1916, Page 6

LOSS OF THE STORMMBIRD

COMPLETELY BROKEN UP. PARTED IN TWO OVER MOLE. DAMAGE TO BREAKWATER. [BT TELHGJUPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WANGANUI. Monday. Fuiither details in connection with the loss, of the WoUington-Wanganui Packet Companv's steamer Stormbird, which was wrecked" at the mouth of the Wanganui River at midnight on Saturday, show that, the vessel being light in the water, her bow crossed the stonewall, the afterpart striking heavily and tearing the bottom plates out, with the result that she. parted amidships, the stem sinking into the river, which is deep at that point, and the forepart collapsing over the wall, with the bow shorewaids. The forepart of the vessel still lies on its side with the bottom showing to the breakwater, torn and jagged. , The vessel struck at the top of floodtide. The manifest shows that she only had the following cargo aboard-.-Eleven cases of pickles, 38 boxes of soap, and one bale of wool. A gang of men was employed this morning "placing beyond water mark material and articles washed ashore from the wreck of the Stormbird. These ineluded a lifeboat, captain's deck-house-practically intact— lifebelts, rockets, slings, and ropes. Apparently there is little left of the wooden fittings of the vessel, which Tie strewn along the beach for miles, pointing to the complete break up of the steamer. , About 160 ft of the overhead staging of the breakwater has been carried away, while another 50ft has been strained, and will require readjustment. The damage to the staging is estimated at £500.

The body of James Hunter, fireman, was recovered this morning near the mouth of the Wangaehu River. An inquest on the bodies of the victims—R. Kyle, J. Hunter, firemen, and J. W. Hinchey, lamp-trimmer—was held today. Captain Arthur Sutherland Gibson deposed that Kyle and Hinchey were believed to be about 70 years of age. A verdict of death by drowning through misadventure was returned.

CAPTAINS OF THE VESSEL. TRADE ON NEW ZEALAND COAST. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OTT.V CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN. Monday. Captain Hugh Paterson. of Dnnedin. can tell about the. beginning.-, of the Stormbird's career in New Zealand. lie says she was brought from Australia, where she ran in trade between Melbourne and Launceston. Mr. John Jones bought her, and when she came across Captain James Malcolm look charge of her in the trade between Timarn. Oaniarn, Dunedin, Bluff and InvercargilL- That was early in 1861. Captain Malcolm afterwards had charge of the Bruce, and then entered the service of the Union Company, the Penguin being one of the last vessels he commanded. Captain Jamieson was afterwards appointed to the Stormbird. Another man who sailed her was Captain Charles Eraser, who subsequently transferred to the Wariganui. The Stormbird was eventually bought by a Wellington company, and traded for some time on the east coast of the North Island, mostly between Wellington and Bay of Plenty. Then she was lengthened and put into the Wanganui trade.

Captain Easson, of the Westralia, questions the statement that the Stormbird was the oldest iron steamship in the world. The Edina, now in Melbourne, must be older, as she was in the troop service in the Crimean War.