500 CHINESE CORPSES ON BOARD.

THE SHIP'S CREW SAVED, Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, October 29 The steamer Ventncr, from Wellington, bound for Hong Kong, loaded with bodies of resurected Chinese, struck Caps Egmont on Svnday night, and foundered off Hokianga. Two boats with the officers and pave of the crew landed. The rest of the crew were seen in two boats seven miles out. The steamer Egene came their assistance. The Ventnor had five hundred Chinese bodies on board, and 6400 tons of coal. A "Star" special wire states that on Monday, at 12.40 a.m., she struck the rocks southward of Cape Egmont. After a short time she managed to get off, and proceeded on her way. The water gained in No. 1 hold till Tuesday, when the ballast tanks were found to be full of water, the steamer going down by the head. About 9 p.m. she was goinjg down fast, and all hands were ordered to the boats. They had barely time to get clear when the steamer sank. The Hokianga Heads light was seen at a distance of about ten miles. Two boats, containing Chief Officer Cameron, the second and third engineers, and fourteen of the crew, landed on the Omapere Beach at daylight this morning. Another boat is sighted, and is expected to arrive shortly. Later. The third boat's crew from the Ventnor is reported safe.

DUNEDIN, October 29. The Ventnor was under charter to the Admiralty to take coal from Westport to Hong Kong. The vessel belonged to the Ventnor Shipping Company, of Glasgow, where she was built in 1901. The Ventnor is a staji steamer of SCi'fl tons gross, and 346 nom.nal horse pewer The bodies came from Greymouth. Wellington, and Dunedin. GREYMOUTH, October 29. One hundred and seventy-seven Chinese bodies, or the .bones of the remains of same, were shipped at Greymouth. Some had been in the Cemetery for 20 years, while others had never been interred. The Chinese community here are in a great state of excitement over the foundering of the Ventnor.

WELLINGTON, October 29 The Ventnor was four inches light of her marks, as not sufficient coal had arrived from Westport, and as she was on a time charter, the agents despatched her without waiting for more.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11777, 30 October 1902, Page 5