REMUERA IN COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18189, 7 September 1922, Page 5

REMUERA IN COLLISION.

EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE.

PASSENGERS' , CONDUCT.

CAPTAJN CAMEEON'S TRIBUTE. [beom our own correspondent.]

LONDON. July 27.

Photographs which have arrived in London show the damage done to the Remuera through her collision with the Ellcrman-Wilsou liner Marengo when about 50 miles south-west of Portland Bill. From these it is evident that the New Zealand Shipping Company's vessel was struck on the starboard side 40 or 50 feet forward of the bridge. Fortunately it was a glancing blow. On the first impact the Marengo drove a hole through the plates of the Remuera below the water-line. Subsequent examination showed that this was 7ft. horizontally by 4fit. vertically and Bft. above the bilge keel. The colliding vessel then seems to have grazed along the side of the Remuera for 100 ft. By that time possibly the latter vessel had heeled toward the Marengo, for the iron railings were all swept away. Deck stanchions went, a boat was smashed in, one of the davits brought to the deck, and flic other badly bent. Everything within reach was broken like matchwood. All the supports of the upper deck were torn away for a considerable distance. The steel walls of the deckhouse, some 10ft. back from the edge of the vessel, were torn through as though they had come into direct contact with the bows of the Marengo. When the daylight came and showed the wreckage, the tangled mass of iron and steel work, and the gaping holes alone the deckhouse gave the impression that the steamer had been struck by a salvo of shells. Had there been cabins whVre the deckhouse was broken in, doubtless there wouM have been some loss of life. This portion of the ship, however, was the first-class din ing saloon. Further astern the glass of the portholes was broken and fell on several sleeping passengers.

A Sense Fog. At 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, the Remuera, left Southampton in clear, calm, and pleasant weather. When the passengers went to bed the weather was still clear, , but a little after midnight the vessel ra,n into a thick fog. The second officer, Mr. J. A. Roney, put the ship at a slow speed and the syren was sounded. At 12.26 suddenly there appeared out of the fog the black form of the other liner, a vessel of 6000 tons. The helm of the Remuera was immediately put over, but there was no time to alter the course before the vessels crashed. Ha.ving swept the Remuera's starboard side for a distance of 100 ft., the Marengo swung off. Fifteen minutes later the fog lifted and there was no sign of, the colliding vessel. Within three minutes the lifeboats were swung and the crews ready for emergency. Passengers say that the crash and / the noise was rot such as to wake everyone up. People who were on the starboard side, where the other vessel struck, were naturally awakened, but some others in a different part of tho ship slept through the first crash. There was no sudden rush of passengers. Some put on coats and came up to find out what had happened, and in ttie course of minutes the news was spread throughout the ship. Everyone was ordered up, lifebelts were put on, and the 563 passengers were soon in their places at the boat stations. It was found that No. 2 hold was full of water. No, 3 hold was also filling, but when the ship's pumps were turned on the water in this hold was kept under control. Wireless distress signals were immediately despatched, and an hour or two later tugs from Portland and Weymouth were alongside the damaged vessel. In the meantime, the Remuera sailed slowly in under her own steam. Though a little down in the bow, she wag kept on an even keel.

From the time the passengers were assembled until it grew" light no one war allowed to go below to the cabins. Mosi of them, of course, were lightly clad, but fortunately the night was not very cold, aoid the tedium of the hours of darkness was relieved by singing, and the music of the concertina, .violin, mandoline, and the piano in tho first, saloon. The ship's stewards made tea for the women and children, and served out coffee and ' brandy. A Passenger's Story.

Mr. W. E. Johnson (Pussyfoot), the American prohibition lecturer, describing the experience, said;—" The people were as calm as if they were at a social function. Passengers were assembled on deck and given life-preservers, -while calm officers attached them in the proper way, saying, ' Don't get worried,' in a voice that relieved worry. The lifeboats were already put out with their crews on board. We were told which ones to go in if necessary. The stewards went about serving coffee and sandwiches in their usual impressive, polite way. Most of thsm offered coffee 'spiked* with a strengthener of brandy. It is remarkable that while the men took the coffee the women refused it. Then I went to my cabin for a cigar and afterwards slept so late that I missed my breakfast."" When daylight came and it was evident that the ship was in no immediate danger, the passengers were allowed to go down below in sections to dress and to recover their belongings. It had been a long and anxious few hours, but the behaviour of everyone was exemplary. Eventually the Remuera arrived in Portland Harbour and was moored in shallow water, and during the morning all the passengers, witb their light luggage, were taken ashore, and arrangements made for their comfort and transport. A special train conveyed them first to Eastleigh, where the third-class passengers were housed at the Atlantic Hostel. First and second class passengers came on to Loudon, and the first-class people sailed by the Ormuz on the Saturday or crossed the' Continent to join her to-day. Second-class passengers are to sail by the Paparoa on August 11, and thirdclass by the Paparoa, the Dorset on August 4 from Liverpool, and the Corinthic on August 10. Admiralty divers examined the vessel on its arrival in Portland Roads, and the hole was temporarily patched up. The following day the Remuera sailed for the Thames, where she has now arrived safely. Cargo is beinj discharged at Tilbury, and after that she will probably go to Blackwall Docks for repair. Atlantic Park. On Sunday, Mr. H. C. Cameron, immigration officer on the staff of the High Commissioner, went down to Eastleigh to see how the third-class passengers were getting on, and found them perfectly happy and comfortable. What is now known as Atlantic Park, some four miles from Southampton, was once an American air service camp. The hangars were substantially built of concrete, and all these have been taken over by ths great American and Canadian shipping lines and fitted up for a permanent immigration camp, Here the 446 emigrants will remain until they leave for New Zealand by their respective ships. Captain Cameron, the master of the Remuera, before he started back to London, expressed his admiration for the conduct of all the passengers, "I am proud of my country people," he said. " Their behaviour was magnificent. It was wonderful. They conffontjd danger without the slightest kind of fear." ■ The Marengo avrived at Hull last evening. It is reported that the bows of the vessel have been buckled in a distance of 10ft. It is clear from this news how the damage to the deckhouse of the Remuera was done. The lower portion of the Marengo's bows was probably telescoped, leaving the upper portion projecting over the deck of the Remuera. It is further reported that none of the j cargo on the Marengo was damaged.