ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON OF THE CAPTAIN AND SURVIVORS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1686, 16 April 1886, Page 2

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON OF THE CAPTAIN AND SURVIVORS.

Captaia Thomson and the ten mm who were saved with him m the boat arrived by the Wailii from Blenheim on Tuesday night. The seamen are very reticent respecting what took place either before or after the wreck. From irhii '■ we can gather, however, it appear* quit* certain -that there was no. oonfqsjon qq board when the. vessel struck. Tht cmn tain "behaved like a hriok," laid q£§

ilriftoil past the other boats. With tl)3 rising wind it was impo isible to .^et back, :-m- L so the b.mt drifted on northward and tba captain ra:i:le for tbo Waiian. Jt ■•vas a dreadful night ; the wind increase!.! m force, a heavy sea was running, and the night was cold and dark. The oars were j«ofc out, and tho men worked as men only can work when their lives depended upon straining ever,\ muscle. There was neither food nor water m the little boat, and as 'there was no telling how long the castaways might be at sea before finding some safe landing place or being rescued by .soaie passing vessel, if, indeed, either of these > things ; ever' came about, their position was a gloomy one. Indeed it was a marvel that the men ever reached shore alive. As it was, they suffered a good deal from want of water, the only liquid on board being a small quantity of brandy with which they moistened their lips from time to | time. The land could be outlined m the distance, and the boat was kept as close m as was deemed safe m order that I should it be swamped the men might | have a last chance by swimming ashore. I All through that dreadful night and till late m the afternoon.of the next day they pulled and drove before the wind, till after 17 hours' exposure to it and anxiety they reached the Wairau, and brought their frail vessel safe to land. The pulling was done chiefly by if our sailors, as the other men were not accustomed to that kind of work, but all certainly did what they could, and bore their hardships bravely. Tho boat was brought here from Blenheim m tho Waihi, and on inspecting it. one is surprised how it ever lived so long m snch a sea as was experienced. It was partially stove m, and tho planks were started, so that it was difficult to keep to waler but. \ ' Enquiries from tho men respecting the number of females on board the Taiaroa at the time she struck have led to no satisfactory results. The fireman says he believes there were three lady passengers and one stewardess on board, making four females altogether. The engineer, however, states that as the captain's boat passed by the one which McQuarter was m he saw the stewardess and five females m that boat. . The chief steward of the Taiaroa states that m addition to the lady passengers already mentioned as having been on board, a Mrs Gibbs with her infant was also among the saloon passengers, and a female steerage passenger, name unknown. Both were from Wellington, but nothing appears to be known of either. This would make five females accounted for, which is probably all there were on board.

man, and his orders were promptly and iraplicity obeyed. The same man states as a reason for leaveing the steamer that they did not know exactly where they were, it being too thick to make out the shore, and they were afraid of re 7>nating the mistake made m the wreck of the Tararua, where all remained on board till too late. The boats were consequently got out, and the first three being filled with passengers and crew, were dropped astern, m comparatively smooth water. The wind was rising, hut there appeared to be no immediate danger, and to quote our informant's wor.ip, the "boats were very smug." Captain Thomson and' the ten men who were savd with him were the last to leave tbe steamers' deck. They intended dropping down astern of the other boats, tbe object being to lie there till the break, ing ot the morning should enable them to see their position. The n^n m, th» captain's boat, however, did not Piipceed to 'iwJtißg k# to < l >« Up.s ftptera tyi