TOTAL WRECK OF THE TARARUA.

Kumara Times, Issue 1428, 30 April 1881, Page 2

TOTAL WRECK OF THE TARARUA.

ALL THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN PASSENGERS DROWNED. ONLY TWELVE MEN REACH THE SHORE. [new ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Invercahgill, April 29. News has just reached town that the steamer Tararua struck on the Otarua or Waipapa reef, near Toi Toi. All lives were saved. At the present time the vessel is close in shore. The Hawea, with Mr Mills, (general manager of the Union Company), and Captains Cameron and Russell, proceeeded at 4 o’clock this afternoon to the scene oflhe wreck. The vessel is 35 miles from Wyndham, the nearest telegraph station, A sailor swam to shore with the news. The steamer is insured for £14,000 £5,000 in Colonial offices. Later. The point where the Tararua is on the rocks is a few miles north of the Toi Toi, the entrance to the Mataura River. A dangerous reef runs out some distance from the shore. The steamers Coomerang and Easby each struck on it some years ago, but got off. The barque Wm. Ackers was wrecked there about four years ago. The point is far from any settlement. On that part of the Coast the land is heavily bushed ; and Wyndham, where the nearest office is situated, is a long way inland.

LATEST PARTICULARS. Bluff, April 30. The latest news from the Tararua shows that the wreck was a terrible affair, the scene being described as heartrending. The vessel struck at five o’clock in the morning, during a fog. The captain and mate were below at the time. The vessel patted in amidships. All the women and children are supposed to be drowned. Only twelve men had got ashore when the correspondent o£ the Southland Times left last night. Only one body has yet been washed ashore. Last night a man was seen lashed to the rigging along with a child, calling for help; but the people on shore could give no assistance, the sea being so rough. The cries of the passengers last night were heartrending to those who heard them on shore. Three boats left the steamer, but all were swamped. The engineer who tried to reverse the engine when the vessel struck, broke his leg. Another telegram says: “ The females rushed on deck in their night-dresses, but were all swept off when the steamer parted amidships.*’ 2.55 p.m. Heavy seas have swept off a great number of the passengers, who rushed on deck in their night-clothes when the vessel struck. One boat reached the shore, and one went seaward; the others were all swamped. There were upwards of one hundred passengers and forty crew on board* The following were amongst the passengersDr* and Mrs Campbell* five children and servant, Messrs Charles Gough, Gillingham, Water* house, P. Connal, E. Mitchell, W. Young, John M. Dean, Crawford, Hevs. J. B. Richardson, J. Armitage, from Christchurch ; J. 0. Eva, from Dunedin ; and Mrs Brennan and three children, from Tauranga*