WRECKED KAWATIRI.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 195, 16 August 1907, Page 5

WRECKED KAWATIRI.

A THRILLING STORY.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received 9-45 a-m.)

HOBAET, this day. Various passengers give a thrilling narrative of the terrible ordeal through which they went. That supplied by Constable Wardley gives details of the ex- , periences of the men. The crew were

Huddled Upon the Bridge

of the sunken steamer the long night through, more or less scantily clad, with simply appalling seas breaking over them.

At 2.30 in the morning all the lights went out, and the men were penned in what looked like

A Certain Death-trap

They could not see each other, but to one another spoke words of encouragement, which only rarely could be heard through the awful gale. Before the ship settled down the men on the bridge could hear knocking forward. One sailor managed to work his way along, and found eleven steerage passengers locked in. The door Was jammed, but was broken open, when the passengers inside were found stand-' ing in four feet of water. Their escape was very narrow, for *fiey had not long been released when the ship became

Almost Totally Submerged.

Several passengers were battered and bruised through being swept against the rocks and struck by wreckage. Further details of the disaster by the women's boat show that for over an hour afteif leaving the ship the boat was in imminent danger of being swamped. When being carried past the entrance, tb(e women shrieked in agonising tones, " Help, help! Can you come out and help us ?" hoping that the lighthouse keeper would hear, but no one was visible and no audible response was made. The wife of the lighthouse keeper, who was in the boat, called " Jack! Help mc! "—a ory which was Heard by Her Husband on-the bridge of the lighthouse. He was powerless to help her, but he shouted back. The occupants of the boat, however, did not hear him, and the craft was carried swiftly by the tide to the breakwater. The acting Chief Officer (Mr. Hautive), who was in charge, threw a painter to two of the crew, who jumped on to the breakwater. They missed the rope, and the boatswain and Mr. Hautive sprang out and made it fast. Several passengers also jumped out of the heavily bumping boat, and endeavoured to climb the steep side of the breakwater. Mr. Grundy, a. passenger, who was on board with his wife and child, was knocked down and lost hold of his child, which he never saw again- However, he Saved His 'Wife

and another woman. Mr. Hautive saved Miss Finch, and the lighthouse-keeper arrived in time to rescue another woman and two children. Mrs. Hooper and her child were seen to be in the water, drifting away with the tide, and no help could be given.