STEAMER WRECKED

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19430, 3 December 1934, Page 7

STEAMER WRECKED

A TOTAL LOSS.

FOUR BODIES RECOVERED.

'■FEARS FOR WHOLE CREW OF 18.

United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright,

MELBOURNE, Dec. 2

The coastal steamer Coramba has been located as a total wreck In Western Port Bay, off Nobby, just to the east of Port Phillip Bay. .Four bodies have been recovered, and it is feared that the complete crew of 18 have lost their lives.

Two bodies, together with a lifebuoy and lifebelt, were washed up on a beach on Phillip Island, It is thought that the Coramba was wrecked at the height of the storm on Thursday night. - She was bound from Portland to Melbourne.

The Coramba was a steel steamer of 531 tons gross and was owned by the North Coast . Steam Navigation Company, Sydney. She was built at Scotland in 1911 and since then she had been continually engaged in the Australian coastal service.

LATER. LIFEBOATS WASHED ASHORE. ONLY TWO 'BODIES RECOVERED. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received Dec. 3, 10.45 a.m.)

SYDNEY, Dec. 3

It is believed the Corambra ran out of fuel while struggling to ■ reach a western port. Quantities of wreckage, two lifeboats and a ship’s bell were washed ashore at Newhaven.

Only two bodies have been recovered —those of R. Wishart, second officer, and T. Byrne, a seaman. Wishart was wearing a lifebelt and was clad in pyjamas. Most of the members of the Corambra’s crew were married.

Among the victims were two ,of the survivors of the Casino which foundered in Apollo Bay three years ago, and which the Coramba replaced.