THE LOSS OF THE CENTENNIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 14

THE LOSS OF THE CENTENNIAL.

PARTICULARS OF THE COLLISION, Sydney, August 27, _ Last Friday night a very serious collision took place in Sydney Harbour, The first reports were very alarming and stated that many lives Lad been lost, but this did not prove to be the case. The steamer Centennial, formerly known as the Albion, and for a long time one of the smartest vessels engaged in the intercolonial trade, was cut down to the water’s edge and sunk within a, few minutes, and the steam collier Kanahooka had her bows completely torn off, but no water penetrated beyond her fore compartments, and she remained afloat. The Centennial left Mel 1 wraith and McEachern’s wharf at 8.45 p.m. for Wellington, New Zealand, with 52 passengers and 30 of a crew. Captain Lessing was in command, and she proceeded through the Pyrmont bridge and down the harbour at half speed, passing many steamers en route. The master and second officer were on the bridge, and all went well. Passing Pinchgut and round Bradley’s Head the night was beautifully starlight, and the passengers, were promenading the decks. Down in the fore cabin a few men_ were congregated conversing, and aft in the saloon tho ladies, were preparing to retire for the night, biff no one, it has beep ascertained, ffad actually gone to their berths. Passing Bradley’s Head the vessel was probably going at from five to six kuots per hour. When opposite Chowder Bay, or Chowder Point, a steamer bound inward was sighted,' The passengers were looking oyer t[ie rail watching her approach, danger being the furthest thing from both their and, the crew’s minds. A few minutes later a shout went up, “ Shes running down on us.” Everyone not on deck sprang up from the companion ways, and those in the smoking-room looked out thinking it a false alarm or a joke. One occupant of that apartment said, X thought something had gone wrong with the machinery. There was considerable bustle on the Centennial’s quarter-deck, and the ringing of the telegraph to the engine room from the bridge, coupled with peremptory orders from Captain Lessing, quickly told everyone that more serious danger than was at first believed was impending.” To the initiated in maritime matters on board it was soon noticed that the Centennial’s engines had been put full speed astern, the way on the ship being

perceptiblydiminished. “ Inless time than it takes me to tell you,” said a passenger, “ a steamer bumped up against us, and glided along our right-hand side.” '.‘-’he bumping here mentioned proved to be a fatal blow for the Centennial. Captain Lessing is reported to have acted with remarkable coolness. The steamer was struck apparently on the starboard bow, right against the fore collision bulkhead. The steerage was, of course,-quickly full of water, “but,” said the chief officer, “it was a matter of doubt which of us was the Avorst injured, the other steamer or ourselves.” A glance down into the engine room showed that the partition there was doubled up, and the water Avas rushing in and putting out the fires. It Avas but the work of a fe%v minutes to r get out the boats. Some of the passengers Avould not, however, believe it possible that the ship was going down beneath their feet. . All they possessed was on board in the line of personal luggage and money, and some of them pleaded hard to be alloAved to go beloAv to bring up their property. The officers of the vessel Avere, hoAvever, 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 Kanahooka stood by, and Captain Creer, from the pilot steamer Captain Cook, had his boats at hand, and rendered every possible aid. The chief officer transferred the ladies to one of the lifeboats, and thence to the Kanahooka, whose crew acted Avith commendable steadiness and discipline. As the steamer filled the captain, also the chief officer and Mr Broxvn, the purser, and the chief steward haifing seen everybody safely put into either the boats or the Kanahooka, sprang aboard one or the other of the waiting craft alongside, and Captain Lessing was the last to leave. Two or three small harbour steamers were soon about the spot, and they brought on the rescued people to Sydney, Avhere the Avants of those xvho were left temporarily destitute Avere attended to at the Sailors’ Home and elsewhere. The butcher of the Centennial had his leg broken; he had to take to the water, and Avas struck by the propeller of the Kanahooka. Various rumours have been circulated to the effect that several persons who Avete supposed to he on board the steamer Centennial when sho sunk after the collision were missing. Nothing has been seen since the accident of George Riddle (a fireman), Edward Sargeant (the chief cook), and a steerage passenger, avlio Avere sleeping in their bunks when the ship Avas struck by the Kanahooka, but until late on Monday afternoon all search for the bodies by divers proved unsuccessful. Eventually, however, the divers recoA'ered the body of Sargeant in liis birth, Avhere he had evidently slept on until the, water had closed over him as the ship went dmvn. No other bodies were, hoAvever, to be seen, and mystery still surrounds the fate of Riddle apd the steerage passenger, Avho are supposed to be missing. The vessel lies in seven fathoms of water, Avith the tops of her funnel and. masts showing. She Avas insured in the Pacific Insurance Company for LSGOO. The cargo consisted of 350 ■tops of coal, about eases fruit, and a few small consignments of sundries. The divers have’ recovered some of the property belonging to the passengers, but one bag containing 600 sovereigns, belonging to a steerage passenger, is still •missing. No other bodies have been found- . The Marine Board Inquiry into the collision has .commenced. Captain Lessing of the Centennial .stated that he was driven out of the course lie usually took in going down the harbour, owing to a ferry boat being in the way, and he then turned into Taylor Bay to avoid the Kanahooka, which he saw coming up the harbour. The Kanahooka followed him into the Bay and collided with him. Captain Millar stated the Centennial was pn the wrong side of the harbour ; that ' be had no idea why she Avas going into •Taylor Bay ; h,e Avas steering strictly in accordance with regulations, b.ut if h,e fiad starboarded his helm and gone opt £q the eascAvard, instead of to the .west • ward, ho would have broken the regulations.