THE LOST WIMMERA

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1918, Page 3

THE LOST WIMMERA

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

LATER PARTICULARS

AUCKLAND Juno 28

The steamer Clansmen left Monganui for Auckland direct with 125'survivors. She is due here to-morrow night. The steamer Waietahi left -M on go mi i for Eupa to coal, and will make a further search.

The Winunera carried over eighty bags of mail for Australia, India, China and South Africa. The mail included bags from all centres outsido of Auckland.

A meeting of citizens was held to. night to arrange, for the reception of survivors.

It is believed that fire of those whose names were published as wer not on the boat.

So far as it ascertainable twenty-nine are still missing.

ADDITIONAL NAMES OF SAVED

27 STILL MISSING. AUCKLAND, Mid-night. Additional names of those saved are: Hawkeswood, assistant purser, and Miss J. Kenman. The name of the seaman included in the day message, is S. Hawes.

Included in the 125 on the Clansmen are eight persons whose names are not known.

Latest information is that twentyseven are missing.

The “Star’s” Parenga correspondent says that the passengers and crew displayed many splendid instances of courage. Mistress Robertson, a stewardess, cheerfully helped the women ami children with the scanty clothing available, and fitting lifebelts on them. Then she walked to the upper deck nnd stood by doing what she could till the steamer took tho final plunge. Mistress Gould, aged 90, wished to stay aboard to make room for somo younger women, saying that she had lived her life and tlie younger were of more use. Later she vyas taken off and throughout the hours on the water, and the trying tramp over the hills to Waihuehue, with little clothing on and without boots she and Mistress Croft, wife of Captain Croft of the Huddart Parker Co., did much to keep up the spirits of the party. Colonel Graham, and Captain Kell refused to embark in tlie boats, and went down with the ship. Tho Chief Engineers walked, off the Wimmera as she sank and was rescued by an already over-crowded boat.

One lady, name unknown, worked at the oars in the pull to shore. Her bands were badly blistered. The assistant purser had a trying time on the journey to Te Hapua, over rough country, on liorsebaqk with a Maori guide, to send news of tho disaster. ,