WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 230, 6 December 1878, Page 6

WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

'Great excitement was caused in Taiiranga, on Friday, by the nevys that the Taranaki, due early -in the morning', had been wrecked in a fog 1 on Kerewa, a small island five, miles from the entrance, w> the harbour,

The s.s. Taranaki left Auckland about half-past '4= on Thursday afternoon. It -was beautifully calm, but towards evening 1 a heavy fog* set in. Soon after 10 o'clock Captain Malcolm anchored, and remained until a little aTter 3 o'clock, when as daylight set in, the fog lifted a little. There were about 75 passengers on board, including 1 .a very .large, number of women and children. Twenty-five of the passengers were in the "fore-cabin. She ship's hands numbered about 34.

A pissenger supplies the following 1 , particulars of the wreck •: — When only a few of ihe passengers had sat down; to breakfast the engines were suddenly xeversed arid the ship bumped 'four, times. The position of Che steamer was in a little rocky inlet with a precipice in front : 800 feet higii. The ship bumped heavily, and the water seemed shallow, so that there was no danger of her slipping- off into deep water. Thie engines were kept full speed as long- as possible. M ost of the passengers were up and dressed, and on the whole the most excellent order prevailed* Capt. Malcolm was^quite 0001, and Mr Holm, the chief officer, was most active. After some delay, and with no slight amount of trouble, the four ships boats were got out safely, but it was three--quarters of an hour after we struck before the -first ; boal, with women and children, got off the ship, quickly followed by the second boat with the ■remainder of the women. Some few men showed a disposition to rush the boats, but the determined attitude of one or two g'eatlem^n who were shipping the women, and children at the captain's request, stopped this. One gentleman threatened to throw overboard the first man who entered a boat till every woman and child was off To find a safe place to land wehad to oull round a point which hid the ship from us. W-e got all the "women and 'children ashore vviihont any accident, and then the men all followed safely. The island on which we struck was Kerewa, or Liaard island, a high, b-ure rack of perhaps a couple of acres in extent,, and partly covered with karaka trees of stunted gTowth Captain Malcolm stuck bravely to his ship, and the crews of the various boats worked with a will to iand as much of the passengers' luggage as possible, and at ahout half past 10 the chM officer was dispatched with one of the boats to Tauranga, about seven or eight miles off, we supposed. About one o'clock the cutter Lancashire Lass hove in sight, and soon after the Waratah. It took them some time to make the island. The Waratah came in first, sending in h>r boat with a big keg 1 of water, which was most acceptable. Captain Malcolm came round from the wreck, and . being afraid' of a change of wind, -which would render embaikationdifficult, ordered the women and children on board the -cutter at once. Thefirst boat load had just4eft when the smoke of a steamer.approaching 1 was seen. It was now about half-past four o'clock. ') be boats were stopped, and in about half-an*hour the steamer Staffa was dose by, and took with her all the passengers and luggage, which were quickly put on board. ; Just as this. was done the Roweria, steamer, came across also. Captain. Malcolm,. after seeing all safe,, determined to 'remain by the .wreck all night, and he, Mr Holm, atid a portion of the "crew went on board the cutter. As fiaptain Malcolm left - : the Staffa, the passengers gave him three hearty' cheers. The greatest sympathy is felt ;for him. Jt was the second mate's watch when we struck, but the; Captain was on the bridgej and them was a good; look-out. It was, b/ow€yer, impossible to see fifty yards on any side when we- struck. The first cry' of land; was little more than half a minute before we struck We were^ it seems/ .some three miles out of our course, ; caused- by, it is thought, bur having ;drifted while at anchor in the night, ! The women behaved admirably: -all through.- The Taranaki is! a total wreck; ly.ingMon her. pbrtiside,, which is all stove in. Her back-ig/.also-said; to. behroken, and^certai.nly : s.he; cahcneyerj ;be : go t o ff J; hit tit svXm.^wea thep c^n ti^ues, ; ,a ygood f aeail of the ; cargo y et jibe . saved.: i .W6- f iad J , r %;miraculftas;i,_esoape,f and, arej all; deeply i th a nk iful v . S-^k- lv> : ;:> ■ v^uringiii^^glifcthe dn : ;-tw:p, " 'apd.,ajy,hope^ otvjsaying* tha/.cargoA

washed out, as the sea was washing from stem to stern. Capt, Malcolm and his men returned from the wreck in one of the cutters." ■ • ■

An address to Captain Malcolm has been signed by almost all the passengers and is as ■:— " <Dear Sir— We, the undersigned passengers from Auck- • land by the s.s. Taran ,ki, now unhappily • lost, desire to express to you our heartfelt sympathy under the distressing circumstances in which you are placed. More especially do we desire to express our thankful appreciation of the care and watchfulness which you displayed in the performance of your duty during 1 the night previous to the moment of the disaster; while to your coolness and energy after the steamer struck, as well as to the similar qualities displayed by your officers, especially Mr Holme, we feel that under Providence it is mainly due to you that we have been saved from' death or serious accident. The accompanying sum of money we place in your hands, with the request that you will distribute, it among- the -men lately under your command nuoordiirg to merit! "We would, especially draw your attention to the exertions of the officers pi the steward's department, and the little training ship boy, in saving- property. Assuring you once *nore of our undiminished confidence in your ability as a commander, and that in any ship we should be only top pleased to sail under your charge — We are, dear sir, yours," &c.