THE LOST WIMMERA

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1918, Page 1

THE LOST WIMMERA

f [’El! TRUSS ASSOCIATION.—COTYRI GUT. ]

THE CLANSMAN ARRIVES

Aivklaxi>, June 20 A nnmjber'of tlio Wimmera’s survivors arrived here by the Clnnsman this morning, and were accorded a hearty welcome by the authorities and the public. Every assistance possible was rendered to them. All here well, except a steward named Corner, who had a broken collarbone, caused by falling timber when the disaster occurred. One lady was limping owing toher feet being cut by broken glass. The survivors wore a great vaiiety of clothing. Captain Fleming distributed orders for clothing on behalf of the Ship-wreck Relief

Society, ami the members of the crew were looked after by the Seamen’s Union and Harbour Board. The survivors are enthusiastic in praise of then- treatment by the Maoris, after they landed, and they loudly cheered Miss Kerman, a lady passenger, whom they call “New Zealand’s Grace Darling,” because she assisted to row a boat from ihe wreck to Tom Bowline’s Bay. The survivors state lhat Captain Kell displayed the i/tmost coolness and courage. One heard him sav to the passengers in the boats: “Stand by, we will have yon back for breakfast in the morning.” The explosion wrecked the after part of the Wimmera, and the stewards had to escape through a little hatchway known as the “ Glory Hole.” Some passengers in the cabins aft, though blocked by wreckage, were able to get out uninjured. The saloon stairway was smashed, and very likely some passengers were pinned in their cabins by wreckage. One boat, which was launched on the windward side of the Wimmera, was stove in, end sank with three stewardesses and a number of women passengers. These are believed to have been drowned. Tlie party of thirty, which lauded at Maugonui, iu No 1 Lifeboat, rowed tili daybreak, and sailed the most of the next day. The party finally landed after a, 48 hours’ trip. They lived on biscuits and water, hut did not complain of hunger. They speak in the highest praise of an able seaman, named Dounghv, who took complete charge of the boat. He is credited with bringing them safely to shore, though the so a was rather rough and the position of the heavily loaded boat was perilous. On landing, the survivors wore welcomed by the Maoris, who took them to a Native settlement and housed and cared for them to their nI most.

I A PASSKXGKk'S ACCOUNT. | Mr P. W. Hole says that he was awakened by a terrific explosion, | and lie found women and children I running' along the corridors, very I excited, and calling out : “Oh ! what’s the matter?” When he reached the deck he found the passengers and crew behaving splendidly. An able seaman, Donaghy, who was at the wheel when the explosion occurred, told me later that it was aft of the engine room, between number three and four hatches. It shattered the stern of the steamer, and wrecked the compass and binnacle. The engines stopped immediately. All lights went out and the people had to grope their way to the deck, and up the stairways in the darkness. The Wi nun era at once began to settle down by the stern. Donaghy saw a cloud of dust and flame bulging from the stokehold. There was difficulty in launching No. i Uifeboat. Hole returned to his cabin for his overcoat, having started out in his pyjamas. He returned to deck just in time to enter the lifeboat, as she was shoved off. The boat bumped a good deal against the side of the steamer. One oar was smashed, sending her oft. An officer, who remained on the Wimmera, whom I took to be the captain, asked me. for matches. I threw him a box I had in iny overcoat pocket Ten minutes later the steamer heeled to port, and then righted herself, and began to settle by the stern. Suddenly the . stern dived, and the vessel plunged to the bottom. Her. disappearance was followed by a huge geyser which seemed a hundred feet high, dhe scene as the vessel sank was as ini pressive as I ever desire to see. Describing the trip niter the wreck, Hole said that throughout the monotonous work of rowing was kept going. Most of the men and women were very seasick. One woman threw herself on the bottom of the boat in a helpless distress. | The scant clothing gave very little i relief from the bitter cold. When night fell, with no relief in view, I the wretchedness of our plight was crushing. We saw on the horizon a point of land. 20 to 25 miles distant but the wind was blowing off land. We had to keep as near as we could. Relief came m sight about 11 o’clock, when our spirits were just at zero. We saw the light of a vessel and; we seng up three flares, but they were evidently not seen.

One man in the boat lost heart and said lie would jump overboard, but was dissuaded not to. We tried to sing,, but the attempt was. a pathetic failure. Kverytluiig was done bv the strongest ones to keep up the spirits of the weaker till dawn, when the mainland was sighted on the horizon and the hoisting of a sail relieved the oarsmen. The weather was squally, however, and the wind off shore, so we travelled about fifty miles before we made, a Ysmding at. Oketurne pay pt 3 p.m. ou'Thursday. . . .

I The majority of the survivors agree that there were two distinct I explosions, occurring between Nos 3 and 4 hatches, on the after part ot the engine-room. Fortun r.ely no one was actually berthed over the shot. The explosion wrecked the social hall and staircase leading to it. The shaft tunnel was shattered and the shaft broken, letting i the water into the engine-room and ' flooding the dynamo, with the result that all lights were extinguished. j The Wimmera remained on an 1 even keel tor ten minutes, and 'then heeled to port, until the funnel was lying on the water. She then partly righted herself before sinking by the stern, twenty minutes after the explosion. The stewardesses were berthed further aft, and were forced to climb out of the store i room hatch to the deck. The wind was blowing strong from the south-west, and there was a rough sea, with a heavv ground swell. j The vessel was fairly steady j while the boats were being launched which accounts for their getting away without much damage. | Of the eight boats carried, six were on the boat deck, five ot these ! getting clear of the ship, the other t being smashed in swinging out, ' and swamped when tile vessel heeled over her. | Jt is fairly certain that the ' stewardesses were lost in this boat, las some su.vivors say they saw them in it. i The fourth engineer was also engaged swinging out this boat, and lie was not again seen. Of the two smaller boats on the aiter-house, one, it is stated, was destroyed by the explosion, and the othei was too small to be of much use. So far as can lie gathered there 1 were no rafts on board. Wilson, the second oflicar, and the senior officer, saved, states that he was asleep when the explosion occurred. Dressing hurriedly, lie made for the boat deck, and took charge of No 5 boat, on the starboard. After lie got it svauig out, he placed the women and children in it. taking all there were on the boat deck at that time. The boat was lowered with about 30 people aboard. The bosun, who remained, to let go the point, jumping in the sea, and being picked up. Wilson’s boat stood by until the steamer sank, and there was no hope of rescuing anyone. , The sail was then set, and a course steered for the North Cape. When near land they saw thesmooth beach of Tom Bowlings Bay, and decided to land, which was safely performed at midday. No. 6 boat arrived at 1 o’clock, followed by the others at 2.30 and 4.30 p.m. Jvverytiiing for the comfort of the women was done, and Wilson organised parties to scour the district for assistance. With three seamen, lie climbed a point overlooking the Bay, in which two boats were anchored. As darkness was approaching distress flares were obtained, and with these the attention of the boats was attracted, and two boats were sent on shore. Commander Iviely picked tip Wilson mul his companions, mul sent a message to Wellington. On the boat reaching Tom Bowling Bay, it was found that the other survivors had left for Monro’s station. Wilson, Kielyy and two of the boat’s crew set out with blankets, coats, tea, and other comforts and at midnight, when halfway to the homestead, Wilson collapsed, and the others proceeded without him. Be slept <>n the ground till daylight, and then joined the others. THE MISSING. The following is a list of the missing passenger's:—Mesdamcs Jones, Sclmherg and infant. Barnett, Peter 11 ‘Donald and child; .Miss Jones; .Messrs Graham and Peter. Total 10. Crew:—Captain Kell; officers:- Xichol and .Brookes; engineers: Collier and Mowatt; wireless operator: llomoui; stewards: Verge, Greaves, Woodard; stewardesses: Newton, JCAlillian and Robertson; seamen: Mulvenna and Benson; firemen: Tildsley; night watchman

Cross. Total 10. Grand total 26.

ACT i NO-1 ’it KM IE 11 EX I ’LA IXB, Oil KfSTOH I RCII, June 30

Asked if' lie could explain the reason why the Otago Daily Times had the opportunity to print the news of the loss of the. Wiinniera in advance of other newspapers in the Dominion, Sir James Allen stated that it was past midnight on Wednesday last when he received the news in Dunedin, and he handed it to the “Otago Daily Times,’’ and gave the necossnrv authorisation tor its publieation. Early on .Thursday morning lie sent a telegram to the Naval Adviser, authorising him to release the news. Apparently Sir James Allen was under the impression that the news he had handed to the “Otago Daily Times,” would he sent out as a Press Association message by the Dunedin agent. At any rate, lie saw no reason why the information should have been withheld.