THE TARARUA DISASTER.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2242, 5 May 1881, Page 3

THE TARARUA DISASTER.

The “ Southland Times” says that Mr J. O, Eva, a prominent Dunedin citizen, and well known here, was last seen on the bridge calmly viewing tho scene. Mr Adam Q-ordiner, secretary of the Seamen’s Union, informs the "Daily Times” shipping reporter that throe of the crew of tho Tararua who are supposed to be lost did not leave in the vessel. Duncan Corbett, a fireman, was left in gaol at Lyttelton ; J. Gibb, A. 8., loft the ship prior to her departure from Port Chalmers ; while William Lobban, u fireman, also loft at Port Chalmers.

It is almost certain that amongst the persons on board tho Tararua whose passages were not paid at the Company’s office was a Mrs Rosenfeldt, with her tour children, who intended to join her husband in Melbourne. On the 28th u!t. John M'Lood, an expressman who took her boxes from Kuikorai down to the Dunedin railway station, noticed thot they wore marked, "Per a s, Tararua to Melbourne.” Sho remarked to tho porter who put her boxes into the van of the 2.30 p.m. train to the Port that she wr.s going to Melbourne by tho Tararua. Throe of the children were girls. Mr Thomas Brodrick, Lloyd’s agent, sends tho following letter to Tuesday’s “ Southland Times”:—“ln your loading article of this morning you give a wrong impression about the services the s.s. Kakanui could have rendered had Mr Mills, tho manager of tho Union 8. 8. 00., employed her. Immediately I hoard of the stranding of the s.s. Tararua (although it was stated that the passengers were all saved) I thought it my duly to got the Kakanui to tho scene of the disaster. The •toamer bad then left ths Invercargill Wharf for the Bluff, and the agents told me that the captain had been instructed to go to the wreck, which ho did as soon as practicable ; consequently I could do no more, nor could any order from Mr Mills have been the means of saying life. ” [PEH33 ASSOCIATION TBLBOBAM.J TIMAEU, May 4. The remains of George Martin, wrecked in tho Tararua, were buried to-day at Otaio. The funeral was attended by a large number of people. It has been ascertained that John Flaherty, and Eoger Welsh, from this district, went on board the Tararua at Port Chalmers. Their names do nob appear amongst the list cf passengers, Ed. Flowers and A. McFarlane, of Timaru district, erroneously reported by telegram to have gone on board the s.s. Tararua at Port Chalmers, booked by the Rotorua for Sydney on tho 28th of April.— Ed. Globe.] DUNEDIN, May 4. At a meeting this morning to devise means for tho relief of the sufferers by the wreck of the Tararua, Mr Mills, the managing director of the Union Company, explained that while ho agreed that a light should be placed on Waipapa, tho accident had not occurred through the captain’s desire to make a quick passage. There was no necessity for a quick passage, tho distance between tho Bluff and Port Chalmers was so short that steamers could always accomplish it without difficulty. The reason for keeping so close in shore was i that some distance to seaward of these reefs was a rook known as Toby Rook, and if the vessels were kept too far away from the shore they were liable to run into danger from the other side. <

At the inquest a verdict was returned of “Found drowned,” and tho jury added a rider, “That in view of tho number of wrecks at this point of tho coast, tho Government ought, for tho safety of lives, to put a light on Waipapa Point.” WYNDHAM, May 5, 9.30 a.m. Tho “ Times ” correspondent telegraphs : “ I have just arrived hero from the wreck, having left there at about four o’clock on Tuesday, No bodies whatever came to shore, but to-day five have been found. Two wore got by tho police on first going out in the morning, having been washed up by the tide during the night; the other throe wore got at from eight to ten o’clock in the forenoon, when the tide had reached the flood, and was just on the point of turning. The whole five were found within two miles of the wreck, one, that of tho stewardess, being found almost directly opposite where tho vessel lies. Four of tho bodies have been identified beyond question, and the fifth is believed to be known from hie dress. The two thrown up during the night were passengers, one named John Dodson and the other Ohas. Holt. Dodson is about sft 7in in height, of about thirty-four years of age, dark hair, whiskers, and moustache, shaved on the chin, and clothed in a striped grey tweed suit. He had £2l odd upon him and a Bank draft on the Union Bank of Australasia, Melbourne, for £4O. It was dated Dunedin, April 27th. It was hy this ho waa known. Charles Holt was known by a passage ticket found in his pocket from Wellington to London. It was dated 22nd April. Ho had sixpence in his pocket and a silver watch. Bo looks to have been twentytwo years old, is clean shaved, with dark hair, and of stout build. He had on a peculiar pair of boots, laced up, with elastic sides. dt the other three two are known to be the stewardess (Miss Aitken), and the second cabin steward (William Davidson). They were recognised by the chief mate, Mr Lindsay. There was nothing in the way of documents upon them by which they could be identified. The stewardess was left on the beach by the sea, and found about ten o’clock; tho second cabin steward, Davidson, was got out from the sea with a good deal of difficulty. He had £5 odd on him, and some jewellery, such as three gold rings,la scarf pin and locket, &o. Tho fifth body is that of an old man about fifty, but bis features are too far washed away to allow of his identification. He is 6ft Sin high, and shaved on the chin with darkish whiskers, but the hair is entirely off his head. He has dark woollen trousers on and a tweed coat, and as his sleeves are rolled up it is thought he was a fireman who had been at work. He had only half a crown on him and no documents. Up till eleven o'clock on Tuesday no more bodies had been found at Waikawa, Inspector Buckley having had a letter from one of the constables sent on there to that effect. The bodies therefore so far recovered on shore number eleven, namely: —Bailey (Criterion waiter), Joseph Wallace, from Lyttelton ; Charles Holt, from Wellington; John Dodson, George Gorton, a man unknown, a female unknown, and a boy unknown, all passengers } William Davidson, second cabin stewardj Miss Aitken, stewardess; and a supposed fireman belonging to the ship. Besides these, of course, there are tho man and baby picked up at sea and taken to town by the Hawea. Dr. Campbell’s brother went on to Waikawa to see if the body found there was his nephew, but discovered that he was not. I sent you word that he recognised the female body at the station as the doctor’s servant, but this is not correct. He did not know.the servant the family took with them for the passage home, and was therefore unable to say whether the body was her or not. The boy found at Waikawa is described as eight or nine years of age, having dark brown hair. He had only a check shirt on. The police have arranged for the burial of tho bodies of this boy and Gorton at Waikawa. Other things found from tho wreck include a box marked “William White, per ship Otaki,” with “Per Tararua, for London, via Melbourne,” also marked on it; a dressing gown, having the name “B. Buckle ” marked on the neck, and part of a man’s nightshirt with the name « iff, B. Jones.” This was the name of tho ship's purser. I should have mentioned that the bodies got to-day are very much affected by the action of the water. The features are repulsive to look upon, the flesh having sunken inf the eyes being out, and the whole head presenting almost tho ghastly appearance of a skull. The faces are not in any way disfigured. Tho bodies are all fully clothed. The four bodies upon which tho inquest waa held were buried yesterday at Fortress cemetery. A service was read over them at Otara by tho Bov. Mr Fairolpugh, of Invercargill; and afterwards, at the cemetery, Mr Attwood, sen., a local resident, read tho burial service. Tho ceremony at tho graves was witnessed by a few of tho settlers in the locality. Coffins oro being made for those last discovered, and the bodies are intended to be interred at Fortroie also. Mr Henry, photographer, of Invercargill, took portraits of the four bodies before burial, but it is very questionable whether he can do so with those found to-day, os the features are very much wasted away. Tho police are doubtful about what to do with the bodies. The friends of tho passengers who mot their fate in the boat are of course anxious to obtain possession of the corpses of those in whom they took an interest j but there is no provision so far for taking them to Dunedin or elsewhere. I notice since I came here, by tho “ Times ” of to-day, that the Kakanni is to come into tho Toi Tois on Saturday, but the bodies can hardly be kept until. It is a great pity that this arrangement was not previously thought

of. Tho coroner has given out hority to bury all the others found without an inquest, which, of course, would bo entirely a formal affair.