RACE TO THE RESCUE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17470, 2 June 1922, Page 6

RACE TO THE RESCUE.

GOOD WORK OF UNION CO.'S STEAMERS. NAVAL MEN AND BOCKET APPARATUS. (PBE3S ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.) AUCKLAND, June 1. The Duudula had raced to the rescue, but was advised that the Arahura and Katoa standing by, and could do nothing, therefore she came on to Auckland. The officers state that the weather was very thick and visibility low. "When the vessel passed Cape Brett at 9 p.m. on "Wednesday the light was not visible, although she was oniy c°ight miles distant. After passing the Cap© the light was picked up. The lights r.t Mokohinau "and the Hen and Chickens were not picked up until the ship was within six miles of them. The weather cleared shortly after, but the \-ind abated little. The Moeraki took an officer and sixteen men from H.M.S. Pm'ioniei, with two-rocket apparatus. They were landed at Tryphena about 5.30 p.m. Captain iStott, Marine Superintendent of tho Union Company, who went with the tug this morning, telegraphing from Great Barrier states that notniug can be done until the - Nothing is known here about the crew except Captain Hayward and the chief officer (Mr Goddard) formerly < hief officer of the Piako. The cargo for Auckland includes galvanised iron, tinpJatp, basic slag and a locomotive for the Government. The only manifests at present available are from Bristol and part from Glasgow. The "Herald" reporter on the tug states that when she passed Cape Colville at 9.30 a.m., mountainous waves and driving fierce.squalls were encountered. The tug reached the Wiltshire, at noon, and, despite danger, stood close in.

The Plight of the Wiltshire. The Wiltshire struck bow on, about a length from the cliff, along which foaming breaker.? dashed. The forepart of the Wiltshire evidently stuik hard with a list to starboard, and her back was broken clean in two, the alter part, from just aft the bridge, swinging with the wash of the seas and at an angle from the rest. fc?everal of the men were clustered oi the forecastle head and the look-out bridge, and more below it. No signals were made by the wreck. Two lifeboats were visible in the davits on the starboard 6ide, and a third waif smashed against the sides when it was lowered. The stern of the vessel was.under water. As there •was no possibility of "jiving assistance, and as the forepart of the vessel was evidently secure, the tug proceeded to Tryphena to organise rescue parties. The Kntoa missed the wreck in the storm, but the Arahura, with 100 passen'gere on board, stood by the wreck, tossed in huge seas, a quarter of a mile off the bleak coast where the Wiltshire is a-shore. '4 The Wiltshire's 'wireless broke down through the flooding of the engine-room and the masts carrying away. The .Arahura read the semaphore flags and transmitted the' messages by wireless. Rescue Parties Landed. The Katoa landed five men, who went overland a. distance of fiv£ miles to the wreck with ropes, hurricane, lamps, bandages, food, and rockets. The Arahura left for Gis borne at 2 p.m. Then a *»cond party was landed from the Katoa. The tug left at 5 p.m., and- met the Moeraki taking naval men and rocket apparatus. All medical gear, lines, etc., were prepared to-night, ready to prooeed overland at daylight to rescue I the crew. It is expected that the survivors will return by the Katoa to-morrow. EARLIER MESSAGES. A TIME OF TERRIBLE SUSPENSE. (rBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 1. Earlier wireless messages received by the Post- and Telegraph Department are- 'as follow: 1.30 a m.—The following is from the Wiltshire:—Very badly ou shore- Numbers one and two holds are full of water. The vessel is knocking about heavily Immediate assistance is required to tsave'life. There is very thick weather. . The ship is on the southern end of Great Barrier Island. Several steamers are coining, but are too far off tor a reply. \\ tint are you. doing?" 4.4 a.m.—Hie \\ iitshiro advised:— Numbers one, two, three, and four holds are now full ot water. The other part ot the ship is dry. If the weather moderates it miligt be possible to save the cargo in the afternold. '5.5 a.m.—-Fear snip will now be a total wreck- There is a terrific sea. The only hope of saving life is for all to remain oil board until the weather modeiates, as iiy liieboat could live. 7.31 a.m.—Hie Arahura advises:— Am in position off the wreck. There is too much sea to attempt any rescue work. '

9.20 a.m.—The Katou reports:—Am in Port I npheiiu, and have sent a party overland. Vessels at Hand. 0.22 a.m.—An Auckland message states:—,'l'he Ka Loa and the Arahura arrived oh the Wiltshire just belore dayiight, but were unable to communicate with the Wiltshire up to 8 a.m., owing to the heavy seaAt latest advice there was no loss of life. The five holds are full. Seas aye breaking clean over the vessel. The position is hopeless. Assistance is impossible irom the sea side of the wreck. Tha Secretary of the General Post Office has received the folltjiving from the Chief Postmaster at Auckland:—l have just -poken to Mr Walsh, and if the wind moderates he will send a seaplane to see if there is any possibility of getting a line to the steamer. The distance of the vessel from the shore, however, may bo too far to enable this to be done. Wiltshire Broken in Halves. 1.20 p.m. —The secretary' of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the folio from 'Auckland :—Katoa reported at 1.30 p.m. that the Wiltshire has broken m halvea. A later message states.—The Wilt- , shire is east ot Rosalie Bay, in a verywild spot, with inaccessible cliffj. The steamer has broken in two. The stern has disappeared. The crew appears to be on the lorwnrd half, wllich is still on the rocks. There is no chance of rescue, except by a line. A heavy sea is running. A "Fearfully Heartrending Scene." 5.12 p.m.—The Secretary ot the Post Office hiS received a further message about the Wiltshire, it has been considered useless for a seaplane to attempt assistance. Cries can be heard by tne watchers on the high cliffs above j the vessel. Eye witneses say that the scene is a fearfully heart-rending one. I A man attempted to swim ashore with a line, but on account of the enor-

A mesage sent «♦. a rl Wiltshire total .J fort part. Sea very »j* hoped to get {*S overland hy to-mor&V Katoa's partv are n n » ite the wrecg. °°* « Bho^J The J*tte« "Star" **ssg a °J follows i—Wiltshire h*.r Pjb halves. The stern has !h? 5 • * J Slil1 0Q t of SS^isJ is crowded with peopL ful eoene. F ' It n mna i (raws asjooaot,, . WELUNCtdji , ' Th. TPriltaaton shire state that the Maste. • B. G Hazard. sonnel is not known, believed to be 109. MsU .No information recarf™ . 1 is available. The &><J cargo were arranged cl&«*ik an It may be »me amounts are known. marine insurance companylr? % land will be affect^ It, is understood that tU*. carried 460 postal packags composition « not The Wellington H«rW ■ special rocket. apparatus iSil* Auckland this aftemon \ tram, which arrives at the heels of the morning. MISSED BEING AN TMliyw,. SHIP. ""I? (special to "tHj At , + ELLINQto n ) j #B( j; f At a late nour to-ni»ht 1 * reading the bulletins $«£?!*? garding the wreck of tETwh 7* 1 It was just a to* ontftlV shire was not a n her present vovaiw TV? ."('P« shipping men is that ttoLSSf 04 ' havo missed the Cuviet "W WHERE THE WILtSHKE STRI^I

HIGH, PBEOIHTOUB CUJig, (srEciiL to "rai'ms^ AUCKLAND, ] m ] Mr Darby Ryan, a welMpom jl dent of the Great Barrkr,-ttJ(iS" man of the County Coaatfl iim yfc is viaitiug Auckland, jtijfaffejik terview to-day that Hi VUff'tt, tlta south end of the island ctaubof tab precipitous cliffs, fuUj oposed talis east. There is a-mill foy Rosalie at the oi ft; island which is sheltered it«i wstely windi*, but quite expend wt\\east gales. Mr Todd, vfo mi# a t this bay, is unfortunatelj aim contact, ed by telephone. Mr Mediaada is the next settler, about seven milts irca Mr Todd. On the nortlwwt.side«(;,. his place is Kaitjke beacfl, a fiat, awi;' stretch ot four miles. . \;-.% Mr Ryan added as a rule yeiw igti| ihg to Auckland via Panama geuehii| pick up Cuvier light, which is «a/tt| island thirteen mijes to toe soaui^u"i of the t south end of the Barrier, lit] next light they pick up is the Wikti man, right off Cape Colville, Witt the exceptionally thick, haay wcattw. prevailing Isst night, it may have W difficult to pick up Cuvier light, li the Wiltshire waa probably tryingj find it when she was dr/ven on .'» Barrier. "I have done « Jot of m ihg off the south end of the Bnrne| said Mr Ryan, "and I know that tni are very strong currenta there, -am... ally at spring tides. The current »i runs about three knots round the Mf; end of the island. It » an ertregf, rough bit of water > when an easWT gale is blowingl The people to m» land are not aware .how p cn JS' sea ifl broken .for this harbour■ Mfc Breat Barrier, which diverts tt»m ent that sets in so, strongly frotfMj south-east. Some time ago when ■& was an earthquake eh*g had a tidal wave several feet high aMj Barrier, but nothing was luiowri*s in the waters of the waitemaU. v> Mr Ryan expressed the opmioaJW unless the Wiltshire struck: near-ft» lie Bay. or on Kaitoke beach, was little chance for the vessel * * other parts of the south end! _<* » island the water is trom bf*fathoms deep, right im which is a precipitous wall of soM»*, GREAT BARRIER ISLiM The Great Bairie7 Island ttjj twenty-five miles long with.» gg „idth of about ten miles. I £■ rifty-six mile, north-easoU*g The is'-and was name d by from the fact that it: Wjjfo, i to Hauraki liult Ik ft / the' island is about dW.%i.-

THE SHIP AND THE Cvtain B. 0- i Federal Line of ships., in the Somerset, and jkurfflW in the iNew Zeitland ond . trade for many years. The Wiltshire wa* one « {tfceA ». winch took the Mm' l Ugjp^ tralian Expeditionary * w#r »ti and for the greater part ° 0 f troops engaged in the transpo" chiefly from Australia, carp She has on board ttc W«" for New Zealand porta. 4000 Auckland ••• *' JJOO Wellington UOO Lyttelton llfiO Ihinedin The Wiltshire loaded. a f °&toii me lit of frozen lamb year for Boston and »» tfnsrf is well known in Ljtte and Go., Ltd., «r« the jJpS agents for the Federal tins voyage tto WllJ 5 «gjj£'cargo, some w /. Und Sltfpr the agency of the N CLr~ Company. el* ia ° f Z j The Wiltshire * i handsome ve ? se \ 0 i nnsacnfi®' 1 ?' }j ! commodation for 131 P 1 first-class accommodation & : a»iidshiij«. on the u PR?; n|f .joßß' eluded lounge and BmoKingi were cabinet de luse on ■ ! deck. pofCtl There were some VI I tacles consigned to Ch dejffjV I board the AViltshiie. . post ment of the Chi istchur ffr states that no liUomftt'on . fl{ ceived regarding the ca oil the vessel. „ \ AUC r at Ur l^: The Wiltshire wil, Glasgow, and Liverpool, Auckland, V> '''"nS l ® .' rDOO J on Dunedin. She leit p aD ama 22nd for Auckland, via. F | ,n C rcb«" The cargo consists olfc U)B3j 40<X»t®. dise, estimated at The® 9 -, of which ait; lor A' 1 0- , t j,' e agent's 0 ten., lire on . board, ag £ unable to give the 1- or from d«Pi tained from the il^ s cates from London. j |en t6 on merchants have consig" nCT L