Monday, January 23, 2012

the SS Wiltshire, a Great Barrier Island shipwreck

Photo by James Hutchings Kinnear after 1922.
from The Times of Friday 2 June 1922:-

"The Wiltshire, a steel twin-screw five masted insulated cargo steamer of 12,169 tons gross, built by John Brown and Co., Limited at Clydebank in 1912 and owned by the Federal Steam Navigation Company, Limited was driven ashore during a terrific easterly gale with blinding driving rain. She was swept by mountainous seas, which dashed against the precipitous cliffs of the inhabited shore of Rosalie Bay. The vessel broke in two and the after part disappeared in the after. The crew assembled on the fore part, the Auckland tug Arahura approached the wreck, at great peril, but was beaten by the waves. Late yesterday afternoon a life line drifted ashore from the wreck and four men landed. She carried 8,750 tons of general cargo. She had loaded at Avonmouth, Glasgow, and Liverpool, which last port she left on April 22. At the time of the disaster she was inward bound to Auckland. The Wiltshire was in command of Captain Hayward, the Commodore of the Federal Steam Navigation Company, which trades regularly between the United Kingdom and Australian ports. Besides the captain, the Wiltshire carried four navigating officers and ten engineers. Three wireless operators were on board. The total ship's company was 103."
                      
More info and pics here

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