THE WESTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1920, Page 1

THE WESTRALIA

[AUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

FURTHER PARTICULARS. MELBOURNE, April 15. A passenger on tli© Westralia states the voyage from Bluff was uneventful until the unlucky thirteenth. The passengers were holding a concert in the saloon, and enjoying the contrast between tlio light and laughter inside and the noise of tho waves hammering against the ports and the rain pelting on tho deck, when tlio ship suddenly bumped causing a breathless hush, but no panic. Mrs Cook, of Christchurch, bravely finishing a song, while the steamer was bumping on tho sand. The Chief Steward ordered everyone to don lifebelts. This was carried out quietly. The scene on deck was

a strange one. Some women and children were clad only in night attire It was as black as pitch, and the wind was lashing the sea into foam. . Tlio crew were busy with the boats, but were told the davits were oldfasliioned, and judging by the difficulty experienced in swinging tho boats out that was easy to believe. By 9.15 p.nx. everything was in readiness for any emergency. The ship was dragging and bumping, and waves were dashing over the port side. At ten o’clock the passengers were told the wireless had spoken to the Loongana- 180 miles away, and she was coming full speed to the rescue. The morning light showed how miraculous our escape had been. Wo were within two hundred yards of the rock, which showed above the foam in the j darkness. If the ship had got off the j sand bank, which she had provident!- * aßy grounded on, nothing could have l saved us from the rocks.

j Every effort was made during the night to put the ship astern. Tho most trying moments were those when the engines started and the ship strained and struggled to get free, without result.

The passengers behaved splendidly. The long night, dragged iby until the engines were put full speed ahead, aud tile vessel slid off tho bank with the Loongana standing by. 'The. Westralia was making water and took a list to starboard on clearing the banks. The tanks were trimmed and the ship righted. The pumps kept the water in check. The vessel reached port at 7.30 a.m. this morning. The passengers opened a subscription list for the crew and handed an appreciative letter to the skipper.

WESTRALIA’S CLOSE SHAVE. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April 15. The Marine Board will hold an inquiry concerning the grounding of the Westralia. One of her officers states he considered the mishap was due to the heavy rainfall and current running through Banks strait, rendering it impossible to fix the ship’s position accurately. Had they touched one of two rocks which they must have passed within a few feet there would have been little of the Westralia and row or the crew or passengers left to tell the tale, under the conditions which prevailed. Luck and the expert knowledge of Captain Bates got them out of the difficulty.