THE" WRECKED ORIZABA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 42, 18 February 1905, Page 7

THE" WRECKED ORIZABA.

ACCOUNT OP DISASTER, BtTE TO SMOKE FROM LAND. (By Cable.— Press Association.—CopyrlgUkJ PERTH, February 17. The latest intelligence shows that the Orizaba struck on the south end of the Five Fathom Bank, four and a half miles from the south end of Garden Island. She appeared to be driven half over the reef, and it seemed as if her back was broken. She is hard and fast amidships, but afloat fore and aft. She arrived "oft" the land at nine o'clock yesterday morning, but owing to" the. smoke of .bush fires that had drifted to sea nothing could be seen of Hottnest Island. The engines were kept going dead slow. At about eleven o'clock, the haze lifted, and the captain found out his position, and attempted to stand out to sea, but just before noon the vessel - struck on a. reef. She bumped twice, and on the second occasion her bottom was pierced. The impact was felt in the engine-room. The rock went through iJEe engine~-rbdm tank on the port side, and the water rushed in and flooded tlie room. The water-tight "doors were at once closed, and the pumps were started, but these Measures were of no avail. The fires were ordered to be drawn, and so fast did the water rush in that two of the engineers had to swim to one of the platforms, and scramble on deck. The rent caused by the reef in piercing the bottom is very large. When the vessel struck Captain Archer, who was-on the bridge, gave-orders to empty the ballast tank, and then ordered the engines to go astern, but it was of no avail, the-vessel sticking fast amidships, and swinging fore and aft. She had soon settled fairly on the rocks, and then gradually listed to port, finally settling at an angTe of ten degrees. There were 159 passengers aboard, but there was scarcely any commotion, except in the third class, where a few women became "alarmed. The crew behaved well, and there was not the s'ightest panic. The- coolie "members of the' crew went about their work irr an especially cool and praiseworthy manner. The Orizaba lies in an exposed position, close to Coventry Reef, on which the Carlisle Castle was wrecked with all hands some years ago. She is bumping heavily on the bank, and her position is extremely serious. There- is not much hope of her being refloated. Should a strong westerly wind crop' up - she is likely to become a total wreck. Every effort is being made to salve the cargo, which is valued at £100,000. PASSENGERS FOR HEW ZEALAND*..... The.. Orizaba Jias the _following passenfor New Zealand: Mrs. Benjamin, Misses Rimshardt and Hogan, Messrs. Stewart, Barren, Towns. Harold, Schonhut.;Theer. : Jones and White (2).

PASSENGERS BROUGHT ASHORE. MATT.S AND LTJGGACrE SAVES. PERTH, • February 17. . -The Orizabalspassengers reached Fremantle at three o'clock this morning. The mails and luggage were tranship- > ped to tugs.