WRECKED WILTSHIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1922, Page 1

WRECKED WILTSHIRE.

ME AIITRENDING SCENE. [by tei.kon,\t'H —t’Jsii press association] \VELLING.T()Ni .ipifo i, 5.12 pan. This eveinng the,Secretary to the Pos. Office received a further message about 'the' Wiltshire, stittiilg tliilt it has beer eon'siderod useless for a seaplifite 1 ' tc attempt to render any assistance. The message relates that cries of tin. mep on the wreck can now he. heard b; the watchers who lire oil the high cliff: above .the vessel. The eye witnes.sesay that the scene is a fearfully heart rending' one. One 'infill attempted to swim ashoifrom the wreck with a line, hut their were eilonuutis seas running,' and tin attempt had to he abandoned.

The Postmaster at Comma ml.el re ports the tjig from Auckland lpis arrived, hut it is not thought possible tc save any lives. CHEW STICK TO WRECK. WELLINGTON, June 1 A message sent from the scene ibis afternoon at 3.40 p.rn. stale.’: —'‘Tin Wiltshire is a total wreck, but the crew are still-op the fora part. The sea is very rough. It is now hoped to get a rocket apparatus overland by to-morrow morning. Tlie Katun’s party are now on tin shore opposite the wreck.

The stdamer Moeraki left at 1 p.tu. to-day foi‘ the scene of the wreck, with rocket apparatus, to tty and give assipta u<,-e. AUCKLAND, June 1.

The steamer Moeraki took an officer and lC'nien from tTio warship Philomel, with two lots of rocket apparatus, 'these were landed at Tryphena about 5.30 p.ln. to-day. LINE GOT ASHORE. WELLINGTON, June 1. 8.52 p.ni The outlook at the scene of the Wiltshire p reck has now brightened. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the Pillowing message from the Postmaster at Coromandel:—

At 8 p.ni. Tryphena reports: “A line lias now been got ashore from the wreck. ‘•Four men have been landed from the wreck. “There are still 100 on hoard. “The prosjiects of rescue are now considered to lie good.” WELLINGTON. June 1.

The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following further message:--At 8.40 pm. tlm K - s - Kntqa reports: ‘‘Wiltxhiri —all hands safe, on hoard. Four men landed at present. Resuming operations in the morning villi a naval party.” AUCKLAND, June 1. Captain Stott, the Marine Superintendent of the Union Co., who went with the Auckland tug this morning to the wretdv, has telegraphed news from the Barrier. Ho states: “Nothing can he done until the morning. Nothing is known here about the \\ iltshire s crew, except Captain Hayward, and the chief officer Mr Goddard, who formerly chief officer of the Piaho. Out of 100!) tons of cargo on the It iltshire there are 1000 tons for Auckland, consisting of galvanised iron, tinplate, basic slag, and a locomotive for the New Zealand Government. As to the genreal cargo, 'he onlv manifests at present are from Bristol and the Port of Glasgow. The Auckland “Herald” has a reporter on the Auckland tug. He states that when the tug passed Cape Colville at 0.30 a.m. to-day, there were mniin,tainous waves and driving tierce squalls encountered. The tug reached the Wiltshire at noon, and, despite the (lunger, siio stood in. The Wiltshire (lie says) struck how on. at a, distance of about her own lonyrth from a cliff. Along this i-jilT foaming breakers are -dashing. • I' lo forepart of the Wiltshire is now evidently stock on the reef hard, with a list to starboard. The hack of the liner is broken rlonn in two. The after part of her, from just after of the bridge, is swinging with the wash of the seas, and it is at an angle from the rest o!

the ship. . Several men are seen clustered oil the "forecastle head look-out bridge, and more men were below it. No signals were made by the wreck. There were two lifeholds visible in the davits oil the starboard side, and a third boat was smashed against the sides when it was

lowered. The sterr, of the vessel is under water. ...

As there was no possibility of giving assistance, and as the forepart of the vessel appeared to he secure, the Auckland tug proceeded to Tryphena to organise rescue parties. The Kiitoa. passing hv. missed the wreck on Wednesday night in the storm but the steamer Arnhem with 100 passengers aboard, steal hv Ihe w reck.

She was tossed on Wednesday night i> huge sens a quarter of a mile from tin bleak cost, where the Wiltshire lie ashore.

! The wrecked skill’s wireless apparatus broke down. This was through the ||,Killing of the engine-room, and j through her masts carrying away.

The A I’M li urn. however, lead her | semaphore Hags, iiik) slic t rim>.n>itt f«l 1 her messages hy wireless. Tli'c Kntna landed live men. who went' ovoihmd n distance'- nf five miles, to Uie ivreili w i tli ro]ies, hurricane lamps, bandages. -food, and rockets. The Arahurn left Hie scene for Disliorlie at 2 p.m. Then u second party landed from the Knt on. The Auckland tin; left nt 5 p.m. nml she met the steamer Moernki taking the m’vitl men. with apparatus aboard. AJI medical gear. lines, etc., have heen prepared to-night, ready to proceed overland at daylight to rescue the crow. It is expected the survivors will return 1 iv the Kntcn to Auckland tomorrow. LAST N [CUT’S HKl’OltT. AI’CKI.AND June I. (midnight) The Auckland “Herald’s” reporter sends a wireless message from the s.s. Kntna. stating:— The Katon’s hont.swnin, who has returned overland Iron) the wreck, icports that the crew of the Wiltshire have drifted n line ashore, and hv its means landed four men before darkness to-night. There are 5)!) men left on hoard the wreck, all in the forepart. The men on. the wreck are well sheltered. and they are fully provisioned for tiie night. The how of the Wiltshire is apparently settled firmly on the rock. Despite the breaking of the waves, there have been no casual-

lies aboard. We are wqifcijig fo.r .day* Tight for the Philomel’s 'btSpjfhes buoy to land the remainder. Some of the Marty'will proceed ill the tug to the i Tv roi-lfc'vH.t- 4a \Vti i' while .the ‘ remainder 3-ill assist ■Mi the IlUHliMgYof the crew of Hie \?iUsM'o. ffy r g ELLINGTON. June 1. r The- Wellijftg-tpn agents of the Wilt•sh i r<f fit ato tliilV 'the master of the vtjs* jjel ij/iGafitjprt B. G. Hayward. TheTest bf-file personnel ate unj; now'll.- hilt the total of them is believed to bn 109. • . WELLINGTON. June 1.

'The Wellington Harboltr Board’s special rocket apparatus was sent to Auckland this afternoon by Special train for use. if possible, in saviyg the Wiltshire’s view. The train .arrives .at Auckland on the heels of the express tomorrow morning.

T)UNDALA’?? REPORT. Auckland;-Jtdie \. ; The steamer Dutidaln'hns-. oojno. foil here.’ Tbb : D’eoHafu had reded to the fescue of The Wiltshire,- hut she w as udyised that-the Arnhuru and Ktitoa were standing by. and that they could do nothing! Therefore the Dundala came came on to Auckland. TB'r officers state .Urn; t- the weather was yeiy thick, and the' visibility "was fmv, when their vessel passed Cape Brett at 0 a.m. oil Wednesday The Cape Brett light was not then visible; although the Dundala was only eight miles distant from it. Alter passing the Cape the light was picked mi. The Dundala reports also that the lights at Moko-TTinnn and at the Hen ainl Chickens were not. picked up In- her until she was within six miles of them. The weather cleared shortly after, lint the wind abated little. NO DETATIB OF INSURANCE OR AT A H 8. WELLINGTON. June 1. Thee is so far no information regarding the insurances on the Miltshire avail Me. Those on the cargo were arranged in England. It may lie some time before the amounts are 'known. Probably every marine insurance company in New Zealand will he affected. It is understood that the Wiltshire carried 100 postal packages, hot their composition is not known.

SEN VICE OF INTERCESSION. TV ELLINGTON, .June 2

A brief service of sympathy and intercession for the Wiltshire’s crew was held at the Sailors Fiiemlly Society’s rooms. Afterwards the meeting carried a resolution urging that rocket apparatus should he provided in at, least the four principal ports and others if possible, in the interests ot seamen who may he in distress on the roekbound •must s.

LATER NEWS. AUCKLAND. June 2

The i xn'anatioii of the unexpected .r 1 v icseiie ol lour men, was that the Wiltshire's crew succeeded in lion ting a line ashore, which gained connection w ith I lie land. Latest messages last night stated part of the Wiltshire i- til inl.v tixed on the rocks and presumably owing to the wi'-d changing from the east to north

uad model-lit ing there is every reason lor hoping the night will not b" one ol great danger for the sailors who are said to he quite comfortable in the lore- ( aside. Why rescue operations wero sus. pended for tin night is not explained. |,ut the reus my he that the method .(1 fur bringing ashore the lour men was dangerously primitive. The skill ed life savers id the Philomel will have up-to-date gear on the scene this moriiA hv ssage (ruin Tryphena at III.JO p.ni. stated although the wind had moderated it was slill boisterous with scattered showers and that in any ease, the effect of the easterly gale would he felt for Mime days. A COM i’I.ETE RESCUE. NO LIVES LOST. WELLINGTON, June 2. The Secretary of the Geucial Post Office has received advice from tin Postmaster at ('uronuuuhd reporting darkm-ss and the awful conditions pro vented further rescues from the Wiltsire last night. Operations commenced at daylight i,ml U e crew are being hauled ashore cue hv one. 11 is expected to take all day. A complete rescue is reported, no lives being lost.