THE WILTSHIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1922, Page 3

THE WILTSHIRE

[nV TELEOHAPH-— PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

THIEVES AT THE WRECK. AUCKLAND June 7. A trip was made, to the wreck of 'the Wiltshire yesterday principally to recover the effects of the ship’s officers and crew. What remained were transferred to the tug, but since Friday tlio officers quarters had been raided by thieves and everything of value stolen, including the best linen underwear, and suits including dress clothes and persona] valuables. The rooms occupied by flic engineers were in the stern of the vessel and are now submerged. They lost everything beyond what they brought ashore when rescued.

FROM THE WRECK. VA LITABLES RECOVERED. AUCKLAND. June 7. A party visited the wreck- of the Wiltshire yesterday and recovered valuable coin and jewellery in eases stored in the strongroom, situated on the bridge, in the captain's quavers a purlieu, of the vessel that would probable disappear in the next stormy weather. They also recovered the shin’s cat hungry, but mine the worse oi horwfse.

DISTORTED AND TORN. AUCKLAND. June 7

The party that visited the Wiltshire wreck yesterday found fore part, of the hull embedded (irmly on tile rocks, canted to starboard at an angle of about 15 degrees. The remainder from the bridge aft, sat upright, but sloped in a broken hacked euive to tile sea. As tar as could lie seen the forepait was intact above the waterline, but as those ot the holds which it was impossible to examine, appear to he iull of water, there is no doubt that the vessel is badly damaged below. What could be seen of the after part lay at an angle ot about 111 degrees Lom the forepart and tile break at the bridge hn,| been so complete, that the " hole alter structure Iced been moved sideways by tlie sea and projected about -Jl loot beyond the rigid forepart. The "hole stern part of tin- vessel has sagged into deep water, leaving only a short midship section above the surface

and tilt* tin co exerted hy tile subsidence had wrenched huge structure with its tier of .decks, which culminated in the

mitigation bridge, away from the main deck. From the main peak, the whole tier u| decks slope towards the sea in I a steep incline, until lower decks are ! awash. The incessant pounding against I the after cud has torn a great hole in . the steel plates and so thoroughly uodermined the siruelii'c that all the (leeks are distorted. The State rooms ■'111(1 lounges are in confusion and the teak decking o! the promenades is burst, and contorted 1o such an extent that it undulates in all directions. The i party secured two of t’he ships' boats. THE LOST MAILS. 'AUCKLAND; June 7. Ot Uio bags of mail on the Wiltshire 96 were recovered mostly in a deplorable condition. Racked goods ill scaled containers are the only ones for which there is much hope. Many par. eels had the labels washed off.