THE TARARUA DISASTER.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2248, 12 May 1881, Page 3

THE TARARUA DISASTER.

A concert, in aid of the sufferers by the Tararua disaster, was given in the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Wednesday night by the members of the|3ydenham Amateur Musical Society, under the conduct of J. H. .Edmonds, Miss Bowler presiding at the piano. A well - selected programme, embracing many special gems, was performed, the ladies and gentlemen who kindly gave the performance each and all acquitting themselves most creditably. In the choruses especially they wore most commend* able, and the concert as a whole reflected the greatest credit on Mr Edmonds, the conductor, who seems to have trained his society almost to perfection in their art. There was a good attendance, though not so large as, under the circumstances, might have been expected. The Southbridge Christy Minstrel Troupe, who have been rehearsing for some time for a performance in aid of the Southbridge artesian well, hold a meeting on Monday evening, and decided that the forthcoming entertainment should be in aid of the widow and family of the late Mr Armitage, who was drowned in the Tararua. Tickets have been freely applied for. A gentleman in Christchurch has received the following letter from a friend at the scene of the wreck

“Dear 1 have just received your telegram, expressing a wish that I should attend the inquiry and employ a solicitor. When 1 reach Dunedin to-morrow night I shall then find from the letters awaiting me your reasons for thinking such a course expedient. Of course, since last Tuesday I have been shut out of the world of news, and consequently do not know if things are beginning to look black against or not ; and even the people here do not seem to be much wiser than myself. You heard from Mr of our safe arrival at Otara station, and all interesting details connected with the jonrney and myself I must leave until I can deliver it to you by word of mouth. On reaching the station the first thing I did was to visit the scene of the disaster. I need hardly add the picture was a most awful and heartrending one to behold. The only traces of the wreck were three spars standing out of the water some half mile from shore, but the foam and breakers stretching about five miles seaward in a S B. direction from Otara Point, showed us the position of the treacherous reef which had brought so much care and sorrow into many a household. The beach for miles to the east was strewn with wreckage. The strongest beams, decking, spars, and cabin fittings wore splintered into minute pieces. The lifeboat which brought the first mate safely to shore lay high and dry, split from stem to stern, the figure head, beautiful pieces of moulding, mahogany doors, clothing, and in five different places dead bodies, only too painfully reminded me of this awful tragedy. Being a shallow shore the waves broke quite two hundred yards from the water’s edge, causing a frightful surf. No wonder so many lives were lost in attempting to gain the shore. On] Thursday early we started again for the beach not very sanguine of success but determined to make ourselves useful if occasion required it. I find on looking at the charts that the coast here is only roughly surveyed, for what is marked as Waipapa Point on the Admiralty chart is Otara in another, and the reefs are not shown at all. I don’t think that this will alter the result of the enquiry, for there is no doubt bad no business so close in shore. To continue our Thursday's trip. Wo carefully searched the beach on to Black Point when we were forced on account of the rocky nature of the coast and high tide to ascend the cliffs, but examined every nook with a pair of glasses, but without success. The day showing signs of closing, we reluctantly returned. They had given us up at the station, thinking that perhaps we had gone on to Waikawa, about twenty-five miles distant. On Friday we stayed on the sandy beach, thinking that the most likely place for bodies to turn up. We were busy the whole day, and succeeded in obtaining eight bodies, but not the one we wanted. I was in and out of the water, and did what I thought I never had nerve to do. It was almost impossible to recognise the deceased persons, as the severe batterings they had received in the water and other causes had greatly disfigured them. We got four mere on Saturday morning before I left for Invercargill. Strange to say not one cabin passenger was saved nor is yet washed ashore. There was a meeting of the friends and relatives of departed ones at the station, and we unanimously decided that a spot should be selected near the scene for the interment of those who should bo washed up from that day. The Portrose Cemetery is over ten miles away, «nd over a very rugged country. There are other reasons which are too horrible to put to paper. Of course if any wish to have the bodies disinterred, that can be done, but none will be allowed to be removed unless leaden coffins are taken to the spot. The two corpses at Waikawa could only be got away by carrying them twenty miles on horseback. Our healths have been exceptionally good, and our nerves and spirits equal to the occasion.”

AUCKLAND, May 11

A public meeting was held in the Fitt street Wesleyan Church re the fund for the families of the late Revs. Richardson and Armitage. One hundred pounds was subscribed at the meeting, and a committee was appointed to collect subscriptions. Rev. Thomas Buddie presided, and the Revs. Dewsbury and Oliver and other gentlemen spoke. A resolution expressing sympathy with the bereaved families was carried. DUNEDIN, May 11.

The chief postmaster to-day received a telegram from Invercargill stating that the Dunedin mail bag recovered from the wreck of the Tararua contained 100 letters and 21 registered letters. Nineteen of the latter can be delivered, but the other two are much damaged.

ENQUIRY INTO THE WRECK, DUNEDIN, May 11. The inquiry into the wreck of the Tararua was resumed to-day. Mr James Smith appeared in place of Mr Holmes for the first and second mates.

Robert Lindsay, recalled, gave further evidence. The following is the most important part of the examination. Mr Simpson—l wish to ask you one question. When your captain came on deck at 3.45, had you any conversation with him ?

Witness —None at all, further than that he said the ship was making a very good course.

Mr Simpson—You had no conversation as to where the ship was —as to her position ?

Witness —No. Mr Simpson—At four o’clock was there any remark ?

Witness—No. Mr Chapman—l think you told us yesterday that you said nothing at the inquest about the position of the ship, when you went below at 4 a.m. ? Witness—Not that I am aware of.

By Mr Simpson—A mate takes no observations along the coast, but if the ship were in danger it would be bis duty to call the captain's attention to it. By Captain Thomson—l never tested the course between Fort Chalmers and the Nnggets by the leading lights. My duty on leaving Fort Chalmers is to be at the forecastle head.

Captain Thomson You steered three courses that night: first for the Nuggets, then for Slope Point, and then the fatal course, west. That oeurse west was a very particular one. There was the danger of Waipapa Point on the one hand and Toby Eock on the other. Do you not think it would have been a wise precaution to test that particular point by the leading lights from Otago Heads ? Witness—lt would not be for me to go to the captain and suggest those things. Captain Thomson—Do you think it would be wise to test that particular point ? Witness—Yes ; if I thought the compasses were not correct.

Captain Thomson—When you left with the boat with the three men and the boy who were to be landed, did it not occur to you that you and tho second mate were in possession of the only means of escape from the wreck, and that being so, did it not occur to you that you ought to take great care of the boats ? Witness —Certainly. Captain Thomson—Then how was it you came into the surf ? Witness —We were not in the surf when the sea whioh capsized the boat struck her. It was a blind roller that upset her. They were coming in heavily. Captain Thomson—You have told us that you sounded with tho oar and got B£t of watar. Witness—l was then eight or ten lengths outside the breakers. Captain Thomson —How long was it after you sounded before you were struck ? Witness—About five minutes; we were backing in quietly.

Captain Thomson—From your experience as a seaman, did you not consider that you were in great danger from the blind rollers when you only had Bft, of water ? Witness—l did not think of that. 1 was only thinking of how to save the passengers. When I left the ship there was not such 'a sea running as to lead mo to expect a break in Bft. of water. Captain Thomson—Now what plan did you propose to adopt to land these three men ? Witness—We had heaving linos with us. My idea was that one man should jump over and take one end of the line ashore, and then we in the boat would tend the lino, and make the others fast to it. John Williams, passenger, gave unimportant evidence. After the lunch adjournment, Edward Maloney, the second mate, went into the box. The following are the most interesting portions of his evidence:—l hold a second mate’s certificate from the Victorian Board, No. 143. I am in the employment of the Union Steamship Company, and have been so for three years and five months. I have been second officer all that time. After detailing what took place up to 5 o’clock on the morning of the wreck he proceeded : —lt might be ten or fifteen minutes afterwards when I again fancied that I could hear the surf on the beach. I went aft and told the captain I thought she was rather close. He was then looking at the chart on his table. Ho came and looked along on the starboard side, and rushed to the steering wheel which is aft in the Tararua. Ho put the helm hard astarboard. As the ship was coming round she struck. I cannot say how many points she had come round. I had seen nothing before she struck. After she struck she dragged heavily, for perhaps a few minutes, and then bumped and settled down. After she first struck she canted her head to the northward. I saw the broken water all round her. I could then see the loom of the land. Ho then went on to detail as previously stated what was done after the vessel struck, the way of landing from the boats, &c., and concluded —“ I have been with Captain Garrard for two months. I believe he kept a book in which he marked down the courses run, but I never saw it. 1 had no knowledge of the details of the coast, such as the boat harbors, I made no attempt to make for them. All the boats and appliances were in good order. The ship was well found. In my judgment the best was done after the wreck that could be done under the circumstances. At the time of the wreck everybody on board was perfectly sober. Captain Garrard was a teetotaller. By the Court—l stood oft and on with the boat during the afternoon to see whether I could render any assistance. At four o’clock the vessel was standing all right, and the passengers were on the forecastle head, and in the rigging. The water was breaking over the after part of the vessel. Ido not think a steamer could then have got inside the reef with safety. At least that is my belief. Mr Simpson—Could she have got in an hour previously ? Witness —After twelve o’clock the sea was rolling very heavily. It got up all of a sudden. I did not see the Kakanui until daylight. Captain Thomson—lf the Kakanui had boon round about midday, could aha have taken up her position outside the vessel and floated a line down to her P Witness—l don’t think so. Mr Simpson—Then, you say it was impossible for you to lie within hail of the ship ? Witness —I think it was. Mr Simpson—Did you make any attempt ? Did you go as near as you could ? Witness—l did, with safety to the boat. Mr Simpson—You knew that the first mate’s boat having got lost, the passengers were isolated except from assistance your boat rendered. Witness —There were two other boats on the ship, a dingy, and a life-boat. Mr Simpson—But if it was not possible for you to stand within hail of the vessel, was it possible to get those boats out ? Witness—l went as near as I could with safety. Mr Simpson—Did you run any risk ? Witness—l did. Mr Simpson—What was the result of that risk ?

Witness—One man got capsized from the boat. He swam to the boat again. By Mr Simpson—lt would have been impossible for me to stay between the vessel and the shore so as to be of service in picking up any who might bo washed off. By Captain Thomson—l did not know the state of the chronometer the night before. I made no remark about approaching bad weather. It did not occur to me while in the boat to suggest that the other boats should be put out to sea with passengers. Mr Simpson—lt did not occur to you to give any opinion except as to the particular state of things you were sent for ? Witness—l thought the ship was quite safe up to ten or eleven o’clock. Captain Thomson—You know that the morning is the best time to work on the coast of New Zealand ? Witness—l am not aware of that. By Captain Thomson —I took no cast of the lead that night at all. It was abont five or ten minutes—it might be five minutes—after I told the captain the second time that I thought the ship was rather close in that she struck. By a vessel running ten miles that would represent five-sixths of a mile. The man on the look-out gave no alarm. By Captain McGowan—Although I fancied I heard the surf I gave no orders to the man on the look-out to keep a sharp look out. Mr Simpson—Would it not have been prudent for you as second mate on the bridge at the time to tell him to keep a sharp lookout, fancying you overheard the breakers in the distance ? Witness—l put no question to him, although I fancied I heard the surf. His duty is to keep a sharp look-out. Mr Denniston —A look-out may slumber sometimes, and it might be worth while reminding him. By Mr Simpson—l saw the look-out man walking about. The crew of the boat obeyed my orders implicitly. They made the remark several times that it was not safe to stop inside, but this did not influence me in the slightest. By Mr Smith—When passing headlands and the ship being on her course, it is not usual to cast the lead without the captain’s orders. I have been fifteen years trading on the coast of New Zealand. When I went aft the second time it was because I heard the sound of breakers. It was very faint, and only a suspicion on my part. The look-out man was evidently awake, and would turn about every half minute. It was impossible for me to return to the ship on the Friday afternoon, the sea was so high. If I had attempted to get close to her a bent such as I was in could not have lived. The sea was breaking on both the east and west sides of the ship. I had about twelve years’ experience on the West Coast of New Zealand, where the landing of passengers is done by tender when the sea is running high. I have never experienced such a high sea o ' those occasions as it was on Friday afternoon. Mr Denniston—Had Captain Garrard hurt himself ? Witness —He got a small scratch on his right band, that’s all, Mr Simpson—Would yon have stood out if the captain had not told you to do so ? Witness —I would, sir. The Court adjourned at 5.30 until 10 a.m. to-morrow.