TRAGEDY ON TAINUI

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1930, Page 5

TRAGEDY ON TAINUI

DEATH OF MR H. V. SEDDALL

ONLY A BIT OF HIS COAT LEFT

AUCKLAND, October 20,

Seas that tumbled aboard simultaneously from both sides and piled up ten feet of water on the hatch abaft the bridge were lesponsible for the death of Mr H. V. Seddall, chief officer of the Shaw, Savill and Albion steamer Tainui, when a week out front Auckland on her last voyage from New Zealand to England.

Captain W. P. Clifton Mogg said the Tainui cleared Auckland on June 28 last and was in the vicinity of Pitcairn Island when a gale', which grew to hurricane force, was met. On July 3 the Tainui logged only 271 miles and on July 4 only 184 miles. That evening the seas grew worse, and the tragedy occurred early in the evening, when Mr Seddall was in charge of a party working near the hatch, endeavouring to secure some heavy piping that had previously been ripped away by a heavy sea. The seas, which piled up ,suddenly, were as high as the bridge, and, although a hurried warning was shouted from the bridge to the men on the deck below, they had little chance ivl escape. When the water swirled off the deck, it was found that two of the members of the crew were injured. 1 here was no trace of Mr Seddall. All that was found was a. portion of his coat caught in the ironwork with his pipe in one pocket. At the time the Tainui was running before the storm with oil bags over the "side near the bows. Nothing couTd be done. It was believed on board that Mr Seddal was dashed oil the ironwork before being carried over the side. A few days after the Tainui readied England the Atlantic finer Paris, of 34,000 tons, reached Plymouth after being struck by a hurricane wave -which smashed portholes on the upper bridge. On the present voyage the Tainui had a fairly uneventful trip. Yesterday the weather was bad, with a 1: -' sea. Only 223 miles were logged, and better conditions were not met with until the steamer was close to the coast.