Chief Officer Interviewed.
VERY RETICENT. Gisborne, This day. F. J. Wilcocks, chief officer, was interviewed at Mahia, but was very reticent. However, he said he was in bed when the ship struck and at once rushed 011 deck. He fouml the captain there before him directing the operations of getting the boats out and passengers embarking in them. Four life boats and two small boats were got out, and they left the ship between 12.30 and 1 o'clock and stayed by the ship until the coverings of the cylinder in the engine room were under water. The 'captain remained on board until the last. About 20 minutes after we left the vessel the masthead light disappeared, the electric having previously gone out. There were between 180 and 150 people on the ship altogether. The passengers behaved splendidly and with wonderful coolness. The third officer (Mr McGrath) was on watch when the ship struck. There was a strong wind blowing and the sea was very rough. After my boat left the ship we dodged about for some hours and then seeing a safe place landed abcut 7.30 in the morning without much difficulty. The chief officer supplies a list of the saved at Mahia, which tallies exactly with the list sent out yesterday.
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Bibliographic details
Hastings Standard, Issue 387, 31 July 1897, Page 3
Word Count
212Chief Officer Interviewed. Hastings Standard, Issue 387, 31 July 1897, Page 3
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