EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3688, 28 July 1886, Page 4

EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT.

Tho following are tho particulars of the accident to tho Prince of Wales steamer which were referred to m our Australian telegrams a few days ago : — An accident of an extraordinary kind occurred yesterday morning to the ■well-known harbour steamer Prince of Wales, by which ahe sunk almost immediately, and the engineer and fireman lost their lives. Tho Prince of Wales left the wharf under the command of Angus McKay, who has had considerable eiperionee m tow boats, and a crew of three, consisting of the engineer, John Farr, a deck hand named Wm. Walsh, and the fireman known as "Tom," whoso nanio is believed to be Thos. Laing. After clearing the Heads, the steamer proceeded south warda. Soon after a ship way descried some distance away. Tho Princo of Wales headed for her, and on coming alongside, found the ship Peterborough C&ptnin Murchie, from London, bound for Sydney. Negotiations were entered into between tho master of tho tug-bont and Captain Murchie as to the amount for towage. This being tettled, tho Prince of Wale 3 ateamed ahead to get a tow-lino on board, and a heaving line, to which a hawser wns attached, was thrown from tho tug-boat to the ship, which iras going at » speed of from four to six knots an hoar, and then tho Prince of Wales steamed ahead and got right under the ships bows. Tho tug-boat's steering gear at tliia moment got jammed, and the ship coming alongside struck her a terrific blow amidships on the port side and sent her under water immediately. Walsh seeing the collision inevitable sprang on to tho Peterborough's bows at tho moment it occurred, but the engineor and firoman, the former being at the storting bar, and tho latter below, disappeared with the vessel, and were not afterwards seen. Mr McKay who was on tho briilgo at the wheel, was knocked into the sea, aud had a narrow escape of losing his life, as ho WB3 dragged down sonic distance by the sinking Teasel. On rising to the surface again ho seized a life-buoy which was thrown to him by Captain Murchie, and succeeded m keeping himself afloat until rescued by the boat, which was promptly lowered from the ship and dispatched to his assistance. He wa3 very exhausted when taken on board, and it was some time boforo he recovered. Tho vcesel was then taken m tow by the tug Kate and brought safely into port. Captain McKay states that tho steering gear worked woll until tho fatal moment, when it got jammed, and positively asserts that the Princo of Wales was cut clean m two.