LOSS OF THE BONNIE DUNDEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3420, 27 March 1879, Page 3

LOSS OF THE BONNIE DUNDEE.

The following additional particulars of the above disaster are given in the Argus of March 12 :—

Iho steamship Barrabool, wliich arrived this morning from Newcastle, reported that last night, at half-past 8 o'clock, when off Red Head she came into collision with a steamer, which proved to bo the Bonnie Dundee, bound for Manning River. Tho vessel was first seen on tho starboard bow, crossing to port, and Captain Clark, of the Barrabool, ported his helm. The other vessel then returned across, and Captain Clark stopped his engines, and went astern full speed. The two vessels then came into collision. The Barrabool struck the Bonnie

The Bonnie Dundee is insured in the Viotoria Company for £6000, but is valued at a good deal more. The cargo is uninsured. The only injury which the Barrabool has sustained is a hole on tho port bow, sufficiently large for a man's head to go through. This is now boing repaired, and the vessel will sail for Melbourne to-morrow.

Captain Clark, in charge of the Barrabool, stateß he cleared the Nobbys, at Newcastle, afc half-pasfc six p.m. on March 10, steering" sou- sou-west,' -west, and by compass at2o minutes to 8 p.m., when off Lako Macquarie, he sighted a steamer's masthead light bearing about two points on the starboard bow. Ho put fche vessel's head fco a course south by west threequarters west. His green light was then showing well on the starboard bow. To give the steamer a wide berth he starboarded a little, but before the order was executed the seoond officer reported her showing her

red light suddenly. He then ordered the helm hard aport, and stopped the engines. By this time the vessel was showing her red light three points on the port bow. Suddenly both her green and red lights appeared, when he immediately telegraphed, " Engines fullspeed astern." In the meantime her red light disappeared from view. About three minutes afterwards the ships collided, his vessel at the time having nearly lost al! heading. Seeing the other vessel seriously injured he stopped the engines, and sent a boat away in charge of the chief officer to render all the assistance possible. 1 he- boat was alongside in two minutes after the collision but had to back astern to avoid the suction of the sinking vessel. After the boats returned to the Barrabool he found four ladies and one boy missing from the Bonnie Dundee, and sent the boats to look among the debris for them, bufc only succeeded in finding one lady, who was brought on board senseless. The boat again returned to the place of the wreck, but did not succeed in recovering any more. The Barrabool remained upon the spot for an hour, and all endeavours were used to restore life to the unconscious lady, but with no avail. After a thorough search the Barrabool proceeded on her voyage, and arrived at Sydney at 4 a.m. this morning.

Captain Stewart, of the lost vessel, makes the following statement : — "The weather was fine when we left Sydney Heads, with a light wind from north-east, which continued all the way along the coast. When about eight or ten miles south of Newcastle, observed a steamer's smoke at about 7.30 p.m. We observed the steamer's red light on the port bow two points. Distance apparently about a mile. Kept on the course red light to red light. The approaching steamer then showed her green light ; then again showed the red light. It now became evident that there was danger of a collision. I put the helm to starboard to try and bring her round. The ship answered the helm, and headed about northwest. I ordered the engines to be stopped, the Barrabool being close upon us. We were going at about two knots when the Barrabool struck ua on the starboard side right amidships, cut aboufc 3ft into our deck and plating, also smashing the starboard lifeboat on the skids. Some four or five of our hands scrambled ov6i* the Barrabool's bows, and almost immediately after the collision that vessel backed astern. At this moment, the cabin boy, George , lost his hold of the Barrabool's bows, fell back on tho broken boat of the Bonnie Dundee, and was apparently crippled. I gave orders to lower the port boat, as the fhip was fast sinking, which was promptly done, and manned by the mate, Mr Crawford, and a crew. As soon as the boat was in the water and clear from the sid •, the Bonnie Dundee sank head first. Four female passengers and a child were at this time on thj bridge wi'li me. I cut the two life-buoys adrilt and gave them to the passengers. The stewardess (Mrs White) was holding an infant in her arms, and she threw it to the mate, who caught it in his arms. The female passengers were shrieking and terrified at the aspect of affairs. I requested them to cling to the life-buoys, thinking that they would bring them to the surface. The stewardess was comparatively cool and collected. We all five of us sank beneath the surface together. I was taken down a good way before I got clear of the suction of the sinking ship, and was also foul of some rigging, and with difficulty cleared myself. When coming to the surface, I saw no one. The two life-buoys were floating, at a little distance. I succeeded in reaching one, and swam to the Barrabool, and was taken on board, and treated with every kindness by Captain Clark and brought to Sydney." " The chief officer of tho Bonnie Dundee," the Echo reports, " states that tho steamer was going along her course wheu he saw a steamer ahead. Her lights were visiblo, and she was then about two or three miles off. He could see her green light. He kept on the course, the other steamer still showing a green light 3 and he put his helm to starboard so that tlie steamer could see their greon light. Suddenly the other steamer showed tho red light, but it was then too lato to do anything, and sho struck the Bonnie Dundee right amidships, when the latter filled, and went down four minutes afterwards. He jumped into the boat at the last moment, and had just time to push it off when the steamer wont down head foremost, the boat narrowly escaping the suction." The Bonnie was a steamer of 131 tons burden, Clyde built, owned by G. and B. Nicol, and chartered by the Manning River Company.