WRECK OF THE S.S. VENTNOR.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10553, 30 October 1902, Page 2

WRECK OF THE S.S. VENTNOR.

[Fez United Press Association.] Auckland. October 29. The steamer Ventnor, . from Wellington bound to Hong Kong* loaded with the bodies of the resurrected Chinese, struck Cape Egmont (about 200 miles from Wellington) on Sunday night, and foundered off Hokianga (north of Auckland, and some 300 miles from Cape Egmont). Two boats with officers and part of the crew landed. The rest of the crew were seen in two boats 'seven miles out. The steamer Energy has been sent to their assistance. The Ventnor had 500 Chinese bodies and 6,400 tons of coal aboard. A "Star" special wire states that on Monday, at 12.30 a.m., she struck the rocks southward of Cape Egmont. After a short time she managed to get off, and proceeded on her vogage. The water gained in No. 1 hold till Tuesday, when the ballast tanks were found to be full of water, and the steamer was going down by the head. On Tuesday evening she became unmanageable, and was found to be gradually sinking. About 9 p.m.. she was going down fast, and all hands were ordered into the boats. There was barely time to clear before the steamer sank off Hokianga Heads. A light was seen at a distance of about 10 miles. Two boats, containing the chief officer, Mr Cameron, the second and third engineers, and 14 of the crew, landed at Omapere beach at daylight this morning. The third boat's crew from the Ventnor. are reported safe . Dunedin, October 29. The Ventnor was under charter to the- Admiralty to take coal from Westport to Hong Kong. She belonged to the Ventnor Company, of Glasgow, where she was built in 1901. She was a steel steamer of 3961 tons gross tonnage, and 346 (nominal) horse-power. The Alliance Assurance . Company had a risk of £4650 on the Ventnor's cargo of bodies, and of this amount £1806 was reinsured in the South British Omee. The bodies came from Greymouth, Wellington, and Dunedin. Wemjngton, October 29. 1 1 Of the coffins carried in the Veatnor 489 were insured in the Alliance Company for £5490, and the fungus is insured for about £320 in various offices in Wellington. The Ventoor was four inches light of her marks. As she had not a full load af coal when she arrived. from . Westport, and as she was on time charter, the agents despatched her without waiting for more. Greymouth, October 29. Altogether 177 Chinese bodies or bones of those bodies were shipped at Greymouth. Some had been in the cemetery for 20 years, while others had never been interred. The Chinese community here are in a great state of excitement over r the foundering of the Ventnor with the bodies aboard.