ANOTHER SHIPPING DISASTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8804, 7 October 1889, Page 3

ANOTHER SHIPPING DISASTER.

A BARQUE SUNK IN WORSER BAY.

SAFETY OF THE CREW. About 6 o’clock on Saturday information was received in town that a vessel had run into Worser Bay in a sinking condition, and, naturally enough, the news caused con . aiderable excitement. The ill-fated vessel proved to be the Willie McLaren, a barque of 530 tons, Ciptain Salmon, bound from Newcastle to Wellington, with a load of coal. The news was first received by Captain Holliday, harbourmaster, by telephone from the Pilot Station, and he at once communicated with Mr Williams, agent of the barque, who made arrangements to despatch the U.S.S. Company's steamer Kawatiri to the assistance of'the vessel. It appears that the Willie McLaren arrived off Pencarrow Head about 11 o’clock, after a capital run of eight days from Newcastle, and she entered the Heads about 1 o’clock, and commenced to sail np the entrance. She beat about until half-past 4. when she struck lightly on a rock, close to the Pinnacle Rock. The mate at once took soundings, but she did not appear to be making any water, and there was no cause for any great alarm. As the vessel did not appear to have sustained any damage Captain Salmon took another tack across the entrance. In the meantime further soundings were taken, and

- It was then ascertained that she was making water. The captain then decided to run i into Worser Bay, which was reached about half on hour afterward. The sails were • clewed up, and the vessel was brought to ‘ an anchor close te the shore. The steampump was set at work, but after a little while one of the cogwheels came off, and f they were unable to use the pump any longer. In the meantime a pilot bad been sigualled for, and the pilot crew went off to the vessel. When the boatreaohed the barque

It was reported that there was 7ft of water > in the hold, and the crew then went back to the Station, and the news that the vessel was foundering was telephoned to

' Captain Holliday. The water steadily increased in the hold, and the boats were then i got out and preparations made for abandoning the sinking vessel. The crew managed to get all their clothes into the boats, but the - captain was unable to save anything. About this time the Kawatiri came up, and, after leaving the barque, the wrecked people were picked up by that steamer. The barque went down shortly after the crew left her, - and she now liss in about six fathoms of water. The shipwrecked crew were treated with every attention on board the Kawatiri, ' by which vessel they were brought to Wellington about 9 o’clock. Captain Sinclair, of the s.s. Tarawera, which arrived from Sydney, via East Coast ports yesterday, reports that the vessel was ' lying about a £ north in a lino between Stephen Rook and Fort Gordon, and . almost abreast of the pilot station. She appears to be on an even keel, with the water almost abreast of the main yard. Her cargo consisted of 750 tons of coal, and ■ together with the vessel is wholly uninsured. Both vessel aucl cargo is owned by Captain t Salmon, and hia loss is therefore a very great one. We have no doubt the deepest sympathy will be shown to him in his disastrous loss. Captain Salmon is an old • trader to this port, he having at various times • commanded the barques Cyrus, Edwin Bassett, and Onyx, which at one time were regular traders between here and Newcastle. ' The crew of the Willie McLaren consisted of the captain, first mate, A. Henderson,

second mate,® A. Cromb, seven sailors, the cook, and a boy.