The Aramao.

Manawatu Herald, 17 March 1904, Page 3

The Aramao.

SAFETY OF 'I HE STEAMER RESCUE OF PASSENGERS.

The Aramac has been towed safely to Hervey Bay (about 160 miles north of Brisbane) by the Tinana, one of the searching steamers. A fourth boat, containing twentysix men was pecked up by the Government steamer Fitzroy.

This boat ieit the Aramac without on officer. A saloon passenger named Trickett was placed in charge. She drifted north till Monday night, when an attempt was made to land, but heavy surf prevented it. She continued drifting till picked up. A steerage passenger, who was slightly .demented from exposure, disappeared after getting aboard the Fitzroy. TRYING EXPERIENCE AT SEA. The second of the Aramac’s boats to get ashore landed five miles north of Burnett Heads. The occupants were much exhausted. Afterbattling with tho waves for eight hours and having a terrible struggle to get through the breakers, she managed to run on a sandy beach, where the shipwrecked ones camped for the night. Four of the party, after being driven back raoro than once, relaunched the boat for the purpose of going to Burnett Heads to report the landing. The boat, after an exciting experience, reached the lighthouse, but it is stated those in charge refused to forward a message because the castaways had no money to pay for it. WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT BAFFLE CREEK. A third boat from the Aramac has landed at Baffle Creek, twenty miles north of Burnett Heads. The occupants are mostly women and children.

In connection‘with the finding of the third boat, the dredge Ceratodus, which was despatched to search, arrived at Gladstone, a seaport S2B miles north-east of Brisbane, on Tuesday. She reports that on Monday afternoon she sighted a boat on the beach. About twenty passengers were camped on shore, four miles from the settlement.

The Ceratodus was short of provisiowh.and coal, and unable to proceed to ’their rescue, '.heavy surf precluded the possibility of their immediate rescue, but in the captain’s opinion the survivors were comfortable.

The Ceratodus signalled the party that help was coming, and proceeded to Gladstone and arranged for their rescue. THE FIFTH BOAT.

The steamer Norraanby picked up a fifth boat from the Aramac, containing eighteen men, all well. EIGHTEEN PERSONS STILL MISSING. Amended lists make the total number of persons who were aboard the Aramac 156. Including those who remained aboard the steamer, the number rescued totals 138, so that according to this there are still some eighteen persons missing. It would, therefore, seem that six boats left the steamer, though the evidence on this point is not yet clear.