WRECK OF THE TARARUA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 103, 2 May 1881, Page 4

WRECK OF THE TARARUA.

Further Particulars. LIST OF THE SAVED. First Mate's Statement. Wyndham, Saturday night. The following are the names of those who were saved : — Passengers : G. Robins, G. L.. Lawrence, John Chattereon, Henry Daly, Gustavo Tclber, J. Williams, and Tom Davis. Seamen: Robert Lindsay (chief mate), Frank Denz, J. Dixon, John Weston, F. Robe, aud A. C. Can tiff. One dead body only has been washed ashore. It is that of a well dressed tall dark man, name unknown. A quantity of wreckage has been washed up. , The following is the first mate's statement: — Turned in at 4 a.m. leaving Capt. Garrard and the second mate on deck. At 5-15 a.m. the vessel struck. When I left the deck she was steering west. From 2to 4 she had been steering W.S.W. Tiie weather was hazy over the land. I noticed nothing unusual when I called the watch. The captain came on deck and altered the course as stated. I was asleep when the ship struck. I rushed on deck. The engines were reversed, but it was of no use as she struck aft and unshipped the rudder and broke the propeller. The engines being of no use were stopped aud all hands were called on deck to clear the boats. Ten min-r Utes after the engines were stopped the ship was full of water. At 5*30 the first boat was lowered, with the second male in charge, four sailors and one passenger, to try for a landing. The passsenger Lawrence, a young many when the boat was half way, swam ashore having previously promised, if successful, to remain aud help in landing the passengers. He did so, after finding lm way to Brunton's station and causing to be sent the first telegraph message by a station hand, Charles' Gibb, who rode 35 miles to Wyndham by 12*30. Another attempt afc landingthe passengers was made, but of five two were drowned in the surf. Another boat was lowered and tho carpenterj . sent, with it to see if landing was prac-i ticable on the reef, but his report being! unsatisfactory, the second mate was sent and tried lauding on the reef but! without success, one man being lost.! The captain next sent the first mate in* charge of tho boat containing three! passengers and a boy. All landedj safe except the boy who was drowned, j The boat was capsized and opened at j both ends, and was rendered useless.! Repairs were made by the men on : shore, but the sea was too heavy to launch! her. The vessel all this time was; thumping heavily, the passengers being! in the rigging, and clustered on the' forcastle heads. The sea was breaking over her heavily now (2.30 p.m.), and washed several passengers, women and 1 children, over, and after tbat tbey 1 dropped off one by one. A survivor, a Maltese cook, wbo : swam bravely for bis own life and tried to rescue a girl, states that the Captain got all the ladies out of tbe smoke house to the forecastle head, all beingthere until 2.30, when the sea washed them off The Captain displayed great coolness to tho last. His exclamation when all hope was lost was — " Oh, my God, what shall wo do now ?" The steamer soon settled down. After night came on, cries were heard on shore, and then cheers as lights (supposed to be those of the Kakanui) were seen. Then there was a great crash, and then only the rolling of the surf was heard. At daylight the steamer was seen heeled over, and she gradually sank until a portion of tho spars only were visible. The Hawea, Kakanui, and Prince Rupert were in the offing. The latter picked up tho second mate's boat, but it is unknown here whether she picked up any more. The total of survivors rescued is twenty. A portion of a mail bag was picked up at sea, and one child's body by tho Kakanui. Those on shore declare it was heartrending their inability to help. Two brave swimmers battled for life on a plank, and one,ra splendid swimmer, left the plank on the edge of the surf, and came in with a roller, and was seen struggling within a few yards of the shore, but was taken out again by a back drift. The reef extends seven miles out. The men lauded were almost naked. Clothes were sent at the order of Mr J. S. Shanks to supply their wants. The kindness of Mr Brunton was unbounded. It is signlar that the body that came ashore had a life-buoy attached to it. Life was scarcely extinct, but all means were unavailing to restore it.