THE WRECKED AOTEA.

Southland Times, Issue 14632, 24 January 1911, Page 5

THE WRECKED AOTEA.

HOW SHE EXES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) CAPE-TOWN, Jan. 22. The Aotea was entering port for bunkering purposes, and struck at 1.40 in the morning on the rocky bottom at Moville Point. The Green Point harbour lights were close on either hand. A resident named Penty, 300 yards away, says he was awakened by a crash and saw blinding signal lights. He then distinguished the lights of two vessels. A thickish haze prevailed. Others say that Robben Island light was visible across the bay. The sea was in its calmest mood. Penty telephoned for assistance, hut life-saving requisites were not needed, the crew remaining aboard. The Aotea is wedged fast and absolutely motionless, with a slight list. She lies in twenty-six feet of water, broadside to the shore. There is water in both holds, and the bottom is badly damaged. Probably she will become a total loss. Stevedores with tugs and lighters were very busy throughout Saturday and Sunday carefully removing 350 tons of Dynamite which was among the general cargo. The operations were facilitated by the calmness of the water. There is nothing to show how the vessel struck. The oniy sign of damage from the shore is a broken rudder.

A FIRE SUPPRESSED. CAPETOWN, Jan. 23. Received Jan. 24. 12.5 a.m. Reuter states that the Aotea's cargo included 300 tons of dynamite which was removed at the week-end to a hulk in the bay. A fire broke out on the Aotea at ten past eleven on Sunday night abaft the funnel and spread to the galley and deckhouse. Tugs from the docks extinguished the fire after it had been burning for ninety minutes.