WRECK OF A STEAMER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9008, 15 August 1907, Page 1

WRECK OF A STEAMER.

w ■ LOSS OF THE KAWATIRI. SIX PERSONS DROWNED. ..United Press Association— By Electr. Telegraph— Copyright. HOBART, August 14. The steamer . Kawatiri was wrecked at Mlacquarie Harbour at the same spot where the Grafton was lost. Seven persons were drowned, including the stewardess. It is believed that the other six were passengers. The Kawatiri struck the breakwater at midnight while attempting to enter the heads. The night was dark and very stormy, with a high sea. The latest report states that five passengers, namely, Mrs Hooper and two children, and two other children, also the stewardess (Mrs Hdddinott) were drowned. The rest of the passengers and crew have arrived safely at Strahan. The Kawatiri, en route from Hobart, was entering Macquarrie Heads when the tremendous tide running, combined with a heavy westerly gale, carried the steamer on to the breakwater wall, th 4 impact shaking her from stem to stern. The bow was stove in. and in a short time the fore part filled with water. After striking, it appears she heeled over, and how lies. on the northern end o^ the spit embedded, seas breaking ovor her. Only a portion of the bridge and the recasts are above water. Over forty passengers were aboard. The fojldwing is a corrected list of those drowned : — Mrs Hooper and her two children, the stewardess (Miss Hoggett) and two children in Arms belonging to Mesdames Grundy and Tennan%. respectively. Owing to heavy weather, most of the lines of communication between the heads, and Strahan are down, and only disjointed particulars have been received. The steamers Kathleen, Nellie k . and Mahinapua went to the scene. Previous to their arrival, a boat with twenty-two aboard put off. Great waves washed some away, including the stewardess. A succeeding wave smashed the boat' to pieces. The majority of those aboard succeeded in reaching the breakwater. At noon to-day, seventeen passengers were still aboard the Kawatiri. A lifeboat manned by six men, after be- j ing many times driven back, succeeded j in bringing them off. I The ship's company and. volunteers behaved splendidly. Apparently the J majority of the passengers were in their bunks when the vessel struck: Many were 'lightly clad, and suffered severely from exposure before- they were rescued. , (The Kawatiri, which belonged to the Union Steamship Company's fleet, was 516 tons gross register, and was in oo m- ] mand of Captain Crawford.)