Loss of the Wimmera

Taihape Daily Times, 1 July 1918, Page 4

Loss of the Wimmera

ARRIVAL OF SURVIVORS IN. ■ AUCKLAND. <

TWENTY-SIX STILL -MISSING.

The survivors from the Wimmera, which was sunk by an external explosion on Wedensday morning shortly after five o’clock, arrived in Auckland on the ss. Clansman on Saturday morning.

Round and round of cheering br.oke eut among the crowds waiting' outside the guarded wharf as the ■■Clansman, with the survivors, ranged alongside. All who get passes to the wharf barrier were pressing against the ropes, eager to lose no time- in welcoming back their friends, brothers, Sisters, and wives. Not a minute was lost getting those who were left of the crew and passengers disembarked, and into the shelter of the great wharf shed, and the waiting people thronged Inside as they came. First the survivors from the crew filed in, half-naked some others rigged out with what store clothes they had managed to |jst, but all cheerful and matter-of-fact, with smiles and nods for the people they knew, and hearty hand-clasps for those dear to them. The police had left the ropes inside and rescued and friends were soon intermingling. Then the remnants of th passengers of the stricken liner began to come in, the women first, some of them surrounded by their families of little children. Then the unfortunate ladies, who had borne up ail through the comfortless daj r s and nights, and had been the bravest of the brave, began to lose control. Many broke down utterly. The sight of these poor women, having lost almost everything they had, moved many to tears, and each found herself the centre of a crowd of sympathisers. One lady went immediately into hysterics, and ha'd to he harried out, groaning and crying about death in the sea. It was pitiable to sea anothev lady, saved with all her six children, bravely keeping up, while her boys proudly told of all they knew of the things they had seen. But the tension of the past dreadful hours was too much for many, and tears were the order of the minute. One weeping lady, in the throes of some gredt grief, was joined by a great, broadshouldered man. and together the two sought a quiet corner and-werK company. jH

Chairs" were placed for all the survivors, but in the majority of instances they were not necessary. Friends thronged round them and bore them away; motor cars were waiting to take them off; and after the first reaction from the tension of hours, they were almost hack to normal’’again. L TOTAL OF 26 STILL MISSING. There are still 26- missing, and a search for these is being vigorously prosecuted by trawlers and other vessels. Passengers.—Mrs. Jones, Mrs. F .0. Schuberg and child. Mrs. E. M. P. Barnett, Mrs. Peter, Mrs. McDonald and child, Miss Thelma Jones, Ml Graham, Mr. Peter. Crew. —Captain Kell, master; A* Nicholl, first officer; A. Brookes, 3rd officer: S. Collier, second .engineer; D. Mo watt, fourth engineer; A. Bomont. wireless operator; H. Verge, ■steward; E. Greaves, steward; C. Woodward, Steward; E. Newton, stewardess ; C. McMillan, stewardess; J* Robertson, stewardess; J. Mulvenna, seaman; E. Benson, seaman; F. Tildsley, fireman; F. Crosa, nightwatchman.