FINDING OF THE BODIES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 111, 5 November 1894, Page 2

FINDING OF THE BODIES.

GHASTLY SCENES. SERIOUS CONDITION OF MISS WIL,LL»IS. Auckland, This Day. So far 62 bodies have been recovered from the wreck. Miss Williams' sister, who was saved after being for sevoral hours in the water, lies iv a critical condition. Her hair has turned grey. On Tuesday a dead woman was found floating in tbe sea off Port Fitzroy, a lifebelt supporting her, and a poor little drowned infant clasped to her inanimate breast. Close by lay a third remnant of poor humanity, another young woman, a lifebelt strapped round her, and her body wrapped in a bit of sail cloth. Portions of hep body were frightfully discoloured by bruises, received no doubt by contaot with tho cruel rooks, and her light brown hair was embedded in the sand. On her fingers were tbreo rings, one with pearls and small stones. She was apparently about 20 years of ago. The body was fearfully discoloured by bruises. Nos. 4 aud 5 of the bodies recovered in this bay wero found lying in a little bight under the Bhade of the pohutukawa trees. Tbey were thoso of two women, aud presented a pitiful sight. One of the women, both of whom had belts fastened round them, was entirely naked. Tho other wore a tattered chemise. The savage sharks had attacked the first-named body, which presented a shocking spectacle, the calf of ono leg ancl a big piece out of her side having heen bitten away. The younger girl was apparently 14 or 10 years of ago, and looked a niorfc pitiable object as she lay with upturned faco on the sea-worn sbiugle, her eyes staring vacantly into space and her mouth filled with sand. The men in the party had to turn away their heads to hide their emotions as thoy took in their situation The faces of both bodies were 60 knocked about as to be unrecognisable Up on the beach some distanco further ou two more bodies wore fouud. One was that of a woman with grey hair, wearing a black Alpaca skirt ; the namo •' C. Stewart " was sown on her garments. The body is believed to be that of Mrs C. Stewart, a saloon passenger. ' Tbe next body fomjd *w>g tbat of a i

foung woman, the face and part of her iody covered by a chemise and petti;oat, the former of which had blood on t, as from a wound. This body was •ecognised as that of the eldest Miss ' 3coular, about IB years of age. The :ace was upturned, the mouth open, and i the whole appearance of the body terribly ghastly. Hard by lay the keel of ?ne of the Wairarapa's boats. Two bodies discovered a few yards away were identified as those of Mr Whaley commercial traveller, and the youngest. Miss Scoular, aged about 14 years. Both bodies were almost entirelynaked. The man's body was encircled by a lifebelt, and was lying with one arm over its face. The young girl had a nightdress on, which had got entangled round her waist The man had one sock on. His Worship the Mayor received the following telegram on Saturday : — " The Mayor, Feilding. "We are raising funds to relieve distress consequent ou the wreck of the Wairarapa, and trust that you will take immediate steps to assist in doing good work. " Brandon, " Mayor of Wellington." [By an advertisement in another column the Mayor has convened a public meeting of burgesses for Wednesday evening next, in the Assembly Rooms at 8 o'clock, for the purpose of raising funds to assist the sufferers by tho wreck of the Wairarapa. | During the service in St. Bridget's yesterday morning, tho Rev. Father Patterson announced that next Sunday, in tho Roman Catholic Churches in Feilding and Palmerston, collections would bo taken up in aid of the sufforers by the wreck of tbo Wairarapa. Thero was a largo attendance at the Salvation Army Barracks last evening, when a special memorial service was held in memory of Captain Laura Flavall, who was drowned in the wreck of the Wairarapa. Touching reference was made to the loss sustained hy the Army at the untimely end of the Captain. Sympathetic allusions were also made from the pulpits in the churches iv Feildiug during the services yesterday, and tho Salvation Army at Palmerston also held memorial services. During the service at the Wesleyan Church last night the Rev. W. H. Judkins announced that on next Sunday night ho would make the recent Wairarapa disaster the basis of his discourse.