THE KIA ORA WRECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2109, 18 June 1907, Page 3

THE KIA ORA WRECK.

NARRATIVES OF SURVIVORS. SOME HARD EXPERIENCES. FIVE SUPPOSED TO BE DROWNED. HEROISM OF A STEWARDESS. Press Association.

AUCKLAND, yestovdav. Joseph Morris, an A. 8., whoso station was on the raft, said in an interview respecting tho wreck of tlio Kia Ora that tho chief mate and himself wore tho last to bo picked up. “When the ship wont down? I wont down with her, but the mate and I clung to a piece of wreckage. I heard the captain calling out to fetch tlio boat alongside. Ho was then hanging on to the funnel. The boat went to him, I think, but I did not seo what they did. “Tho raft came to our assistance,

and we wero taken off. Everyono was more or less knocked about. When wo got on tbo raft the ship was gone. “Tho rnft was afterwards taken in tow. There was no food or water on the raft. Tho chief engineer and myself wero tlio last to bo picked up. The settlers treated .its very kindly. We had a hard job in getting to the Rarawa.” W. Dunning, fireman, said: “AA r e wore going full speed when we struck. The ship rolled too hoavily to got -the boats out. It was pitch dark. Thore were four of us forward, a sailor named Forbes, a passenger of tho sain© name, Carver, and myself. Forties, tho passenger, had a lifebelt. “The captain and pant— boy were hanging on to tho funnel. When the funnel wont over the captain went with t. The screams of the boy were dreadful. “Some one cried out ‘She’s going,’ then our part of tho ship went down and we wore all in the water. Forbes, tho passenger, floated about for a little I heard him say, ’Good-bye, I’m done.’ “I could see the lifeboat a.long way off, bocause of the bend light in her. I believe she was five miles off, but we made for the light, and reached her, Forbes the sailor and myself. The former was on a bag of chaff.

‘ ‘For some timo thoro were 13 on board, then we picked up Symes and a boy hanging to the for© and aft of the main hatch. Later on wo picked up Hodgson. He had a lifebelt, but could not swim. He was nearly done. 1 “AVe came up with the raft, and took her in tow. There were eleven on her. AA r hen daylight came we nicked a sandy spot, and about 9.15 pulled over the surf. There were only men on tho raft. AVe had no clothes, and it was very wet and cold. “The chief engineer was on watch when the ship struck. Ho stood by the engines till the very/last.” He added: “It was too dangerous to bring the women and children off to tho s.s. Rarawa. Mr. Baggstrom, the chief engineer, desorves great praise for the way he stood by the women and children. He hurt his back working to save others. He would not leave with us, preferring to stay behind till he had seen everyone taken away.”

One of the Kia Ora’s passengers, AA T . Lash, arrived at AVaitara on Saturday by the launch Ivotahi from Marokopa. In his account of the disaster, he states that on the vessel striking coffee was immediately ordered and served to the women and children.

He states there were 11 on board the raft and 20 in. the boat. This accounts for three more saved than the rescued members of the ship’s company acounted for, and would reduce the loss.of life to five at the most.

One passenger, Kavanagli.was picked up floating on a bale of'chaff two hours after the wreck. Partridge 1 was the passenger whose leg was o ‘broken, and was. picked up in the P water, his leg being temporarily set c by the engineer, Mr Baggstrom, who t also was considerably hurt. - ® The survivors in the boat sang, * “Home, Sweet Home,” and other I son"s, the stewardess, Miss Kellar, in- 1 spiring confidence by leading them. 1 Her conduct is highly spoken of. She a collapsed on reaching the shore. a A telegram from Kahwia anticipa- li tes difficulty infringing them there, F owing to the almost impassable state » jf the tracks. 0 No bodies have been recovered. c Thomas Chambers, A. 8., on the v Xia Ora, interviewed, said: “AVhen e she crash came all rushed on deck, - got the boats ready them a out. The tw6 “Boats were swung out c and the women and children put into jne and got away safely. While we were getting one boat away the other went about and got smashed. The poop deck was submerged first, and v then the captain’s bridge went under. g Two others and myself, the captain a included, were getting off the top of the bridge when the sea caught us and carried us away. I was thrown on to the side and the captain into , the middle of the bridge. Then I was j, carried right away and partly sucked x down by the water. I got hold of an ' oar. I did not see any more of the , captain. , .... . He further stated that he was one of those who got on the raft. There ‘ was no great excitement nor panic. j The forbearance.of all right through, ; especially the women, was most noteworthy. ' Among the party was an old lad- Mrs. Cox, of Raglan. Chambers says 27 were saved, but he could not tell the names. , Similar statements have been made ' bv other members of the crew. | Mr. C. Hanson, manager, of the Northern Comp.any, says the others will be got off without delay.. The engagement of the crew terminates - with the' loss of the vessel, but the • company will be responsibel for any of the crew who may need to go to • hospital. |

DOUBT AS TO LOSS. i CAUSE OF THE WRECK. NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. No further particulars are available regarding the loss of life in the Kia Ora wreck. The shipping office only accounts for 32 passengers and crew having . left Waitara, so that if this is correct five have been dost. It-is most likely, however, that some went aboard without booking or were already on board. .. A survivor turned up at Kawiiia whose name does not appear in the passenger list, and it may be that the second steward’s, estimate that there were 35 aboard is a correct one. It is not known whether there are any additional to those who made shore, but the boat and raft have turned up. , , Magnus Forbes, who was drowned while swimming to the boat, was a well-known Taranaki farmer, who had also a large holding in the Kawhia district. c j.v,„ As offering an explanation of the Kia Ora being closer in shore than she ought to have been, it is suggested that there is a stronger set towards the shore than there Used to be This has been noticed lately by Captain Norbury and Captain Hood. The latter: also points out that contrary to tho old theory that the current on the coast sets northwards, the only wreckage from the Kia Ora that has yet been found was picked up several miles southwards. SURVIVORS TAKEN TO KAWHIA AUCKLAND, esterday. The Northern Company have received information that the s.s. Muritai rescued the remaining survivors of the Kia After landing the passengers at Kawiiia the Muritai proceeds to Oneliunga with the rest of the Kia Ora’s crew, arriving there to- night. ’ LOSS HELD TO BE THREE. I f AUCKLAND, yesterday. After careful inquiry the manager ’ of the Northern Steamship Company has come to the conclusion that only j three persons were drownod in the , wreck of the Kia Ora. I HELP FOR THE CREW. DUNEDIN, yesterdav. The Marine Superintendent, Auck- ■ land, having advised that the crew of the Kia Ora having arrived there " destitute, the Shipwreck Relief Socij etv at his request is allowing £3 per _ man for clothing.

LIST OF SURVIVORS. AUCKLAND, last night. Following members of . the passengors and crew of the Kia Ora wore taken to Kawhia to-day Mrs Cox, Ml and Mrs. Kavanagli. Mr. Partridge, Messrs Beggstrom and Lister (engineers), De Wolff.'(mate), Robinson (escond mate), Miss Keller (stewardess), Peterson (chief steward), DE. Kolia (cook’s boy), Johnson (cabin boy), and Andrews (A. 8.). Messrs Pratt Barraclough, Hudson, and Lush walked to Kawhia. Mr and Mrs Mclntosh and two child ran. went oi crland to Kinohaku. A Maori passenger is staying at Shearer’s farm.