WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9372, 15 February 1909, Page 5

WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

Thirty

Saved.

Only One Wo

RECOVERY OF BODIES. SATURDAY’S NEWS. Per Press Association Wellington, February 18. Late this S afternoon, twenty-six bodies had come ashore, or were in sight in the surf. For two miles, the beaoh is strewn with wreckage. Pieces of the vessel, cabins, seats, cushions, and upholstery of every kind are floating about on the water and distributed over the sands. Not a vestige ’of the vessel itself remains, and it is absolutely impossible to determine where she The sight on the beach is one which will never be forgotten. Three lifeboats are thrown up on the sand and one raft is also high and dry. The wreckage and the fourth lifeboat are floating about in the breakers. , , . Just round a forbidding-looking bluff was discovered. the body of a little girl about 13 or 13 years of age, A little farther on was the body of a middle-aged man, and still a few yards further away was the corpse of an elderly woman, apparently some 45 or 50 years of age. Just past the second lifeboat was seen the body of a young man, wearing a light grey suit and apparently between 17 'and 18 years of age. Still further on the body of i a woman, clothed in a blue costume, and apparently between 85 and 40 years of age, came ashore. There was also on ythe beaoh the body of a man about 40 or 50 years of age, and another corpse was that of a fireman. A young man, who was lying dead on the beach, was evidently the same passenger whom Captain Naylor endeavoured to save on the upturned boat that he was clinging to. THE MISSING BOATS. ALL LOST. The passengers were all put into the boats and of these three are upturned on the shore, one is tossing about broken, and the fifth .’and last is missing. Unless the fifth boat turns up, no one who was in the boats has been saved, except Mrs Hannan, of Nelson, a little boy, and a youth Matthews, of Spring Greek, Marlborough. It was hoped that the last boat might have made Ohau Bay, but the Arahura, which went to the scene, visited the bay and it was not there, nor had any of the other vessels in the vicinity seen it. The hope that the missing boat might be saved is now abandoned as it has drifted ashore. THE SUCCESS OF THE RAFTS. It is a noteworthy feature that out of 37 parsons saved 83 of these came ashore on the two rafts, not one person who got on to the rafts being drowned, although they were capsized several times before eventually making land. A FOBTUNATB ESCAPE. Wellington, Perbuary 14. One of the most fortunate escapes from a passage on the Penguin was that of Miss Siberia O’Sullivan, Jfche daughter of a deceased Havelock settler. She had taken a position as teacher in the Sacred Heart, College, Wellington, and was to have commenced her duties on Monday. She was to have made the trip with her mother, but their farewells at Blenheim occupied so much time that they missed the only train which could connect Jwith the Penguin, an incident which Miss O’Sullivan regarded as extremely unfortunate until the dreadful news of the wreck was telegraphed over the Straits the following morning. BODIES FOUND ON SUNDAY. Wellington, February 14. Late this afternoon there were fifty-two bodies on the beaoh, scattered over eight miles. Nelson, February 14. The following passengers from Nelson by the Penguin proceeded no further than Picton:—Mr and Mrs Rutherford, Mr and Mrs Ounninghame, Mrs Jennings, Mr and Mrs Jaoka, and several others whose names do not appear on the passenger list are reported to have been >on the steamer,, and inquiries are being made in regard to these, Mr Keith Cape Williamson, who is reported to have been lost, is a brother of the stationmaster at Wakefield. The Hannon family come from' Tadmor. Young Troadec was a Stoke Orphanage hoy on his way to a farm at Wellington. i Miss : Hunt’s parents reside at Motueka. The font Maguires had been inmates of St. Andrew’s Orphanage and were returning to their father. Mr W. S. Rentonl, the third engineer, was a native of Nelson, where his parents reside, and Captain Naylor is also a member of a Nelson family. WOMAN’S PATHETIC STORY. Wellington, February 13. The only woman survivor of the Penguin wieck was Mrs Joe Hannan, and particularly heartrending is her story. Her four children were all drowned before her eyes. She told a most pathetic story to a Times reporter, who interviewed her at Mr MoMeuaraen’3 station. She says:— “My husband was working on the railway down South, and he lately contracted consumption, so we

Fate of the Missing Boats.

Seventy Lives Lost.

man Survivor.

booked our passages by the Penguin, taking our four children with ns, our intention being to go to Rotorua to see if it would do my husband any good. At about 10 o’clock on Friday night we heard a bump, and a little later a stewardess came down and told us to get ready as the boat was sinking. We all rushed on deck, and I was told to get into one of the boats which was being got ready. I refused to leave *ny husband and children, bat they forced me to get into the boat, separating me from Mr Hannan, although my children were with me. The boat was filled with passengers, and one sailor was also ordered in. Just as they went to lower the boat the tackle falls gave way, and the craft went down head first into the ocean, all my children being drowned except my youngest baby, two years old, which I bad lashed to one of the seats. Nobody seemed to have time to rescue the children, bnt I suppose that could not be helped. There were six women in the boat, and I should think somewhere near the same number of men. We got safely away from the ship, and the saloon stewardess (Mrs Jacob) helped ns before we got into the boat. My word ! she was a brave woman. She did everything —got blankets and wrapped me up, and was oaiin and collected and did not flurry in the least. “OH, MUMMA, HELPUS!”_ When the tackle’falls gave way, I heard one of my |ohildren calling, “Oh, Mamma. Mamma, help us!” But God knows we were powerless to do anything. My husband was on the deck, and I said to him when we parted, “Obeer up, old man.” He replied, “Good-bye.” I have not seen him since. We drifted about, and during the night we saw one of the rafts quite close to us. We cooeed and tried to get up to it, hut could not. We must have been some hours in the boat. We could see the rooks ahead of ns and we tried to keep off them, the sailor who was in charge doing his beat in avoiding the reefs. My poor little baby was then still alive, and I realised that it was all I had in the world. The boat was filling with water, leaking badly and those not rowing kept bailing out the water for their dear lives. If we oonldp“not. check the inflow wa realised that it was only a matter of time when the boat would be right awash. UPSET IN THE SURF.

We knew by the roaring of the breakers that we were close on the reef, and puli as we could we were unable to keep tbe boat with her head to sea. Suddenly, I don’t know how it happened, an enormous wave struck ns side on, and the boat capsized. Everybody was instantly thrown into the sea, bat I managed to grasp a JJrope, and God alcne knows how X Jhung on. A young boy (Ellis Matthews) was floating near me, and I got a rope to him and helped him to make himself secure athwart of the capsized boat. We were right underneath tbe boat, but the air must have forced the water out, and while the bottom of the boat stood out of the water we clung on with onr heads to the floor of the boat, and we were thus enabled to breathe. We were really imprisoned between the keel of the boat and the seat, the boat still floating all the time upside down. It seemed that we floated about for hours, until finally we were washed up on to the beach, penned under the boat. We were, you must remember, still under tbe boat in its capsized condition, penned in under tbe thwarts. Of course the water was very shallow, bnt the spent waves continned to lap right up to our bodies. We had no way of getting out. My poor little baby had in the meantime died from the shook and the exposure. I think the life belt must have choked her. While losing my all I had saved the life of a strange boy (Matthews). The terrible experience had told on him, and he lay by my side unconscious. I made up my mind to get out from under tbe boat, and 1 started to scratch away at tbe shingly, beaoh to make a hole to creep out. Then 1 heard the voices of the station shepherds, who lifted up the boat, and got ns out, and we were taken to the homestead. The names of the children 1 lost were: Ronald Edward (aged 10 years), George Alexander (aged 5 years), Amelia (3 years) and Ruby Mary (3 years).” THE PURSER’S STORY. Mr A. R, Thompson, purser of the Penguin, has now beenjtwioejwreoked in the last 18 months. He was in the ill-fated Kawatiri, lost last year on the Tasmanian coast, when six persons were drowned. He says there were sixty passengers and forty of a crew on the Penguin when she left Picton on Friday evening, “it seems to me only 37 have got ashore alive, leaving 74 as tbe number who have gone. I was only partly dressed when the ship struck. The seas were washing aboard forward as the ship began to settle down by the bead,, and all the passengers were sent aft. The sailors and male passengers assisted in getting out the boats. We got these out and let the rafts drift as the ship went down. “It’s all np now, swim for it” called the Chief Officer, and it was like diving into space such a terrible drop we had. Eleven of ns got on a raft and we had a terrible time. Our legs were paralysed with cold, and it was blowing hard and raining. Three times the raft turned turtle, but each time we all got back again. At last we got into the breakers and jumped for it and all got safely ashore. Three times I had undergone the sensation of drowning. The last I saw of the poor chief engineer was when he was untying a gangway, ‘lt might

come in useful to someone to cling to, ’he said. Even when ashore the survivors had an awful lime, finding it almost impossible in tueir exhausted condition to climb the almost perpendicular cliffs. Finally the men reached MoMenamen’s station and were treated most hospitablv.” SOME OP THE VICTIMS. Christchurch, February 14. It has been ascertained that Mr and Mrs William Higgins Henry were passengers by the Penguin. ■ Mr Henry was employed at tne Economic, Wellington, and a ß_ a nephew of Mrs S. A. Staples, of this oity. Mrs Henry was a daughter or the Rev. Jaa. Maxwell, Presbyterian minister, of this city, and had been on a visit to Brighfwater. To-day Mrs Staples received a telegram stating that her nephew’s body had been identified. Among those supposed to have been on board the Penguin was Miss Livesay, well known in hookey circles, whose parents reside at Glendovey road, Fendalton. . : It is understood that a Christchurch gentleman, Mr Keith Cape Williamson, who resided at Oarlton Mill road, yesterday telegraphed his intention of returning by the Penguin. Mr Williamson’s name does not appear in the list of passengers saved and it i.i assumed he is one of the victims in tbeidisaster. He’would be travelling on a return ticket. Mr Williamson has a brother who is the stationmaster at Wakefield, Nelson. Hearing of the disaster Mr Williamson despatched an urgent telegram to his brother, but received no reply. He sent three urgent wires and has as yet received no answer. This evidently confirms the suggestion that Mr Williamson has been lost in the wreck. Mr Keith Cape Williamson was an exceptionally promising young man, having lately distinguished himself at Canterbury College. He was educated at Christ’s Opliege, where he obtained an entrance scholarship in 1898, in addition to a Board of Education junior scholarship. He remained at Christ’s College for three or four years, and then left to take up pupil teaching. He was at the Normal School for some time, and eventually gave np the position to entirely devote himself to his studies at Canterbury College. There he further distinguished himself and passed his B.A. degree, and the first iection of Jibe L.L.B, He was also recently awarded an exhibition in mental science. He was about 31 years of age. Weliintgon, February 14. Mrs Brittain was the wife of Mr H. F. Brittain, stock inspector, Nelson, formerly of Auckland. Her husband was visiting Wellington, attending the veterinary classes, and being somewhat unwell Mrs Brittain was coming to Wellington to look after him. She leaves a family. The third engineer of the Penguin was Mr Stanley Rentonl, unmarried, a native of Nelson, where bis parents reside. His age vras about 25 years. He had been in various steamers of the Union Company, bnt only joined the Penguin six weeks ago. He formerly served as second engineer on the Richmond.

H BODIES IDENTIFIED

R. Urquhart, chief engineer; Mrs Hope, foreoabin stewardess; Mrs O. Bird, Mr O. H. Hall, Mrs Hall, Mr Rogers, Mr Seed, Mr H. Q Bone, Mrs Jacobs (stewardess), Master Maguire, Miss Maguire, Mr 11. Wharton Shaw, Mr W. H. Henry, Mr J. Bates, Miss Mary Doran, Miss Mary Fairhairn (doubtful), Mr McIntyre (chief officer)/|Mrs W. R. Symons and two children, Miss;Jessie Rennie (Mrs Symons’ maid), Mr Sylvester Holcroft, Mr W. Higigus Henry, Mrs Bishop, Mrs Toomer, Keith Williamson, F. Driscoll (the second officer). Some doubt was at first expressed as to the probability of Mrs Symonds her ohidren, and maid being on the Penguin, but unfortunately it proved to be only too true, for Mrs Symonds’ body was one of the first to be identified on the beach. The deceased lady was returning from a holiday at Nelson with her maid and two children, aged 15 and 14 respectively, and the poor little ones had just celebrated a happy birthday. Mrs Symonds was the widow of Mr W. R Symonds, formerly shipping manager lor Messrs Turnbull & Co., and a daughter of Mr W. S. Reid, late Solicitor-General. Her brother, Mr Edward Reid, is one of the stiaff of the A.M.P. Society in Wellington, and. the local manager Mr Lowe, was an uncle.

The latest accounts place the total dead at 70, and the living at 30.

THE POLICE ARRANGEMENTS

The police authorities have made arrangements for the care of the bodies that are being washed ashore. At 1 o’clock this morning, two mounted constables were despatched to the scene. They took with them blankets and medical comforts for the injnred. Later on, a sergeant and two more constables left in a motor car and the Commissioner of Police has expressed his intention of also""going out. Some coffins have been sent to the coast and the police will be stationed by the bodies till they can be brought to Wellington. It is intended to bring them round by sea as soon as the weather moderates, but this operation will be impossible this evening. The only other way to make the passage in would be by packborse over the rugged hill tracks, but this course is net considered advisable. The Union Oomapny is co-operating with the police in making the beat possible arrangements for the care of bodies. Wellington, February 14.

Arrangements have been made for the Permanent Artillery to start packing the bodies overland at daybreak to where they can be met by vehicles from the oity. REVISED PASSENGER LIST. The list of passengers revised according to the latest information of the Union Company list:— From Picton. —Mr Bridge (saved), Mrs Brittain, Mr Bird, Mr Bone, Mr Courtney, Miss Doran, Mr Ellison (saved), Mr Green (saved), Mr Hale, Mr S. Haloroft, Mrs Hale, Mrs Hart, Mr Hogg (saved); Mr Holmes, Mr Harold, Mr E. Matthews (saved), Miss MoAlley, JMr Riggs Millar (saved), Miss J Ribands, Mr Frank Shaw (saved), Mr Underwood, Mr N. White.

From Nelson.—-Mr Onnniughame, Mrs Ounuinghame, Mr Chappel. Mr Combo, Mr Froadec, Miss Hunt, Miss Jennings, Mr Jack (of Duchie & Co.) (saved), Mr Johnson, Mrs Jaoka, Mr Jaoka, Misses Maguire (3), Master Maguire, Mr Perkins

(saved), Mr Rutherford, Mrs Rutherford, Mr Shaw, Mrs Toomer and child, Miss Toomer, Mrs Hannan (saved),'Mr Hannan and four children. THE DEAD AND MISSING. The list of those dead or missing so far as can he ascertained is:— Passengers Meedames Brittain, Hart, Toomer, Hale ; Misses Doran, MoAlley, Ribands, Hunt, Jennings, MacGuire (3), Ivy Toomer, Alice Toomer, Clare Nodine ; Messrs Bird, Bone/Courtney, Hale, S. Holcroft, Holmes, Harold, Underwood, V. Wheti, Ohappel, Froadeo, Oombe, Johnson, Wharton , Shaw (Melbourne), Keith WiMiamson, Seed, Roraers, H. E. Bowen, E. Matthews (not to be ooufnsed with the lad saved), Master MaoGnire. To above list of passengers have to be added Mrs W. R. Symons, two children and a maid. It was wired from Nelson that some passengers of this name had not gone, though their names were in the passengers’ list; but these bodies have been identified. Officers and crew—F. Driscoll (second engineer), G. A. Looseman ( third engineer), R. Urquhart (chief engineer), W. Rentonl (third steward), T. Hayes (boatswain), O, W. Estaoott, Bowman, Henderson (A.B.’s), G. Jaffirie (donkeyman), Rafferty (gieaser), O. Fairburn, S. Warl (fireman), S. Oouie, Barnes (trimmers), Mrs Hope (stewardess), E. Gale, (A. 8.), Mr O. Jacobs (saloon stewardess), Mrs Hope (forecastle stewardess), R. Watts, (second steward), M. Hays (forecabin steward), D. Lynn (chief cook), Edwin Hall (second cook), Henry McGuire (scullion), O. Jones (pantyman), Wellnm (second pantryman), Cooke (messrpom steward), Ernest Orook G. Claydon (saloon waiter).

SURVIVORS. MR BRIDGE OP WELLINGTON Wellington, February 13. Mr H. Bridge, of Wellington, son of H; B, Bridge, Oriental Bay, who was coming from Picton to attend his brother’s funeral was amongst the saved. The vessel, he said, left about 6 o’clock last evening. All went well till about a quarter to ten, when a grinding crash was heard. A few moments later it was apparent that the vessel was about to sink, and arrangements were at once made by the captain to get out cue boats. Th'e captain gave his orders from the bridge and there was an entire absence of panic, even amongst tne women.

The lifeboats were first launched, with women and children. No. 1 lifeboat was smashed to atoms almost as soon as it reached the water. The second boat also got stove in slightly, but managed to get clear of the ship. Shortly after, however, it capsized. Mr Bridge himself got on board one of tne rafts. These were absolutely the last to leave the ship, the captain himself remaining until the end. He managed to catch hold of an upturned boat.

The conduct of everybody from the time the ship struck until she sank was a magnificent display of heroism. Those on board tbe two rafts, eleven on one and twelve on the other, had a trying time. One raft completely overturned on three occasions during, the wild stormy night, while the other was overturned four times. Strange to relate, the 23 passengers and members of tbe crew who left on the rafts, were saved. A REPORT. Charles Jackson, A. 8., was one of the saved, and whom the reporter found at Mr John McMenamen’s house, Terawhiti Station. Mr Jackson gave a graphic account of the wreck. When tbe vessel struck there was a sound like the rending of a gigantic piece of calico. “I knew at once that the steamer had struck, but we kept going for a while. It was soon discovered that the water was making very fast in the chain looker and the fore cabin.

In a short space of time Nos, IJand 2 lifeboats were ready for launching with the women and children. The sea was running mountains high, and the task was a difficult one. The great waves thundered against the sides of the ship and the boats, one boat after it was launched, was smashed to pieces. No. 1 lifeboat, however, got clear of the ship, but owing to the cruel buffeting it was subjected to by the waves, it was found she was leaking. This time I was with tbe second officer helping to launch another lifeboat. We had got the boat out of the davits, when a tremendous sea struck her under the bottom and she capsized. At this time the ill-fated Penguin was rapidly settling down, and all the female passengers had left by this time.

There was no panic, everybody strictly obeying the orders given by the captain. The menjhurried about on deck, and the captain still occupied his place on the bridge. We had a full complement aboard, and were just drifting away from the ship when the boiler burst with a tremendous explosion, and the ship slipped out of sight. Fortunately we were a sufficient distance from the vessel to prevent us being sucked under. The other raft had also managed to get clear. By a stroke of luck, we managed to secure two oars, and with these we guided the direction of our frail craft during the long hours of the night. We drifted for three hours, and about three o’clock saw the land looming up through the haze and mist. I shall never forget that||nlght as long as I live. We overturned on three occasions, and once got away from the raft about 20 yards, and again my ability as a swimmer was responsible for saving my life. It was really pitiable, when the raft overturned, to see men struggling in the water. It was magnificent to see them helping each other to a place of safety. About three o’clock, we had drifted and worked our way pretty close to land. The raft crashed into the rooks, and we all found ourselves making for the shore.

While we were drifting, we had occasional glimpses of Captain Naylor, who was clinging to a damaged boat. He was accompanied by a passenger, a young man between 25 and 30. By means of which lam not aware, this poor fellow had one of his hands torn from the aim. I myself saw the captain taking out his handkerchief and binding it about the poor fellow’s wrist. The captain managed to reach the shore alive, hat his companion did not. His dead body is now lying on the beaoh.

If anybody acted heroically it was Mrs Hannan, sole lemiilV survivor

out of the passenger list and crew numbering close on 100. When tha damaged lifeboat came ashore, the men on the beach turned it over and under the boat they found Mrs Hannan and a youth named Ellis Matthews, previously raferred to. Mrs Hannan, whose father is a resident of Nelson, was accompanied by her husband and four children, bnt all were drowned. The most pathetic incident of all was the death of her young baby, whom she strapped to the lifeboat before it sheered off from the Penguin. When Mrs Hannan was discovered under the boat and realised that she had managed to teach laud, she at once inquired lor her baby. The men on the beach knew that the child was dead, and were untying the knot which held it to the boat at the moment the mother made the inquiry. “Oh, let me untie it myself,” the poor woman said, believing the child was alive. ‘‘l know how I fixed it up.” Unfortunately, however, tbe little one was dead. Mrs Hannan now lies in Mr John McMenameu’s house at Terawhiti in a state of collapse.

A CAPTAIN’S OPINION.

Blenheim, February 14,

Captain Eckford, of the river steamer Opawa, who has traded between Wellington and Blenheim for many years, and knows Cook Straits thoroughly, says there certainly was a very strong current in the Straits on Saturday, when he crossed with the Opawa, but it was not abnormal. It was natural to snob heavy southerly weather. His own passage from Wellington to the Wairau bar occupied 15 hours, or twice the ordinary time. He is of opinion that in such thick and stormy weather a passenger vessel’s best plan is to refrain from venturing out on the course, on which Thom’s Rock is snoh a great danger. A lighthouse on Terawhiti would be absolutely useless in such thick weather, and gnns could not be heard, as the wind would he blowing in the wrong direction. THE SCENE OP THE WRECK. Wellington, February 14. The scene of the wreck, though in point of distance so near Wellington, is very inaccessible, and the pressmen, police, and others who went to the spot had a fearful time. The rain fell incessantly,2 and made travel over the hill tracks almost a matter of impossibility. The Terawhiti went round to-day, but could not get in touch with the shore. The 53 bodies recovered are lying along a stretch of eight miles of beach, and it is not yet certain what will he done with them ; bnt efforts will be made to get them to’Wellington by boat to-night or to-morrow.

LATEST NEWS. Blenhiem/February 15. The following passengers whose names appear on the list of missing did not proceed to Wellington by the Penguin but broke the journey at Picton and came np to Blenheim : Rev. A. B. Ohapell, Miss Jennings, Mr and Mrs Cunningham (Taihape). Dunedin, February 15.

There is a doubt whether Gonie (a trimmer) was lost. It is thought at head office he was replaced by Henry Leggy. It was also telegraphed here on Saturday that Lvnn (chief cook) was amongst those saved.

A PUBLIC FUNERAL.

Dunedin, February 15,

Captain- Cameron, director, and D. T. Aiken, assistant general manager, are proceeding to Wellington this mornlug to attend the funeral of those lost in the Penguin wreck, and Government have declared a public funeral on Tuesday.

The body of Mclntyre (chief officer) will be taken to Hobart by the Ulimaroa.

THE BODIES REMOVED. Wellington, February 15. 8 The Terawhiti went out this morning to take the bodies off in surf boats. At 10.30 a message was received from Otarangi Bay cable station, saying that 44 bodies had been placed on board up to that time. The Terawhiti is expected to reach town at 3 p.m. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. The bodies brought by tbe Terawhiti to the city have been placed in Buckle Street Drill shed. The boat moored at Miramar wharf, and so avoided the crowd collecting. Relatives can haye the bodies if so desired bnried in their own cemetery plots. The remaining bodies will be buried in the public Protestant and Roman Catholic parts of the cemetery according to the faith of deceased. Each will have a separate grave and will be numbered so that removal can be effected subsequently if the relatives wish. The funeral will start for Karori Cemetery at 10 a.m. to-morrow. A half holiday will be observed in the city in the forenoon.

Mrs Angelina Trice, who was lost in tbe Penguin disaster, was well known in Marton some years ago. Mr Trice was licensee of the White Hart Hotel. Ope of the sisters of the deceased lady is Mrs Albert Campion of Rata, and another is Mrs Harry Slight of Auckland, late of Marton. Mrs Hart, who was also drowned, was mother of Mrs W. Gomez, of Marton. AUSTRALIAN SYMPATHY. NEED FOR LIGHTHOUSE.

United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Sydney, February 15. The Telegraph declares that the Penguin would not have been lost if there had been a lighthouse at Terawhiti. The adequate lighting of such a dangerous coast should be a prime consideration with Government.

The public mind was touched with sincere sorrow by the heavy loss of life and «tvitli admiration of the fortitude displayed by all, especially by the two stewardesses who perished, and by the lady passengers. Mclntyre, the chief officer of the ship, was a son of Justice Mclntyre, of Hobart, who with his family is at present travelling in tbe East.