CAPSIZE OF A STEAMER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13035, 31 March 1910, Page 5

CAPSIZE OF A STEAMER.

EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE

Vessel Suddenly Turns Over Near Nelson Harbour.

(Per United Press Association.) NELSON, March 30.

The steamer Koi, owned by tie Anchor Shipping Company, 53 tons net. capsized half; a mile westward of the Nelson entrance a few minutes after three this afternoon, and now lies on her side submerged, her rail just awash at low water. The bottom is of sand, and no injury has been done to the hull. The circumstances of the capsize are very extraordinary. The steamer was coming from Motueka with a cargo of hops and produce, and a deck load of 257 sheep and lambs (within the regulation number). There rerc no passengers. A heavy S.K. wind was flowing, but this makes little sea in the bay, on account of the conformation of the hills. A heavy swell, however, was cominw down from the north-east, the effect of°the big sea in the Straits. For intervals of a quarter of an hour the sea would be ouite calm off the entrance, then a few rollers of extraordinary height would come and break on the bar to the westward of the entrance. The Koi was caught by one of these rollers and put on her beam ends, and before she could recover a second came aboard and flooded the engineroom. A third came over her, and sent her down by the stern. She lies out of the fairway in about 12ft of water. The crew of six clung to the side of the vessel. Some were washed off. Franklin, the steward, who could not swim, was brought back by two mates, Dave Stewart and Hugh Fowler. Engineer J. Weir and Seaman Hendry were washed away from the vessel. Weir kept by Hendry, who was an indifferent swimmer. A. J. Glasgow, cruising inside the harbour in an oil launch, was the first to the rescue. He picked up Weir and Hendry 200 yards from the steamer. The pilot crew in the whaleboat took Captain Scully and the rest of the crew from the side of the vessel just as she was disapeanug The whole thing took abont a quarter of an hour. There was great excitement ashore, and there were many witnesses of Hie whole occurrence. The company have an insurance fund of their own on the vessel, but not in any office. The consignees (the sheep were not insured) stood to lose 150, but during the evening the consignor, Thomas Pattie, Buiaka, generously telegraphed that he would share the loss. Good hopes are entertained of floating the vessel. The pilot crew made a line fast at low-water, and this was connected with a winch on the Boulder Bank. An attempt to draw the steamer on to the Boulder Bank will probably be made in the morning. Tom Lawson, the spoiler, a member ol the pilot crew, was nearly drowned while making fast the hawser. The undertow took him to the bottom.

Great sympathy is felt for Captain Scully, who is a great favourite with the public.

The phenomenal character of the rollers, coming from an apparently calm sea, is the subject of general remark. Pilot Collins says he has seen the same thing twice -before during heavy southeast gales. A large crowd was attracted from town.