A Disastrous Shipwreck.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 89, 9 October 1894, Page 2

A Disastrous Shipwreck.

* SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE. (Per Press Association. Albany, This Day. The Schooner Grace Darling, from Israelite Bay, reports tbat she picked up a boat containing 12 survivors of the steamer Kodondo, bound trom Adelaide to Albany She struck qn the Pollook Reef off Cape Arid at 2 a.m. on Suuday, and became a total wreck. The exact number drowned is unknown but all the crew and officers were Bayed, One passenger shot himself while in the water. Tbe boat picked up left South East Island in charge ot the chief officer to get assistance. Those in her were for 24 hours on one biscuit and a chop each. Later. After picking up the boat the schooner made for South East Island. At dawn the Rodondo's boat crew left here to try and bring the survivors from the Island, but owing to the heavy sea were unable to effect a landing. Particulars show the vessel struck in smooth water, floated for twelve hours, and then sank stern foremost. The passengers were in a pitiable plight with regard to clothing. The suryivgrs |eft the steamer in seven boats and two rafts. It is marvellous how they got ashore, as the spot scarcely affords lauding for seals. Later in the morning the boats were able to communicate with the schooner. The first to reach here was a boat load of women and ohildren, and the officers and orew, working their hardest, by noon all were safely transferred. The conduct of the firemen was most disgraceful. When the ship struck they, with a number of the passengers, rushed the two boats. Their weight broke down the davitts and all were hurled into the water, some paying the penalty with ■j&gir }jyes. The second office^ b*^ tije tops of two fingers taken off. ' •••■■■ So far as can bo ascertained the missing passengors aro Messrs FallH, Parry, and Wormwood ; those saved uumber 160 passengers, and 36 of the crew. One passenger lost 300 sovereigns. The Itodondo was far out of her course, which is accounted for by a large boiler parried; on affegtp^Aerco^paisspg.