THE TARARUA DISASTER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2533, 4 May 1881, Page 2

THE TARARUA DISASTER.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. All the statements of the survivois agree that Captain Garrard was cool throughout and did his duty. The last words ho was heard to say were “ My

God, what shall we do!” This exclamation was uttered when a heavy sea, broke over the forecastle head and washed away some of the women and children. One of the survivors mentions that when last seen Captain Garrard was trying to save a baby belonging to one of the sailors who had his wife on board. This man, when told to perform some duty, answered that his duty then was to attend to his wife and child. The captain answered “ I will attend to your wife and child,” and he went into the rigging with the child in his arms. In lowering the boats one of the engineers —in the confusion it was not known whether it was the second or third—had his leg broken. Mr Johns the purser, had his wife on board, and the last seen of them was that they were locked in each other’s arms. One of the stewards (William Warren) drowned was a twin brother to one of the stewards on board the Hawea. When the little child was picked up by the Hawea it was taken aft, and William Hill, who was one of the second mate’s boat, identified it as his. We need not particularise this or any other heartrending scenes that occurred. The second mate, when he came on board the Hawea, stated that the Tararua had struck to the northward of Slope Point. This is believed to be a mistake. Captain Kennedy gives it as his opinion that she struck on Waipapapa Point, which is several miles to the Southward of Slope point. This is the point on which the Easby and Comerang struck, and on which the Surat is supposed to have first touched. The second mate also stated that he believed the Tararua broke up at four o’clock, because it was at that hour that he missed the light; but in all probability he never saw any light from the ship at all. What he saw was probably the fire lighted on the beach, and he lost it because he got so far out to sea and there was a thick haze over the land. No one on the Hawea saw the light of the fire, although it was a matter of certainty that at the time she passed on Saturday morning a fire was burning on the beach, with the special object of attracting the attention of any vessel passing, or of guiding anyone who might be floating about on bits of wreckage. John Chatterton says that he heard the sailors say that at the time the Tararua struck she was going faster than she had ever gone since she left Auckland. They reckoned that she was steaming about twelve knots. The Union Company has telegraphed to Fortrose to have the bodies sent up to Dunedin, but the Coroner thinks they should be buried in the cemetery at Fortrose. The s.s. Kakanui will call at Fortrose and Waikawa on Saturday next, to bring the bodies to Dunedin. The bodies not claimed by friends will be interred at the company’s expense. The wreck will be sold on Friday. The following is the latest from Otara re the wreck of the Tararua :—“ Wynd. ham, 1 p.m.—No more bodies have been found. Three police remain at Waikawa. Gorton has been identified as a groom to Dr Gottenll, of Invercargill. At the inquest the verdict was 1 Found drowned.’ The jury added a rider that a light should be placed on Waipapa Point, as three vessels have been wrecked there. It is not the slightest USA ppnplo Doming lioro, ivo thoro io no accommodation.”

THIS DAY. Dunedin. Being mail day only twenty persons attended the Mayor’s meeting to devise means for relieving the widows and orphans by the Tararua disaster. A committee was appointed to make enquiries. The opinion is expressed that a large sura is not required as many of the passengers had insured their lives. The Union Company head the subscription list with 100 guineas, and promise to give more if necessary. The Mayor of Dunedin will be thankful to receive any information respecting cases requiring urgent relief. It transpires that Mrs Brown and her three children were not passengers by the steamer.