"ON THE ROCKS."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13434, 22 July 1911, Page 9

"ON THE ROCKS."

CUNARDER WITH 728 PASSENCERS RUNS ON TO DANCER SPOT ON IRISH COAST.

Supremo Coolness

The Cunard liner Ivcrnia, while approaching Quccustown (Ireland), 'ast month, towards tho close of her voyage from Boston, ran into a dense fog, and struck Daunts Rock, just outside the harbour.

Prompt measures were takeu to close the watertight bulkheads, and although hundreds oi' tons of water entered the injured part of the ship, it was found possible to navigate her to the inner harbour at Queenstown.

There were 728 passengers on board of all nationalities, but nothing in the nature of a panic occurred, although the deck was crowded with men and women on the look-out for the tender to take off the Irish passengers. On arriving at Quccustown the passengers were transferred to the shore, and sent bv the Cunard Company to their destinations A clergyman, who was a passenger on board the Cunarder,

THUS DESCRIBED THE EXCITING INCIDENT: "A fog, which had settled over the water," lie said, "shut out from our view the Daunts Rock lightship, to which mark the liner's time of voyage is measured, and speed had been reduced .by Captain Potter, who is a prudent commander. "Suddenly Ihc Ivernia bumped againn s'>me hard submerged substance;/ then she listed ever considerably to starboard, and a gratiug sensation was felt as the liner's bottom dragged over the hidden obstruc lion. "I concluded immediately that we had struck a submerged rock fiqm the nature of the impact, but I believe the Iveruia merely struck the linger of it,'as we were in contact with it for only a very short time. "It was fortunate for us that the ship was not going at full speed, as in all probability the result of impact in such circumstances would mean the ripping up of the vessel's steel buttom for almost the whole length of the hull. "There- was no alarm of any kind among the passengers, and, as a matter of fact, many of them were not aware that we had struck a rock until it was announced at lunch that all the passengers were to be landed at Queciistown." An American citizen of Boston, who was a saloon passenger, said it was not his first experience of an accident on a liner at sea, but HE NEVER REMEMBERED LESS EXCITEMENT. "I was in flic smoke-room when lite liner struck," he continued, "and, I felt that something serious had occurred. I immediately went on deck in front of the bridge and looked up at Captain Potter and Ins officers, but they were quite calm and showed no alarm. "Everything "went on as usual—the trumpet call to lunch was sounded at the regulation time.- lunch was served as usual, and the orchestra played. "Than many of the. diners learned that the vo.y%e- was to end in the Bay of Queehstown, as-the ship had met with an accident and could not continue the voyage to Liverpool. "We afterwards ascertained that thew was about 20 feet of water in the fore compartment, and ibis was demonstrated by the fact Unit the lore-part of the ti'iiu from the bridge forward, had Settled down m (lie water, suggesting to anvone on aeek that the liner was gradually sinking.

"Of course there was no danger whatever of that happening-, as Captain Potter Had given immediate instructions for the bulkheads to be closed." The Cmiarder on reaching the harbour dropped her-anchors on the '• eastern bankbut towards evening she appeared to be. settling- down gradually, and three tu»-s towed ,liev on the bank off WhiWaU< ""