Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 20 February 1886, page 14


'THE ACCIDENT TO THE WAIHORA.

[By Telegraph]

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

MELBOURNE, Friday.

There is plenty of water at the place where the Union Company's steamship Waihora is beached on the north-east coast of Tasmania, and the officers of the steamer Southern Cross, which brought the Waihora's passengers on to Melbourne, expect to see her safely floated in a week. Captain M'Gee was on the bridge at the time the Waihora struck, with the chart before him. It was known after the vessel left Hobart that he intended to go inside the Salamander Islands. Most of the luggage and scenery of the Majeroni-Wilson Opera Company was in the fore part of the vessel. The steamers Australia and Black Eagle have proceeded to the scene of the wreck, having on board divers and appliances for floating the vessel. The saloon passengers of the Waihora presented Captain Capurn, of the Southern Cross (s.), with a purse of sovereigns before landing at Melbourne.

The Southern Cross (s.), with the passengers of the Waihora on board, arrived at the Aus-tralian Wharf this morning. Mr. Keith, purser of the Waihora, and also the stewards and stewardesses, were on board. The whole of the crew have been left behind, at the Waihora. Twenty-nine draught horses, which the steamer was bringing over, were left in the care of four of the steerage passengers. The Waihora's cargo comprised 600 tons of bark, grain, wool, and sundries, and some 600 cases of fruit that were being brought back from Dunedin, on account of the market there being overstocked.

HOBART, Friday.

Tho steamer Wairarapa has arrived from Melbourne via Swan Island. She reported that the Waihora is lying on a rock on the south-east side of Swan Island. The rock is right through the forward compartment. There are 13 or 14 feet of water round the rock, and if

the wind keeps down it is believed that the vessel will be got off by means of a tug, and by lightening her forward. At presont there is no danger. If the vessel is got off she will be towed across to Melbourne by the tug Black Eagle.