WRECK OF TONGIRIRO

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 31 August 1916, Page 5

WRECK OF TONGIRIRO

mr> ' DISASTER OFF EAST COAST LINER STRIKES BELL ROCK. GTL.BORNE, August 30 The New Zealand Shipping Cq's. Tongariro is ashore on Bull Rock, Portland Island, midway between Gis- \ home and Napier. She has summoned assistance, and the Westralia and the Calm have been despatched post haste from Gisborne. LINER SINKING RAPIDLY. STEAMERS RACING TO THE RESCUE. NAPIER August 30. j A telephone message from the Wai- I roa police station states that the Ton- | gariro is sinking* rapidly. She struck a pinnacle of Bell Rock (not Buil Rock). The s.s. Westralia and the s.s Calm left Gisborne to stand by. The s.s, Ahahura left with the local manager of the N.Z. Sniping Company on board leaving passengers and cargo behind on the wharf. The B'ell Rock is about two hours steam from Napier for ocean steamers. WIRELESS CALLS FOR HELP. i GISBORNE, August 30. The Tongariro was en route from Auckland to Wellington, Auckland having been her first port of call in New Zealand. The vessel passed East Cape, going south, at 10.20 this morn ing, and would be off Portland batween seven and eight o'clock. The first distress wireless call was picked up by the Westralia in the Gisborne roadstead shortly before 8 o'clock, and messages continued until 8.10 p.m when one came through "Power failj ing." Five minutes later another statI ed "Not off yet," but after that the messages ceased. The Westralia at once ceased cargo Operations and hur-; ried south,, first signalling to the; steamer Calm,.,which , was. also, about to leave, .for Napier;.; toi keep.close to the shore and be ,of any assistance »pos sible. Both vessels were racing south at full speed within half an hour of receiving the; distress .call.; i :o-.' .i. ■■>;•' Captain. Richardson, in . the Company's Koutuun-i; Teft. Gistioirhe ■ for Napier at 3 pan., and would' be close to the scene of the mishap! at eight o'clock. She; is a small vessel, and would probably be able to get close to the Tongariro. ' Messages from Wairoa 'indicate that settlers on Mahia report that the ,Tougarir6 is about four miles' off the ,shore,-and is :; iri a precarious condition. , :,..".,'■ ■ , ! The ArahUra, 'from' Napier, should ; reach' the scene of the inishap. about ; midnight, shortly after the,Westralia. J The Westralia took most of , her ,pas-j sehges and cargo for Napier, but about 30 passengers, including) the Allan ; Wilkie Shakespeare Company, and Mr] ictor Grayson (the English Social istj . were lef.< behind. Probably the Am- j hi.tr vol! make the journey <r »;t Gis-j borne to Napier to-morrow. A LATER NARRATIVE. NAPIER.. This Day. Th e S.O.S. call was responded to by the Westralia at Gisborne, and the Arahura at Napier. Both vessels left . immediately for the scene. The Westralia arrived first, and found all the members of the crew on the Kotunui. Th e Westralia took 5.7 on board for Napier. The captain, first and seand officers first* second and third engineers, and six members of the crew are standing by for examination by daylight. When the Westralia left th e vessel the Tongariro was still afloat, her bow being supported by Bull Rock. The water was in all the holds and the engine-room, and the 1 vessel had a heavy list to port, with 26 fathoms of water under her-stern. Seas were breaking over the bow, and it is expected the vessel will slip off and sink. There was no panic; the port boats only could be used; one man was smashed and five men were thrown into the sea. Another capsized through a davit breaking. The occupants were, all rescued. The shock in striking, was very severe, and brought the vessel to aj dead stop, with a terrific noise. The scene of th e wreck is 53 miles j N.N.E. Portland Light. Some of the men received minor ujiiries, but there were no serious casualties.. A member of the crew said the captain was on the bridge all the time. The crew was in the boats for three hours, and returned to the doom- ] ed vessel three times, in ease the cargo j left behind. It is stated the cargo totals 8000 tons, and includes £150,000 bullion. Salvage operations can be .successfully conducted even if the vessel sinks. LATEST REPORTS. 3)HB VESSEL STILL FAST. GISBORNE, August 32. The ■ Arahura reports re&eJiing the i scene at 12.15, tlien the Koutounui

came near, with Captain Makepeace] officers and six of the crew of j the Ton gariro aboard. The captain reported that one, two and three holds and the engine-room were flooded, the steam-; er beingi .on Bell Rock forward and having- 25 fathoms aft. The Koutounui is standing by the Tongariro. There* is no need for the Arahura's assistance. The Westralia had arrived at 111 o'clock and took aboard the rest of the crew from the Koutounui, and pro ceeded to Napier. The Calm also had arrived at the spot, and its services not being required, proceeded on Its voyage, t leaving about the same time as the Westralia. No particulars have been gained as to how the mishap occurred. It 1 is feared the vessel may slip off the rock and become a total loss. From the Arahura the outline of the hull is observed. The Koutounui must -have been in i the locality at the time of the mishap. I The weather is fine and the sea calm. ■ The Koutounui was then seen by the ! Arahura with two empty lifeboats in j tow. j NAPIER, This day The N.Z. Shipping Co's Tongariro, j bound from Auckland to "Wellington, struck a pinnacle otf i'ortl-nd Islail.. and it is believed will become a total wreck. The Westralia, which rushed to the scene from Gisborne, arrived at Napier at 7 a.m. to-day, bring the Ton gariro's third officer and all the crew, to the number of 75, including the stewardess, the only woman on board. The Westralia left the Tongiariro ar 1.30 this morning, and her decks were then above water.