Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Tuesday 14 June 1898, page 2


WRECK OF THE S.S. GRAFTON.

STRUCK ON MACQUARIE HARBOUR

BAR.

RESCUE OF PASSENGERS.

Much excitement was aroused in Hobart yesterday upon the news reaching the city by telegraph of the total wreck of the Union steamship Co's steamer Grafton at Macquarie Harbour bar, but the general solicitude was allayed when it was ascertained a few hours later that the passengers

and crew were all safe

The vessel was on her way from Melbourne to Hobart, via Strahan, with 30 passengers, 100 sheep, and 200 tons of cargo chiefly merchandise. She left Melbourne at 2.30 on saturday afternoon in fair weather, being due at Strahan early yester day morning, and to reach Hobart to-day. She arrived off Macquarie Harbour bar on Sunday night; also the s.s. Mahinapua, which left Hobart on Saturday on her way to Launceston via Strahan. Both vessels were lying outside the bar waiting tor tho tide to rise sufficiently to enable them to cross. There was a fresh westerly wind and a moderate sea. During the night the Grafton became dis-abled by breaking one of her propellers. Finding that she was ni difficulties, the Mahinapua went to her assistance, stood by her for some hours, and this morning got a line fastened to her but unfortunately the hawser parted and efforts had to be abandoned.

The Grafton had cast anchor off the North Spit, but she immediately dragged her anchors, ran on to the Spit and became a total wreck in

a short time

The passengers were transferred to the s.s. Mahinapua early in the morning. When the Grafton ran on the Spit, the captain and crew were forced to abandon her; but they remained all yesterday on the beach to try to save what they could of the cargo

A telegram received during yesterday after-noon stated that the Grafton struck on the bar at 11 o'clock on Sunday night and lost one of her propellers. The water broke into the engine room and put the fires out, and she was only kept afloat by one watertight compart-ment. Both passangers and crew therefore ex-perienced a very anxious time of it, but the former were soon made comfortable on the Mahinapua, in which they were taken on to Strahan with their luggage.

The s.s. Grafton was one of the oldest steamers afloat in Australian waters, being between 10 and 50 years old She is therefore an old stager come to grief at last, and it Is very fortunate that the accident was not more serious. Her length was 173ft.; 27ft. 6in. beam; and 13ft. 6in deep; engines 500 h.p.

Captain H. A. Morrisby was in command of the Grafton, and had associated with him Mr. C. E. Morgan, chief officer; Mr. J. Parey, second; and Mr. J. Smith had charge of the

engines.

Tho Grafton was of 554 tons. She entered the Hobart-West Coast-Melbourne trade on Decem-ber 5, 1836, she previously having been employed on the West Coast of Non Zealand in the Union Co's service.

A telegram was received last evening stating that the Grafton is in 8ft. of water about a hundred yards from low water mark. She is stove in under boiler; aft and main compart-ments are full of water, and Captain Morrisby reports that there is no possible chance of her being floated.