LATER DETAILS. How the Ladies Perished.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 150, 17 April 1886, Page 4

LATER DETAILS. How the Ladies Perished.

There seems to bo some difficulty in identifying the survivor's (McQuarters) story with what are known to be the facts in relation to the body of the chief officer Monkman. As I wired jou last night, McQuarters says that the chief officer's body came ashore in the boat with him. I afterwards saw the body last night, and it is not that of the chief officer. The latter s body was, however, found, having been picked up some miles down the beach. Ihe body of the man in officer's un form found in the boat has nob yet been identified. McQuartera, whom I have again seen this morning, persists in hi 3 story that it was the chief officer who camo ashore in the boat. He says the people who identified the other body as that of the chief officer have made a mistake ; but there can be no doubt the latter are right and McQuarters wrong, though in all probability the chief officer was in the same boat from the position in which the body was found. In another particular McQuarters' story contains something not quite understood. His first statements were to the effect that all the lady passengers were drowned alongside the steamer, tie now says the ladies were in the boat with him for a long time, and that they bore up remarkably well for an hour or two, but gradually sank and expired. As the dead bodies of men as well as women were washing about in the boat and endangering the safety of all, they were put overboard. All the bodies had life belts on, so their bodies are bound to float and come ashore sooner or later.

Mr Itloukmaii's Body. The chief mate's body was found about 7 or S miies away from here, and there are appearances of his having tried to get his shirt over his head so as to swim better. The garment was caught and held, however, by the button at the wrist, The shirt may only have been washed over his head by the sea of course, but it has the appearance of having been pulled over his head. There ia no doubt about the identity of the mate's body, his certiPcate3 and papers being tound on him. Mr Liggins, manager, Union Company, personally knows the unfortunate officer, and is able to recognise him although the poor fellow has lost both his eyes. On the body of an officer, probably the engineer, found in the boat was a sum of £49. On another body, that of a man known about this locality, and named Alex. Martin, the police found a sum of £51. They also found correspondence. One letter was from his father in America, asking him when he was going home. Probably Martin was on his way home when the accident occurred. A body found yesterday thirty miles away is thought, from the description, to. be that of Mr Vallance. His brother is just leaving for the spot.

Particulars of Some Victims. Instructor Ward, who perished by tbo Taiaroa disaster, arrived in the colony three months ago under two years engagement as Torpedo artificer and [instructor. (Before leaving England he was engaged in the same capacity in the Torpedo School Ship Vernon. He was an able and experienced officor, and Major Bodham considers it will he extremely different if not absolutely impossible to find an equally competent interest to mention that deceased took part in one of the Arctic expeditions under Sir William Nares and Captain Markham. Mr Monkman, Chief Officer, was a son of Mr Monkman, head of the Storea Department, Port Chalmers. T. Delaney, steward, and R. Irwin, fireman, both belonging to Belfast, and joined the vessel at Dunedin W. Kellin, cook, was a single man, and! resided in Dunedin. D. Hill, lamp trimmer, cam a from Glasgow recently, and was married in Dunedin about six months ago.

The Rescue Expedition. Wellington, April 14. The "Evening Pose" special reporter, who went down in the Penguin and returned yesterday afternoon, supplies the following : — Tiie Penguin left the Queen's Wharf at 11.20 on Monday morning, and about 4 reached Cape Campboll, under which she anchored for the night. A strong S.E. wind was experienced on the way down, and owing to adverse circumstances she did not make the Cape as soon as she otherwise would have done. Captain Bendall, Captain Williams and Captain Allman were inclined to the opinion that as it would not be possible to reach tho scene of the wreck before dark, and as tho heavy sea then running on the coast would render the work of rescue, if possible, exceedingly dangerous, the best thing that could be done was to anchor under Cape Campbell for the night, and leave for tho Clarence River early in the morning. The vessel accordingly came to an anchorage about a mile off the lighthouse shortly after 2 p.m., and a boat containing Captains Williams and Bondall, Mr Grant (Chief Officer of the Ohan), the representative of the "Evening Post" (Mr J. R. Gibbons), and Mr D. Cameron, in charge of Mr Shepherd, the Second Officer of the Ptnguin, was at once despatched for shore lor the. purpose of ascertaining whether the lighthouse people possessed information ccncerning the wreck. On landing, the visitors learned that the residents at the Cape knew nothing about the matter. They informed us they saw

the Taiaroa pass the Cape about 4 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, A northeasterly breeze had jusfc sprung up previously, and the ill fated vessel was bowling along at a good rate. Ono of the lighthouse men offered 10 lend us a couple of horses so that two of the party might ride I over to the Clarence River. The distance was over 20 miles, the track was bad, and darkness was approaching,so we decided not to make the attempt as wo would be able to reach the desired locality just as quickly by water. % H JjJ j After inspecting the lighthouse and partaking of the hospitality of the principal keeper we returned on board Soon after dinner Captain Allman observed light being moved from the shore, and believing that the keepers had obtained some information since, he eenfc another boat ashore for the purpose of ascertaining what the landsman had to say. The signalling naturally caused some commotion on board, and everyone anxiously awaited the return of the boat The boat came back in less than an hour, and reported that two men employed on Flaxbourne station, whbh is situated several miles from the scene of the wreck, had just arrived at the lighthouse with a few particulars concerning the sad event.

Another Account of the Wreck The men from Flaxbourne stated that the Taiaroa had broken up, and it was belie\ ed that three boat-loads of people had left the ship. They further reported that they had been sent along the beach as far as the lighthouse by the manager of the station to see whether any bodies had been washed up. They informed Captain Bendall that when travelling along the beach they came across three bodies, a life-buoy, and a boat Mith mast and sail, but did not think of looking at tho name of the buoy. As they were about to return to the steamer Captain Pendall instructed them to inform the manager that the Penguin would be along early in the morning, and would take on board the survivors, or any bodies that might be found in tho interim. The Penguin got under weigh again about 2 o'clock in the morning, and going down at the rate of 10 knots, reached the scene of the wreck shortly before 7 o'clock Ihe Wakatu (Captain Wills) which had been telegraphed for from lyttelton, arrived just betore we did, and the Wanaka, en route from Lytteltun to Wellington, put in an appearance at the same time as ourselves.

The Wrecked Steamer. Some time before we came into the passage we had ocular demonstration that the Taiaroa had notbeen broken up, as reported, a i she could be seen lying on the edge of the Deach apparently little damaged. Her bow is to the southward, and instead of lying on her beam end?, as stated in the first message received in Wellington on Monday, she simply has a cant seaward. As we approached, several men could be seen moving about on her decks, and a number of others were standing on the beach, evidently awaiting the arrival of the steamer. From the fact that the vessel is lying close to the waters edge, and appers to have sustained little damage, considerable Barprise was expressed on board the relieviag steamers that nearly all hands should have been drowned. The scene of the wreck is about a mile to the north of Waipapa Point, and midway between the Clarence or Big River and a creek which runs down from the Kaik-oura Ranges on the Cape Campbell side. The point forme the southern end of a large bight, in which the sea is always said to roll pretty heavily, and in which one could well imagine a small vessel would have a lively time in rough weather. The people living near the vicinity know very ittle about the occurrence as none saw the vessel go on shore ; but they state that all the boats left the vessel, one capsized and the whole of the occupants were drowned . There is very little doubt that when &he stranded the Taiaroa was hugging the shore too closely. Her deck houses are very little damaged, but there appears to be several holes in her bottom. All her charts and papers have been recovered and taken on board the Penguin. Several articles belonging to passengers have also been recovered Amongst these is a lady's handbag containing two handkerchiefs marked "Jane Fitzgerald." The opinion of those competent to judge is that with the exception of that contain ing the captain, all the boats have foun dered. Captain Rendal! believes it is possible to get off the vessel, provided she i 3 not more damaged than he imagined.

Description of the Bodies. KekeraxotU, noon. As there ie no sign of the coroner or the steamer with the chief steward I think it advisab'e to send you a description of the bodies, as it may possibly relieve the minds of some friends waiting for tidings. No. 1. — male, aged about 45 ; hair cut short, brown and eaudy ; orignally now grey ; moustache grey ; no whiskers ; eyes grey ; height sft. Sins ; chest measured 244 inches; body well nourished and inclined to stoutness. There is a small tumour the size of an ordinary marble on the inside of the left, and an oval vaccination ecar on the outside of the right arm three inches below the shoulder. No. 2 is the body of a man identified as Alexander Martin, known personally to the men working on this station. No 3.— Robert Boyle Monkman (Chief Officer), identified by Mr Wiggine, agent of the Union Company. Ko. 4. — Young man in blue serge uniform, with buttons marked " U.S.S, Company." Said to ba the uniform of the second officer or third engineer ; bafr. brown and curly ; black side- whiskers ; eye 3, brown ; height, oft 6in ; chest, 34iin On the front of the right are is tattooed a Maltese cross ; on the front of the left arm ia a Union Jack, the staff of which is held by a sailor's figure, which in the right hand is holding a cutlasg. No. 5.— A young man in a blue iumper ; apparently a fireman ; age, about 26 ; hair, brown, and inclined to be curly ; fair moustache, with side whisker ; prominent features ; eyes, grey ; height, sft. 6h ; chest, 32£; body, well nourished and muscular ; has a tendency to bunion on left big toe. None of these bodies have been identified except that of the chief officer. Three bodies are still at Woodbank. The inquest will commence at 2 o'clock. A messenger has been despatched to Woodbank for Sergeant Grant, one of the survivors, whose evidence is required.

Were the Eogiocs Reversed Before the Taiaroa Struck? It is stated that the Captain in his evidence at the enquiry at Blenheim said he ordered the engines astern. People on the epot who have been aboard say that the telegraph points to " Full speed ahead." It having beeu stated that one of the bodies here has been ideutified as that of Thomas Morrison, fireman, of Dunedin, I may say that the description of Mr Morri s on was telegraphed through from Dunedin to Mr Liggins, manager of the Union S.S. Company, and whilst the general characteristics of the body thought to be Morrisons are somewhat similar, there is strong doubt as to the identity.

Yallanccs Body Found. The body found yesterday at Flaxburn has been identified aa that of the sporting man Vallanco. The coroner, Mr Allan, R.M., has arrived.

The Wreck Settling Down. The Taiaroa is settling down in the shingle. Her list to seaward has increased 83 much that the deck is flush with water, and the waves are washing over her on all sides. The steamer is in charge of Mr Joseph Nancarrow, who has been placed there by Captain Bendall. Mo other mail bags have been recovered, but it is possible that they are under the cargo, which is all at one side of the vessel. A further search is to be made to-day. The coroner oper»s the inquest this afteij noon. The evidence of the passengers, Grant and McQuarters, will be taken. The third survivor, Hutton, left for Wellington in the Wakatu last night. Mr Gerald Fitzgerald, of Blenheim, has searched the beach to day for the body of his aunt, but unsuccessfully. \ Ho other bodies have come ashore, and no more wreckage excopt a bundle of about 30 life belts. The Key. Mr Grace arrived with the coroner to-day. The funerals here and at Woodbank will be conductod by the Rev. Messrs Grace and McCara.