HOW THE WAHINE ACTED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1839, 27 August 1913, Page 8

HOW THE WAHINE ACTED.

STORY BY THE CAPTAIN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) 1 Chrlatchurcli, August 26. Seen on board tho Waliino shortly, after her arrival, Captain A. M. Edwin gave a reporter a very clear and connected story of tho happenings at Wellington Heads from the time ho received tho'first news of tho trouble. "Wo could," ho said, "plainly see ill tho rod glare, heavy seas rolling in and breaking on tho rocks close to the ship, but wo could not distinguish much of tho ship or judgo of her size. Failing to get her name, wo next Morsed tho question, 'Can you land?' but her reply was obscured by tho rod glare, and could not bo ascertained. Then wo inquired, 'Have you any boats?' and iu tho interval of darkness wo got her reply, 'Yes.' Wo then mado another effort to ascertain tho ship's name, but all that wo could read of her lamp's reply wero tho letters V. 0. N. Wo knew that tho Devon was duo to arrivo at Wellington last ijight from Auckland, so, of course, when wo lead tlioso final lottors, wo identified tho stranded vessel as that steamer. Iu tho meantime," continued Captain Edwin, "wo had sent wireless messages into Wellington, informing tho harbourmaster (Captain Johnston) that tho steamer was on tho rocks, and giving her approximate position. I also informed him that it was impossible to render any nssistanco to tho steamer except from tho shore. Tho seas wero tremendous and so heavy that there was absolutely no chanco of getting noar tho steamer, and it was plainly evident from her position that there was no liopo of getting her off. tho rocks, on which slio must havo been pounding and grinding very. heavily. About 9.30 p.m. I received a wireless messago from tho harbourmaster, stating that a harbour ferry steamer was being got ready to come out to tho scene of tho wreck, and asking 1110 to adviso tlioso on board tho Devon of that fact. Wo Morsed tho harbourmaster's message to tho Devon, but wo received 110 response to our signals. It would havo been madlioss to havo attempted to got .iiny closer than wo had been, and 110 good purpose could havo been served in doing so. It was perfectly evident that wo, or any other steamer, nothing to assist tho Devon or anybody 011 board of her in tho hard galo which was blowing and the tremendous seas running. Tli'o only hope of assistance for tlioso 011 board was from tho shoreward side, and it would only havo been courting another disaster for any vessel to venturo oloso to tho Devon. I stood by as long as I thought we could bo of any assistance in communicating with the ship, but aftijr I liafl learned that a ferry boat was coming out,_ and as there was 110 object in my taking tho Wahino back up tho harbour, 1 put her 011 her courso for Lyttelton at full speed."

Wo have to acknowledge our thanks to Mr. J. Mallard, manager of tho National Insurance Company, for the particulars from his records, published yesterday, of tho various shipping casualties at and about t'ho .Wellington Heads.

Th'oso de.sirous of viewing ilio wrecked steamer Devon aTo informed elsowhero that the ferry steamer Awaron will leave the Ferry Jetty to-day at! 2.30»p.m. for the sceno if tho wreck, circumstauces/per. milling.