THE WIMMERA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1846, 29 June 1918, Page 2

THE WIMMERA.

FOUR BOATS LANDED. ATTENTION TO THE WANTS OF

THE SAVED.

Auckland, June 27. Two of the Northern vessels, the Clansman and the Waiolahi, were despatched to the scene as soon the news of the disaster was received, and arc still searching for survivors. The Clansman left Whangaroa at (5.45 this morning, and should reach the scene at: 2 p.m. The Waiotahi was despatched from Houhora at 1 p.m., and should reach the locality at 3. Four boats have landed. At (he instance of the Deputy-Mayor, the secretary of the Parenga Gumtields Company (Mr H. Gilflllan) wired to the manager at Parenga, rerpiesting him to supply provisions, and do all possible for the survivors.

LOSS OF VALUABLE THORO-

UGHBREDS

Five thoroughbred horses were shipped by the Wimmera, and as there was no insurance on them their loss is a severe one. Messrs W. and V. Casey sent Informal and Demotic; Mr H. Cotter* shipped Hymeona, Lady Jack and Deep Sleep. Informal was the leading Auckland two-year-old last, season, and his three-year-old career was full of promise. Hymeona was recently purchased by Mr Cotter for 1,000 guineas, and Lady Jack for, it is slated, 270 guineas.

A SURVIVOR’S STORY,

Auckland, June 27.

Amongst the first batch of survi--1 vors fi’onx the Wimmera who landed at Tom Bowline’s Bay was Mr Tucker, of Melbourne, a well-known worker in aid of the Australian Patriotic Association’s objects. An intei’esting account of the experiences of the party was telegraphed to the Herald by Mr Tucker this evening. He states that prior to the Wimmera being sunk two distinct explosions occurred. The lights were extinguished in two minutes, but there was no panic amongst the passengers and crew. ‘‘The women and children behaved magnificently,” he says. “The vessel kept on an even keel for fifteen minutes, and then settled by the stern. Finally her bows rose about fifty feet in the air and the vessel plunged. The Wimmera was struck near the stern, and the social hall was smashed to pieces. The fact that the vessel kept an even keel for some time, and that the wind was making towards the land, helped materially, to lessen the magnitude of the disaster. It was a moonlight night, with a fair sea x’unning. “The captain, first officer, chief steward, and several others remained on the vessel to the last, and apparently went down with her. Four people were rescued from the sea, including the chief engineer, who was washd off the deck as the steamer sank. One boat was swamped, and one was stove in. The. difficulties that arose in the case of persons getting clear of the vessel wore principally due to inability to get on deck after the lights went out. One family of eleven and one of seven were all saved. Fourteen stewards and all Ihe stewardesses are missing from the first parly of four boatloads of persons that were landed at Tom Bowline’s Bay. Most, of the stewards who were saved were compelled to clamber through a. skylight. A greaser who was in the tunnel at the time of the explosion was saved. Several of those who were the earliest to reach the deck were amongst those not included in the four boats that reached Tom Bowline’s Bay. TRAWLERS RENDER ASSISTANCE. “Timely assistance was rendered by the trawlers in the vicinity. The 84 persons in the four boats, most of whom were clad in their night attire, and were without hoots, received welcome assistance on landing from Mr Murdock Munro, sheep farmer. After having walked and crawled over eight miles on rough hill country they were shown every kindness by Mr Munro and the Maori residents in the vicinity. After the arrival at Mr Munro’s station, the assistant purser, accompanied by a Maori, rode 17 miles to telegraph the news. All the members of the party are well, but footsore and tired. Every kindness has been shown to them by the residents of the Parengarenga district.” SECOND OFFICER’S STATE- / MENT.

Mr C, Wilson, the second officer of the Wimmera, reports that when the disaster occurred a vessel was despatched to the scene. Command-' er Kielj and Mr Wilson and a party rounded Tom Bowline’s Bay, and followed the'survivors ten miles to Mr Munro’s station with brandy and provisions, blankets, etc. The survivors Avere transhipped by a launch to Te Hapua to await the return of the steamer Waiotahi, by means of which they will proceed to Auckland. The women and children, who are in good spirits, are being well cared for by the residents of Te Hapua and Parengarenga, The survivors in this party comprise 34 adults, 16 children, and 44 members of the crew.

THE MISSING.

Auckland, June 27,

The following list gives the names of the missing passengers and members of the crow;—

Passengers.-—Mr W. J. Made, 53; Mr Jones, 46; Miss Jones, 22; Mr and Mrs Jones (theatrical artists), o!) and 33; Miss fSayegh, 38; Miss

Greenwood, 35; Mi As Browning, 31} Mrs Browning, 02; Miss A. Wylie, 22; Miss Watson, 30; Miss T. 0. Selmberg, 35; Mrs E. R. Dunn, 58; Airs Gould, 10; Mr and Mrs Giblin, 48 and 33; and two children, 0 and 3; Miss Street, 30; Mrs V. M’Lean, 27.; Miss Pel er, 30; Mrs M’Dbnald, 34; and child, 11; Mrs Burt, 54; Miss R. M. V. Barnett, 37: Mi* if. C. Dodder, 31; Mr R; J. Elliott, 20; Mr T'. C. Bond, 32; Mr IT. B. Kennedy, 24; Mr Peter, 40; Mr Jose Ban Pedro, 38; Mr Manuel Banudo, 30. Crew. —11. J. Kells, master; A. Niehol, chief officer; A. Brookes, third officer; S. Collier, second engineer; D. Mowatt, fourth engineer; H. Verge, chief steward; A. 80-, mont, wireless operator; N. Hawkeswood, assistant purser; C. M’Millan, stewardess; E, Newton, stewardess; J. Robertson, stewardess; J 4 Mulvenna, A. 8.; B. Benson, A. 8.; A, Geary, A. 8.; J. Donaghy, A. 8.; E. Martin, 0.5.; J. Do Beauze, fireman; T. Graham, greaser; W. Brens, fireman; C. Neal, fireman; S. Hawes, fireman; J. Fanning, fireman; W. Murdoch, fireman; F. Tidsley, fireman; J. MeCarney, trimmer;. IV. Roper, trimmer; L. Henningsen, trimmer; F, M’Creve, trimmer; W. Smeed, steward; C. Woodward, steward; J. Blackborough, steward; R, Saville, saloon waiter; C. Crossa,. night watchman; E. Gamble, pant-* ryman; T. Grirashaw, second cook; H. Butler, steward; E, Greaves, steward; E. Forsyth, steward, E. Edwards, third cook; S. "Yates, baker. ALL BOATS ACCOUNTED FOR. All the boats that left the Wiminera have now been accounted for. This leaves the number of missing at about twenty-five. Very careful search has been made for the missing, but no further evidence of successful search was reported to Captain Hall-Thomp-son to-day. An enquiry about the possibility that the missing persons might be adrift on a raft brought a reply that the rapid sinking of the steamer would not have allowed enough time for the launching of a raft. TWENTY-SEVEN STILL MISSING. Auckland, June 28. The additional names of the saved are: Mr M. Hawkswood, Assistant purser, and Miss J. Kenman. The name of the seaman included in the earlier message is S. Hawes. Included in the 125 on the Clansman are eight persons whose mimes are not yet known. The latest information is that twenty-seven of those who wore on board arc still missing.