THE MUNCHEN WRECK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9118, 11 April 1901, Page 4

THE MUNCHEN WRECK.

The ; island steamer Oceana, which arrived on March 30th, brought to Sydney several members of the shipwrecked 2rew of the (German steamer Munchea. The vessel, as will be remembered, was lost at Yap, m the Caroline Islands, while entering the harbor. A portion of the crew, went on to Hong-kong, whence the news was wired to the owners, the Norddeutscher Lloyd. . It appears that *he master of the München and part of the crew were left at the wreck arranging for ihe salving of the steamer. No loss of life took place, and the cargo was all landed. The München was a. very fine steamer, designed for the passenger and cargo service, and at the time of the : disaster was opening a new service from Sydney to the Caroline % Group and other islands* connecting with the North Gerluan Lloyd's eastern service at Hongkong, it is stated that the vessel was driven ashore m a storm, and that "the bottom was torn out or badly punctured." The appliances at Yap for floating a large steamer are not very great,, and it is possible that, had the accident happened nearer a repairing port, she might be floated and docked. The loss of a steel-Built 4500-ton well-equipped steamer m a. distant part, of the Pacific is unfortunate. ' This is particularly the case as referring to the opening up of a new trade connecting the principal Australian portii with places which had previously only been within reach of merchants by sailing vessels.