THE WAIKARE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 709, 7 January 1910, Page 6

THE WAIKARE.

LITTLE HOPE FOR HER {STARBOARD SIDE BADLY OPENED !' BEACHED AS STEAM FAILED. THE PASSENGERS' NARRATIVES.

: -ft^-i'?- : 'i'^ i^fH^^PiM^rawrived^ ,!?at;Vs ! '^. : fo'qlbck' : .;tb;d^ 'A.Konists'; andipreW : rpf/Uh^ : :;B!;rack;:;;anfiftnoharte^ j::a'bbu|;;half|ii;;miie);frbm7 ii|i vfiusky\Spund,; at',l2;ip;;plm., pn^Tjies-, iVjiTheiWaikare.; must haveiripped;;ah : imSliiense^hplßvia^er^hu^J^mids^ip ?fil,jedvwith' great•'rapjdity^;:and ;'listed;.to :<s.tarboard;. : heavily,; that>it:;was;; thought; :'•:ttlat; she,vwbuldV"'go''■.'^^under:-any'.;'moment; sTiere'.was,'- however,' 'no/;panip.'^JVheh the ;.iij*ebeits;had^^'been;seryed'out. ail,on board :, ei;copt,;-' th«; "captain,.-; three; : officers,: ;';'two'. ; ; ;eE"ginSrs;,-:and'■'■h'df;aXd6^-:stpkersi''-'ejuiti ;;tef :t|ie^hipl;TJu&:pccupi^ Imputes;'iTfe'vo^hwas^hen^ tpveteer-'her^and ;f^e;':was; ; rapidjyA'BhMh^f;J'Just^ ;:;n& r :ofitime;'her';hpse;;:was. runrori. to; a ffnar roMsheli:; of '■; • on'board' Tea»ped':;'certain:.'deati',;by;;^ ;-;W ( hen.];.the. first.;' ] and/secjb'nd/.engin.?ers ! ' l lef t ;-,tKMr : ;ppsYs';Hhe*.wa^ );. 'ehins3:and:;'the,: engines :had ':, given i'ihelr : ;'laiit;'kio)£. : Vi:^:'';:;'';ur';:U ; .^ ;vl';There donbt:-'but' jthiit '-'the '.vWaikare.'will /never v.be',:;.saved. jAf|ia^;moment;i;if;-the:.i;.Bligh^ : : an^,'-;,'she-: : wiU v ;slip.'-back;-and;Vd Sfplj'everyv'phljWedri^ f at'|theVsterh,]and;itX I beifain ;;that AbyV.Uiia! \ time'/she/is'a'ivthe; t bbitbm; ; M? :*h ; ; J '-'S'zty : Kr'' ? '%^~—r S^iMoughAthe'•'\:whole :';bepurrence ~:has. r-boEaAattended^Aby/.^riothing : ;:mpre;iSeribus, shook' :i'and;' v discomfprt;;: there--.'&!|nbt;;|the:}l<ast::Adoub^ ;"dreadfhlly-.: close, .to ..being: one. of 'the; most. ...ippalling_'.'disasters A'in. '■[ the; 'shipping i.his- : ;' .Had'tfojv^aikaro; Aeffiiok^^Mght^'prrhadihe^accidenthapy 'jP^ne'd.^eriA-minutesjjlater.i'w .:'wlfwas.;put;inAth,e;;bpen,;there:rhust;ha.ve ■ ;;bjeea ,; a;. •hea'vjnos^^ ;;P^lnpt'yi6cipline;pf;&^aiijar^ : ' : ; }proy)dentiall^Jsituatedl',,;:';;:; £&&& .

Sph/ZStpp/ls!^ jjxjj /;:ters,}T?ere;;erected, np'/one^vvas: really: gi/®;n^gnfp/|ti^ ISIS/fl^ij^us^.T/a^ ! >iTestj['of experiences^ ||£f;/or|as/a//pKu^ ff/iv|K.ve^F.u^^ '//the;.' journey/ ;in/th^^^ pZf:;¥B3;h ; j;he:Zcrrcums^ lt'S;/f/-Wp; j?J???e i^e;arm^/a^;the'jfMiiii, /partly;, tp/a/. make/the fe^iy- ps/:;cointp^ partly necessity: il^/^^jc^my^hv&e^

[, THE MOST THRILLING PART. h ; STANDING BY TEE ENGINES. I (Bj, Telegraph—Special Correspondent) [ I' Dunedin, January 6. / In.j the full flush pf a tempprary glimpse pf summer sun shining on sei lenely smppth sea-a "very i\elceme f chaiige after an" entire trip ef -wretched } misty weather, tho Waikare, on Tuesday I last, at exactly 12 21 pm. by the engmeroom clock sustained what very likely \ Willi ba her death-blow by staking what \ is said to bo an uncharted rock at the \ mouth pf Dusky Spund, ]ust pripr to her '. Bmeiging therefrom ion her let'urn trip f to Dunedin.

Nd place could apparently , present ' a more unpronueing prospect for a catas 1 trophe, with\ hills on either hand, tho known great, gcneial depth of watei emf bosomed therein, and never a ripple .' showing save that occasioned by tho pro- \ gress of the steamer itself. It was in | this I aspect, and, under these circumstances, that the steamer struck. Naturally practically every passenger i was (upon deck enjoying to the utmost ' the beauty of the day and the unrivalled scenery. As the ' vessel steamed towards the entrance of the Sound, so ', attractive was the day, the ladies ~ were very anxious that a delay should be L made for a final picnic. This was not granled to them, however, but, had it been, the voyage might possibly not [ lave ended in disaster. i" Suddenly the Bows Lifted." Suddenly the bows of tho vessel lifted A sailor, describing it, said 'that 6he lifted as though to meet a soa,' and he f momentarily thought that they were out in thj open 1 Then came disillusionment —a harsh grinding tear, a sudden,fall, s / reproated crashing tear, a stop, and then 'again the heavo. After the third bump i the vessel cleared the obstruction,

jj-./^aia^/flbat^m/w^^ g^ :^ipp!j^wtas^ppnei;;lwi, ■;;occurred; 'and l ||*/v/;^?: ; rppressiomsw^ Ugy "junmediate/wetting■.:of ; the.-;decks'',by-: 'Water j/^v/^/pr^rb'cMse^^by/tKerentry/of'-to |;;/;^M£bej;ow^- ;^^ ';/;.//6uMen/:Ust;\toVsl^bPard

Hft^ //;.;'; fTbm/^e'.water/aS.4o/;re fez/for vthpvpurpose ;p|ZvlpaZdin'g^the:,/:.boa^^ ' vinimediafely/'lowered./V/ ■"./ '-0

|~/,%, 'TheriiVwa^^ £;/;// oi^boa'i^nqt^fe |;/::«nf/thei[shock;;and : vt^e;senpusv^ iwliiplr ■• apparently'; iaced/thev Wi S, nr ? w ; ; ; a i!^ as^l 'Bers; -i Coincident; with: ,thp' ifc the. whistle '-for; theilowering. >tewards : -;/ahd;vbthbrs i/;S/;co'mmericed^distributing^ tiZZ V. about' tenimumtes/tHc |;./;;/ inajprith;pfgthe in/the j; •/-;:; .&ip.'s-lioats,,and/wero ; ;bein'g';Tbwed'-toi^ J(.;i;/near>stj|pc)ihfe/oi r ;hihdi;';while;;/! r m g ' : 4f struck,/;! eyerybne;/ not //connected: p/:' : ;iwith; ; the>wpr.king/bf /thelship/was/away; ''-■^/iLCrom^her^:);: ]Z-YZZ^ :^i^''^c-- r '>■■• -V';.:-; ?,iv;^^^v/ : 'o:.V;"tT.ov-R^veritv^ ?::;/Jj;'';/i'At:/ the :stime /,qf |.;.;.:/ rpoin:wijs>in; charge/of './Slh' ,'lnvera^ty, g^:/fpurthv.sn'gineerr/who;^ j /j;//tiiird;.bngineer /for : lunchi"/*At'the .moment I;;//. tf "-Hmpsjct;/h r#/; fßom ;i staff-'ddshed 1 to^/theirfposts^'irres; t ;///peo|ivV/b^i^atbhes./:-Th'e';cW ;//;//Mr;/Pvpickey;;.;was'.:-ih;^bohtr^ / (ingine^r/i'Mr/YM'Arthur,/and : the

\ SVs.tiiiri L ; engineer:vvras;':' ordered \.i6 Kstand , on to ■ 'attend'.to }■;;;; K the to i prevent ■ aiiVexpjtesioji.V'The J;;' fassumed i : ->V charge vofi'thaJthroM pg.'i.; :;^Ai^^ gfe;of v. : thD^iressel,i^ t;OS Tile y water ".cams' g/:A-: rapidly,, iahd |-':;Kithe;;'pumEstwere'ummedifttely.:;:Cput;ti -the. conyi v^;ff flerisers ijisViwere.';;; brought: A"into; ■; use, jg^.ta^assUt.-•;; the y-. inflow; coiild Ssfji'not r ;bevrediiced,V;and;';itrbecame- 'evident pfJ/, that:.; ;tnj^;bnly ; s ! 'respurce /■ to, ■• beach ■ pi!V; her.';! ;j staff that' ;the: ilower

I fives, were out, ; dud that: the .higher ones ;| would;: not: long--in >; fact, .that .no move steam. could be; generated. '■!'. . ' '

,: :' r -.;';^;^S:On :; Dying''Sfeamr''''.:';.:.', '■/' Great credit is due to the engineers and firemen-for the 'manner; in. which they held'' to; their.;: task;,:; The third .engineer ivas^still standing by ready' to release' the .yalves-■.tqV'P.rqvenfcr;ari- : l:esplpsipn'.; I '', The : water-; was /'gaining/fa'st,- and;"there..was 1501b. of;, steam' pressure ■' available' and; a ■ more 'to 'be ■ traversed to- the island '..which'; \ was the ono and-'" only ■place'-ipossible'', .for.; beaching.-; ißight- -up to'the'last'possible-minute th'e\fires:were kept''goifl|f; : Vaiid''". ; tfieV4t^f. ; -lield"- i '-to thoir posts"'till'th'e'Vcttptain rang "finish," by which -■■ time:. the; nose -. of .'the -Waikare had;safely;found' ground, 'and 'the; water in; the"; stokehold -was ■. ovor ;the waists';of -thpserwho':sttll.;.remainedvin'ithe-engin"e-rppm.'.';:;;:'[':'■'■ :\\: .-.:':■■'. ; '■';■ .".;■'■■■'■■■.■: '■:-,[

.7 composing ;ithe.; 12va.m;4 pirn. watch,,.werp:— Mr. West,- .third.; engineer, W.:;Tole, and.E. French.; addition t'o'.thds'eme'n.'Mr.'-M'Arth'ur,' second engineer,; did yeoman service, and .remained at-the ithrottle: valve ..till; covered with steam. -';';';"">';;'; 'A; ; :':','' : ''o .''■■;: ,

':'■% HOW THE LADIES FARED. O ' ;(By^TeloKraph.—Pressi Association.) ' : -V : ; Invercargill,'January 6. : AMssAliaica^iie^ipf;?^gland, ; ;.;in the course of an' interview,"said/that there was'oipt .the slightest-sign• or'hysterm.;.,; ;;''Th'e officers : and..crew," 'she added, "were just 'trumps,' and it was ; :teeir/-iim- : .'{b^ possible/thought;',pgd,; consideration ■ was extended towards us.; •; All 'the' islands. were; i 6vergrowa ! 'with;,vegetati6n,■'■.-and we: ih'ad'to scramble over-the rocks.": Luckily! : itwas,Tow. tide, riot. difficult;'as';'itjwould-' have:'been if'it - had/been.-; high'"water. ,'. There "'was' a. steepi-'bant-'nearly : to-the ..water's' edge;- ani?': we had 'to; climb vup'it.;.' .Th'e '6mceraf;andv;Crewi'sasnste^ ; ,by''the;men Md: eyenAjby ;the;Ta&es,' set;to work to. ! cnt'a;vroadway:up.;thek bush then :'an : ' extensive '-clearing \was;. ; made and a campi ;was 'prepared;.•: ; ;;By- : means of? the: boats-luggage, baggagS,;'arid bedding were .conveyed from:, the-'Waikare-to .'tho:shprei and:'then:-it waaTpasSed'frpm'lhand to .hand' up^to,:whereVonr : .'camp'was.pitched. ; !;■■ The.: ladies'again \ helped;!iri pa ssin'g 'up i;the; luggage,,' and hot "one, complained; although';' we';; had " to;? wilk '^through;'. ih'ti'd' which'■'; came .right"^dverVour;;bopfe, 'anlV. ;.our;;skir^:.;;were' ; ; ail : ;;Wdraggled.' h Mean'-; while"; the,:sun. was';' shiniiig. '. ..We-'hnd' 'experienced; shocking' weat her; previously,; a'nd' it '■ was hard' liickAthat/bur ■ firsV fine day;'; .was' signalised' .'. by-,' thb'/aopident.'Abut ; all; thankful:!thatv.we'had fine weather for our 'enforced inspection'; of Stop ; Island; cooks ' sadir x gbt':' the' fires'.going-iat ;thfi camp,; and'our -hearts, 'throbbed /.with./pleasure /.when awe' saw •the} bMyAbpilihg; ' AVithin; half, an hour ;of. ; theCcbmpletibn.;of'.the' : tr'aiiifer;.of the.baggage "and;'other : things' from/the 'boat;. 1 : tea'jiwas v awaiting - us;A;;'A *;fc : V';;;;v;:::A^'|

I-V Although' •; it>; rained - harden'; the [ night' i .we.'-. ladies -/had '.■&-■ most/" comfortable/ resfc : ■In I ;the:mprhihg--tea'vwas'/'brpugh't tb'/us. ,'at.;s : ',p'cloflkV ; -aidsthWy™' : 'fnh.!Began'in' /the'., performance;:;of;'.bur;';toilet,'-' : for.'all 'that;Vwe'^could';.',-m^ .purposes/ were;. two hand -'mirrbrsV ."and'.'a 'couple : of -combs. Having; dressed'; under difficulties 'we'tbok'. breakfast-ra'; substan-: tial/meal/of/hamrand'.eggs. Olndeeil;' all' 'th'onght; that we-had:'never'-tasted'such : nice' : hain,',but our/appetites were. :keen,"and; we.'-relished', it - alii : tie- more, accordingly .';."'Every;lady'had a'plate.and ■a''cnp,:so -we. got alongfgrandly.':,;,: : ..

-.'<■ The -/ladies'-camp',; being/-.;pver-crowded, : about:.. 9.30j'.'.8.'mr-;.the ; ;captain' suggested . that- -all -the .-ladies -shpiild go to Pigeon. - Island where lie had .been; in-. .formed;;;that: there 'iWMsis.nbuseV'-wHpb; could''be:; utilised -for,: living-: in i,until;'a -relief > r ,bbat? ; . arrived.' -Y. So-aiavhouf. later, said;'/; Miss ;!- Duckworth/ 7 ' I ' aid .'/flf-/ ;;tecn:V;Cother .^.ladies' 1 ;-;(-ygot''i-/'into■ ;".'-'-a •launch;^;;aid';,;:.;;the'';,-;captaitt;.;V-. took ■bharge.qf.it;:;:A-'cook,aiid;four-stewards,-and'.'a stewardess: went; with: us,//and;we took.'fopd/and;prpvisions;•'> We/occupied ;abou^nEhour;;;.in'j;^ettingf> v to;:/ Pigeon Island, and;there;we..'discovered ,the : house; .'bf-':which / the.' captain/' had - received ■ inf or-' mationi //It/was : ja-: lonely/, spot,-'.and r tho house/ iTvas-; situated;} on -'the , ''tbp I '.bf a hill net f dr.frbm the shore..'/' As we approached the/shore/we/found/ 'a':'.'Deautiftil,./'6a'ndy cbye,'iand- a'.b'oat-hbusV'in it.-'>We landed and proceeded 'to- the/house,"oif which' the /captain /forced; the./door.'open./■ We. were tpldthdt the Kou'sebalbnged;.to/th'e ranger of r Eesplu tion. Island," arid/'- 'around it, ■ was ' a.--. most.'-./picturiesauo."/garden.:; ~'Scran; after, the;'house.. there;;were./.tables. aid :;,chaifs, sp,..'. withv.the .■.bedding ."and //ether/things. ,which';.we'.had/to hav/e;.wanted fbr,/nothing.V; //>•.:;.

ladies, and' we'.'were .expecting/their: ai-, .rival, when/the.launch Reappeared, .about four?o'clock;;withwthe; najre"'. that;;;.ttie : Eioneer ..had .come; to'our 'assistance. "As we '■'steamed/away';from/the;.till;fated Waikare,/ and, saw,, her .precarious,. cphditionV wey.fbr (the; firstj timej v r6alised how, near we : ;-had'.ibeen;;;to?.;a ,'fatal; -.disaster, ahd':som'e;;tearsTjWere/ished; ; i/ii iZJ: ;'. ■/' '•'•'

:/;vTHE/ SENSiAfION^N?S^RiKiNG;/;\ /breasting"l!; SWELL./ /-; : «V* (By:.; Telegraph.—Press; 'Association.) .;./ • o : K'"fc£v';/-i' / i; r some nautical ■.;experiencey/'describes /the/.early ■pro.ceemiigs were .just-coih-'pleting;;'our/ when/the'accident occurred;■ jpreparatbry : : . tb/steamihg-'away:' fb'rlDuriedjni/:; We'had ■.been'/.cruising-;^^^in;;.Dusky/ : S.buhd,.'';and : : we jwere -;on/our/; return,'jburner„:tp/the open - sea.'/'which'-was'. only /distant., /Sounds/;within;:an-„',hour,\:^^^when- suddenly ,\\re struc.k;.a;'rpck,. ; w.hich.r;am'in.-'■■a.'posi-' /tioh;;toVknbw' : is: ;iiot 'shown : b'n'; r the/cnart; ■iyhere/w'o.wore according to; the;au/thpriiativo./publicatipnsj;,; perfectly • ..safo ; w'atefj..; but came/; upon./ the rbckjaU'vthe/'sam'e. /The"'"spot/was./be--..tweeh/ Indian /island ;^nd ;"otherv small islets./',T'hero::was/;a series, of,;bumpsj: and the \yaikare made: a loud 'rasping noise, /and;then/rose' 'jas.-if 'brea^tiiigi-'{a'-swell. ■The.feeiiag'se.emed'to,'me similar'-to■'that experienced 'in/haying-a tooth. extraoteS. ,There/was/a.sort.:of internal twinge. The .'Waikare-'then rode'along/as ; if:.in>clear /water,;; but .her/bottom', must .have/.been ripped .lip," and .one.-he'ard.the'roar ,pf, the incoming-, water;,./ It quickly penetrated into the .engine-room, ; and;tho ./steamer was, stopp^.v,The ; wMstle/was.■ blown for the- boats to/be ; lowered/; and this work was':-carried out-'' in remarkably" ' ; quicfc 'time/./.lt .'was' [wonderful 'how" speedily, :everytliing/waß.:done, .seeing .that,;'in ad/ditibn to ..the', rowing /two. launohes (one steam/and: one; pil) had; to be hand;led. /In the. meantime Waikare had taken-a gr f eat list, to starboard, so much. So,that, nearly ail; the,passengers had to bo lowered from the.'starbbard/side.. .Everyone. ;y/as.,;giyen 'a;lifebelt,"/and/there; was nb Confusion at '..'oil.■'.'-.' The', ladies weTe .marshalled/and; ;first-.: passed..; into :; the 'boats and then the male, passengers .were, .dealt;.with.-'By/the,time that -the;passengers had got. away, the ■ Waikare's fires were/quito put owing to.; : the' water, but .thero.was still/steam, left in hor; boilers .srhich,;.it/was estimated, would last out. five' minutes. :,';,- : v"-'. /;/:'./

■::■'. Her'; head: was .'then put towards Stop Islandias ;the only --'available,shore, where

the soundings'were charted and, when ,tho engines, got going, again/ there was : just 'sufficient' time to run her ashore bow, on,; tho stern, remaining in 'deep water. The. passengers' boats followed in the wake of the Waikare, and all were landed on . Stop Island, some of the ladies boing transferred therefrom to one of the. other islands. : ;v .

■;. Tho informant .added that it was indeed fortunate that, it was possible to beach the';Waikare. " Otherwise they would have been at. a lpss.:for'fo«L bedding, and tarpaulins," ,and . woula have been in.'dire'straits.' The knowledge that what', they wanted could be obtained from the wrecked steamer, was some solace; to them. '."'.-!'.''

v Towards securing' the beaching of the steamer the firemen worked with a will, and .were hard at-.it, when the in tho', engine-room 'rbabhed 'up . to'' thoir waists.'. It was a good, sample of British pluck..; '■:.'•;..'.'■ '■;;.:'!-;:' ; v>V

"SHE JUST REACHED SHORE."

•;':;--;DOWN/ BT TEE:'HEAD/;' 'yp< "■'; (By Tcleeraph.—Press Association.) '-.- • :'v ~:■■:;■";... ',';;■ .inver.cargill/January ,&'. . -Air; .'Chapman,l£.C/jv ;said, bump-as; though a bigsea/ -.had ■ 'hit.. the'- vessel,' ■'.■ and' presently therev was- another bump:and v &; grating; sound; ;ln that > the boat''-tfas --'settling ;'dowh' >by the head;;:and; / getting'; :a-/'heavy;; list/.ti starboard; on.which 'side\she v had'-beeh struck.;, ; The if act > that.:. the ..'screw; ;was churning..up.'the'.water' at, first -showed • that.the. steamer's : first' tendency,'; was .to ; settle by the bow; The - captain reversed hia , enginesX and ->blew'; the .boat; station signal. /Everything -was; carried out wjth'but the.slightest hitch or,-the least delay, and ' ivithin' fifteen minutes-all; the pas-, sohgers. were, clear: of; the .y'essol, /which •steamed .another couple of miles and was .beached,'-. She: .'could- not -have gone-any. further,., as -all the 'fires were, out, -and the stokers.xhe,. understood, : :.hadjworked up-'to .their-'necks, in.water.--iAs.-.it-. : was sho finished'-'her' effort:with/ the -last'of her. "way,", and-she''just.reached:shore.;.,,

; MR., ENOS:BACON'S ACCOUNT. ; /,;, (By Telegraph/—Press. Association.) ~:• '// •>■' ;■ v '/,'// /'::'Duhedin'i/January 6.; : './-.The 'Waiktire's ..passengers-amved' '-'at; Dunedin at' lis ;pjri.;: Th: tKe 'bourse /of conversation;with' a' reporter, Mr'.',Enoi ;J3acon, of England,-,one of the passengers, said that 'the/Waikare; was "in a very bad way. when.' they;.'left 'Dusty: Souni Continuing, he said: "One ofsthe"pluckiest things -1 'know, of. was /the action; of one' of: the who' was/at the fires working away, with- the water up'to. his waists .Engineers, too,' were,' in the; engine-; robin until, they : also were '.up to.'" their' waists in ; water. 1 ' But, ■■;.,' perhaps ; the. bravest, thing of .all was ' the. plucky joumeyrof the .second.offi(»f,v who, in ; a motor-boat,':towiiig' .'another/boat \ with six or'.:seven.-bf v the crew in.it, went.;out in;the; rough sei''and' successfully reached Puysegur/ Point lighthouse./ / I cannot speak too highly'of Captain" Newton. He was on; the/bridgo - all: the- timje,- ; arid the moment we .struck, he. had/a 1 chart.'in his . hand..:. The. women ;behaved: very bravely.".;'- If anyone : was 'excited it was the:- men, "not the' women."" ;\ '.'.,.

'; SEARCHING I;OR;THE ROCK. ■").-.! (Byt:Telegraph—Press i-Association;).': '. ■'■-}:■■'{< '■■ .;■ ;// Inverbarnill,,January 6. ; The "officers of;, the, : Waikare/ma,de a search for the /mysterious':rock,/'but. no sign, could, bo 'found. 'Another, uncharted rock; was sbunded;'in : seven fathoms in '•;. proximity, to/ the supppsedr-'pi'nnacle rock, and- this.'has; been; buoyed' to: assist in' a further.search;i. ; .Z Z u '"-' ■'■■.•>>>"''"; /Captain Newton-vand-.the.;.first,-', and second officers of the :. remained with"the vessel; bnt will return by. the, Moura to-day. \- A/testimonial to the "captain, was 'largely ..'signed! by . tie passengers...,-. - '. '■'■';■■■:? -~ : '':\ ■'■'■"; :■■..■ • ■:■ 'The pasKngers',were;.transferred,;to a special- train, ; which reached'; Invercargill at; 8 o'clock.; '•-Subsequently; they' went ■ on' to Dunedin. :../'/;/; ,:„•../-.-/

." : Sir James.Mills,/chaifman''bf ■ (Jirectors of.the/Hnion: Company^'Mplying/to the Prime' Minister's;: telegram/of; sympathy, promises to see/'that'' the'.services., of.', the stewardesses shall' be .suitably -.recognised. . Mri; J as.- "More,'•- sen';,' who was /the'. only .Invercargill passenger ; 'pni board/tlio;:.Waikare, ;gave a',very -possible' solution: of the non-finding, of; the',pinnaclerpck;durmg the subsequent'T, search;;: He was stand-: ihg: on. the .'bows .when the; vessel i struck, and there-were•'two distinct sbpbks,,land, then,, a-: quiver.-'./ The/quiver.seemed to him to indicate that' the rock was pin-nacle-shaped, : and that . the;. second, shock had snapped the 1 , summit bflV .The 'first, hit was' just/under.'where .he/was. standing in the bows,-and the second onZthe starboard side of the engine.

i STRUCK- AT FULL SPEED. ; v ■■'.-;■■:•'-'.:. a solemn;moment: ;'■'■. ; (By./Telegraph.—Presß-.Association;).. :• Invercargili, January 6. ■ Dr. Crawford, of 'Kaiapoi, gave\ an interesting account'. of the ' wreck. He, his wife, and Mr. Barber (fourth officer), were chatting on deck while the steamer was proceeding.'down- the Sound at full: speed. They had just .passed Indian Island, whon they were; startled by, a sudden severe shock' to the vessel,...that: sen-' sibly reduced her, speed., .This/was.fok lowed.. almost immediately by a second shock, and then.' a .third,-, less severe. There was naturally" considerable./ alarm amongst the ; passengers, '.but absolutely no, panic. '•■•ln'', about; three minutes,.the ship.tqok.a considerable Jist'to' starboard, and. the order . came , from ■ the -captain

to stand-by the, boats. .Life-belts were handod but, and in.ten minutes a boatload of ladies, in charge of two sailors and the doctor himself, who was the only male passenger in the boat,, got away, and landed on- a small island half a .mile from , where the ship, struck. In tho meantime the Waikare was beached.

Wire hawsers and ropes from stem and stern were made fast ashore. The.crew were soon at work clearing a space in the bush- above high-water : mark; and lighting; fires.. Tea', and .coffee were quickly' available; for the ladies, shelters, were- made, and large sails strung: up to keep off the- rain. ■ Under these mattresses were laid, with- the result that by nine-o'clock ; most of the'-'.people had selected, a : camping-ground and settled down- for- the -As evening approached rain began to' fall heavily, but fortunately it'did not last'long; .The. utmost good : humour prevailed throughout,.and all took the discomfiture of their position lightheartedly. One wit played Won't Go Home Till Morn-' ing" on a dinner bugle. No one really got- mnch sleep, and with a .sigh of, relief dawn was welcomed. ,By 7. a.m. the cook,: in. face .of; many drawbacks, produced an- excellent repast -of. eggs and bacon, - which -was partaken' of .by all hands.. " ';'/■'■ ' .

SWIFT SERVICE OF LIFEBELTS. professor bknham's story: " . (By Teleera-ph.—Press Association.). I nvercargill, January. 6. : ; Professor. Benham; of '. Otago' University, said he would '• ifke to impress the point regarding; what the. officers ■ and crew had tfone for the passengers. There ;had' beenho shortage 'of food, ; tents, .or anything. One thing, that had struck him in particular was the great promptitude with which the lifebelts were distributed and fixed' aad the boats run down to. the water. Two or three ladies reduced their clothing to'. scanty proportions, and had to be; refitted out on shore, and that was the only unorthodox occurrence; '•'' ■ ,'.-

HON, VIEWS. /';V EFFECT W TOURIST .TEH'S. '.:; "'!..'•.; (By Telegraph.—Pross, Association.); . ■'.•■'■•. 'Invercargill, January 6. v The Hon. Thomas. Mackenzie, who was on a- visit",to : Invercargill'.to-day, was interviewed in; regard? to Dusky -Sound, with 'which--the -. Minister' is particularly well acquainted; vHe'said that, the-Sound had.''.' a' .great.. interest'./ for ..him because of. its' historical-assppiations,'. and .also because:of ;the fact that, in. 1894 and .1896,' ho/ explored ; the ' country -between . the south-iyest "af-m'-'.bf Lake.. Manapouri aid Supper Cove of Dusky .-Sound,', connecting.'v bis explorations. with, the, part ..that. Captain Cook ;■ explored. Dusky Sound was,the sceno'.of .Captain' Cook's most important -West Coast work.' He 'made a most careful survey of-it, and his maps,' to! this; day, wero' the: very best that had ever been published.:...'•.,' •-. -.'-''.

i. He-fthe ..Minister), had' spent a month in the. Sound.' .. There i;was; an' island called 'Anchor Island near' the ' entrance, and,;- during, a,- fearful ./storm- ;'that 'raged. in. the i inside...- harbpu'r,';' Vancouver.'', was nearly /.wrecked.:.. There-:were:;-,dangerou's rocks 'in'the JS6und,'-"aad there-.was.one which/. Captaiii Sinclair,{"'formerly'of -the Tar^awera,':had,'been'/afj'aid';of. ; ;'''lt'..tos' only."l2ft..deep at low'tide. There'Vere also a: lot of small islands that rno'.navigator would go near, but' he (Mr. Mackenzie) ; tad always'.understood \ that the f airway, was'.clear. .-: '.'■"'■'■'

Do you think that ,this accident will interfere .with the tourist traffic ? .'.Mr. /Mackenzie was asked. ,: v . •.'■:■'■:: ■..'.-.'■:

"Oh, no," replied, the Minister, "Navigators can afford'to'-.leave, tie-south' side, of Indian Island,-'.and 'take the 'north side (the way I have usually gone), where the waterway,'.is deep 'aid- wide." 'Xv'

PASSENGERS' TESTIMONIAL. TO CAPTAIN AND OFFICERS! (By, Telegraph.—Prcsß Association.) Invercargill, January 6. The following testimonial was drafted while the passengers were returning by the Pioneer and was signed by all the passengers of the warship and will be forwarded in due courso to those, concerned:—

To the captain, officers, and crew ■' ; of theis.s.' Waikaxe.—The. passengers - : of the 6.6. Waikaie on the 6econd ,Sounds trip, January, 1910, desire to~" '. express their, appreciation':'.•, of '■■ the ;.< ■conduct of the captain, officers,'• and '.' men on the occasion of.the recent .-',- :, lamentable ioss .of the ship. In . their opinion' theboatsj'were' got into the water promptly; and. without ,'conr ' r f iision..; Immediately .'after the accK;■■• dent; the -passengers were directed :r;and assisted^?'embark:on .the boats jrith the' utmost .promptitude, ' the ; itime.of .embarkation scarcely exceeding, a quarter, of. an hour. ..The .. ' camp was.' established on the : island . ; so'as'to. giye'the passengers as good, •:■ shelter''as was possible,"in the; circumstance.s'. from :- ; the.': heavy rain :. which".fell on the : night ; after the, . accident. V'The officers, and crew -vied ■ with one another in attending to the Swanta of passengers," and' the cater-' - ing arrangements', under, the inost ; ex-; ' traordina'ry' difficulties, .were, car- ■-'. lied', out" so efficiently ".that abund- . \ anceof food'was always ready. :The. , slebping'varrahgehients: were so. effi- : " ciehtly arranged' that, almost all were able to have the" best accommodation ' possible under the. circumstances,, so .that the passengers .were able-to enjoy."' a .reasonable'.'amount, of comfort . during; the-enforced, stay .on .the/is-: \ .land.,. The. result, is. due, to'.the.foreT . thought,! care, -and• skill; of"the offi- ■ cers,. and now -wo .desire,, therefore,; :■ to,: offer 'our' best'thanks ;to "the" cap-"' ,'; tain,,officers,., and; crew. , ~ •;,..

CHANCES OF SALVAGE. ~.EXT^WSLY/POpE.:;: ,] ;' { : :'j :(By Telegraph.—Press'.Association.) :•■;;'. " ■■•■. Dunedih,, January .6... One of '■. the telegrams; sent by, ; Mr.. Whitson; ■] secretary, of the ;TJnion- Steamship, Company,- states' ;that there 1 are no prospects;of' saving' ; ;th'e ship, '.which will probably sUp. into;'the-water'the first: bad weather. '. " /"$ > .:''... [Mr. W; A. Kennedy, lockl.manager for the Union .Company, has received a telegram from, headquarters stating that the chances -of saving; the Waikare' are' oxtrenwly poor.] .''. . ■

FROM LORD PLUNKET. !.;.,■ MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY.-. •'',' The' Prime .Minister 'has;.received the following, telegram from ; the. .Governor, at T6kaanu:—., -';:, : . .- '"Deeply.regret to hear of: the loss ,of the Waikare, and trust that, the passengers and ,crew are" none '.the .'■ ' .worse for: their exposure. Please ex- ' press my sympathy with ■ them in •.their misfortune, and thankfulness that there was-no/loss of? life," , _■';'■. '■ Sir Joseph Ward, at once with, bis Excellency's .wishes. :

THANKS; TO COMMANDER BLUNT. , BY THE- PRIME MINISTER. . ; (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) a I nvercargill, January^. . Sir Joseph . Ward personally conveyed to Commander, Blunt, on the arrival of the Pioneer at the Bluff, his appreciation of. the promptitude and'expedition show'n by the commander in proceeding to. the. wreck, and for tho kindness and attention, shown by himself, his; officers,

and crow to those whom they brought back, within twenty-four hours of the Pioneer leaving tho Bluff. Sir Joseph; at the/same time, cabled to- Sir Richard Poors' (Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station) at Sydney:— .••:

"On behalf of • the Government, I wish, through you, to thank Commander Blunt and his officers and : crew for the splendid service at . short • notice rendered by them in ..'proceeding-to Dusky Sound and bring-' ing safely to tho Bluff within twentyfour hours 210 passengers and crew of the wrecked steamer Waikare, all/ : of whom were made most comfort- ' > able on board' the Pioneer, and received . the .greatest 'attention 'and - kindness from. Commander' Blunt, ■■ : his officers, and men." '..'.'

Although the tug Terawhiti was fully equipped and ready., to leave for the scene of-the wreck.. yesterday morning, 6ho.remained in port all day,-as the company's local branch was awaiting instructions from headquarters after- the return of the Moura from the scene of the wreck! The Moura was not expected to return.to the Bluff till an early hour to-day.' ••