THE ST. KILDA ASHORE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12747, 19 April 1909, Page 7

THE ST. KILDA ASHORE.

The barquentine Si. Kilda, laden with hardwood for the Wanganui Harbour Board, which loft Hobart.some six weeks ago for Wanganui and has been dodgiug about outside the Heads waiting a favourable opportunity to cross the bar, was taken in tow on Saturday evening by the lighter Thi&tle. The bar was safely crossed, but the Thistle grounded on the South Spit and came to a standstill. The St. Kilda continued on her way, and it appeared as if she was going to dash into the lighter, but as she was, of course, drawing more water than the Thistle tl'e St. Kilda grounded before she reached the lighter, at a spot opposite wh_ere tho Charles Edward is lying. Three steamers were going down the river at the time of the accident, and a rather exciting time followed, as there appeared every prospect of something startling hanrening to cne or other of them in the confusion" caused by the lights of the stranded lighter and barquentine, which was burning blue "flare lights. Fortunately, however, the steamers were safely navigated down the chan 'isl, and out to s?a, al't?r some commotion paused by the founding of their sirens Those on the .Thistle had rather an anxi 011s time after the lighter 6tuck, as in ad dition to the apparent danger of a col lision there appeared ijome prospect later on of the strain on ~tlu hawser cavsizin^ the smaller vessel. However, the hawser was cut through and the lighter got into tho channel again. Efforts to float the St. Kilda were made hut did not prove successful, and the vessel was driven a bit further up on the sandy beach. An other attempt was mride yesterday morn ing to haul the barqitentine off, and sho was shifted about 100 yards. Itr i« understood that some of the timber will be discharged from the verael before another attepmt is made to float her off. As the tidos are mating it is considered that the St. Kilda should lie got off all right without any great difficulty in the course of a day or so.