WIMMERA DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 241, 29 June 1918, Page 8

WIMMERA DISASTER

LATEST NEWS FROM THE NORTH SPLENDID BRAVERY OF THE WOMEN SEARCHING THE COAST FOR SURVIVORS Little fresh news concerning the disaster to the Wimmera on Tuesday morning came to hand yesterday. All of the lifeboats that left the vessel have been actuated for. Of the reported missing yesterday it now transpires that three .who booked passages missed the steamer. They wore a Airs. V. M'Lean, a Mr. Hewett, of Wellington, and a Chinaman. The Huddart-Parker Company is linking a thorough search made of the const in the vicinity, but 110 further survilors have been reported. The possibility that the missing persons might be adrift on a raft is not considered likely, as the rapid sinking of the steamer would not have allowed enough time for the launching of a raft. It is expected that a corrected list ot tho saved and the. missing of the passongers and crew will be issued m -Wellington tq-dav. Mr. Hewett, who missed/the steamer, is the' father of Mr. C. Hewett manager of the New Zealand Views Company, Limited, Wakefield Street. A misund'.rstandiug as to what day the Avimmera would sail brought Mr. Hewett back to Wellington to join the Moeraki. which sailed ycsterdiy • ~ Mr. H. Vergh, the chief steward of the ■Wimmera, who is missing, was one ot tho most popular officers in the AustralianNew Zealand service. He had. been with tho liuddart-Parker Compaq »r soma time. The Party at Mangonui. The Naval Adviser has officially annoumced that tho names of the JO survivors. who landed at Mangonui m No. 1 lifeboat are as follow:— Women. Mesdames D. Browning, Sydney Jones and W, J. Giblm and 2 children. Misses Alice Dunn, Ada Sayeh. Browning, Street. J. Blackborough, I<\ AV- Mole, Charles Hodder, 'I'. G. P. Llhott, L. Henderson, T. Grimshaw, J. M'Cartney, F. 0. Jones, B. Gamble, W. Brewis, A\. Murdoch, R. Saville, H, Douaghy, P. M'Creeve, W. Roper, S, Yates, W. J. Giblm; also one member ,of the'erew whose name is at present uncertain,

STORIES OF SURVIVORS BRAVE WOMEN By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland' Juno 28. The "Star's" Parenga correspondent BUrv ivors , state | that the steamer was shattered by an explosion 1 towards the stern, which com " pletely wrecked the social hall and part of the bathing accommodation. The Wimmera settled quickly on an even keel. The failure of the lights within ■ two minutes made the work of leaving .the ship difficult. Within thirty minutes she went down by the stern, carrying with her a considerable portion of the passengers and crow. Four boats were launched, one other being stove in, and one swamped. All tli® survivors at Parenaa are well and in excellent spirits. Many instances of coolness and grit are told. The crew are enthusiastic about the splendid courage of the women and children. Among the passengers and orew there were many splendid instances oi courago. Mrs. Robertson, stewardess, cheerfully helped the women and children with the scanty clothing available, and in fitting lifebelts. Then she walked to the upper deck and stood by doing what she could till the steamer took her final plunge. Mrs. Gould, aged seventy, wished to stay on board to make room for some younger women, saying she had lived her life and that younger women were of. moro use. She was taken off, and throughout the hours on the water and the trying tramp over the hills to Waihiieliu'e with, little clothing on and without boots she and Mrs. Croft, wife of Captain Croft,'of the Huddart-rarker Company, did much to keep up the spirits of the party. Colonel Graham and Captain Kells refused to embark in the boats, and went down with the ship. The chief engineer walked off the Wimmqra as she sank, and was rescued by an already loaded boat. One lady, whose name is unknown, worked at the oare in the pull to the shore. Her hands wero badly blistered. The assistant purser had a trying time on the journey to To Hapua, over rough country, on horseback, with a Maori guide, to let. us know of the disaster. A large number of survivors will arrive at Auckland to-morrow. survivorsTeave parenga . SEARCH OFTHE COAST, , By Telegraph—Press Association. Te Paka, June 28. The s.s. Waiotahi left Parenga harbour at .10.25 this morning- for Auckland, with 94 survivors on board. Save for sore feet from tho long rough walk over mountainous country, all are well and in excellent, spirits. The officers and crew aTe loud 111 their praise of tho Bplendid behaviour of the wom?n and childron. It is understood that a boatload of .30 other Burvivors is awaiting transport from Mangonui. Men sent from Te Paki station to search the coast from North Cape to Cape Maria Van Diemen report that no bodies or wreckage are to be seen. Constables Calwell and Thornell, from Kaitoia nnd Houhora, • aro engaged in patrolling the coast. Survivors speak in glowing terras of the kindness and hospitality they experienced at the hands of Mr. Munro, of Waihuahua station, and tho residents of Te Hapua and Parenga. The Waiotahi is expected to reach Auckland about Saturday forenoon./

CLANSMAN'S SURVIVORS DUE TO-DAY Auckland, June 28. The steamer Clansman has left Mangonui for Auckland .direct with 125 survivors, and is due here at nine o'clock to-mor-row. The steamer Waiotahi left Alanganui for Opua to coal, and will make a further, search. . HEAYYIitfL lost The Wimmera carried over eighty bags of mails for Australia, India, China and Soath Africa. The mail included bags from tho centres outside Auckland. RECEPTION TO THE SURVIVORS. Auckland, Juno 28. A meetinf o ' citizens was held to-night to arrange for the re ception of the .survivors. A relief fund has been oponed. It is believed that five of thoso whose names were published as passengers were not on the boat. So far as is ascertainable, twenty-nine are still missing. AN ADDITIONAL LIST OP SURVIVORS. . Auckland, June 28. Tho following are additional names of thoso who were saved:— Hawkswood, assistant purser, Miss J. Kcnman, and a seaman named Hawes. Included in the 125 ou the Clansman an; eight persons whose names are not kiiir.vn. According to the latest information twenty-seven are still missing. The fourth engineer of the Wimmera, Mr. Douglas L. Jloivat, is well known m Wellington, having served his apprenticeship at Cable's foundry. He is tho youngest son of this late Mr. w. Mowat, t'orroerlv Inspector of Machinery in Wellington. His mother lives in Thompson Street. Wellington.