WRECK OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND. STEAMER. BOO-JUM LOST. FIVE MEN DROWNED. (BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 203, 14 May 1887, Page 8

WRECK OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND. STEAMER. BOO-JUM LOST. FIVE MEN DROWNED. (BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. )

Napikb, May 12. The gale that has been blowing since Sunday night has ended in the most fearful disaster ever experienced afc this port. On Monday about 11, as already reported, the ship Northumberland was observed to be drifting towards the Petane Beach, and flying signals of distress. The life-boat putout, bub ufter getting across the bar, she encountered terrific waves, and appeared to be a mere cockelshell at the mercy of the wind and sea. After gallant efforts for over an hour, the boat was beached. In the meantime, a small coastal steamer belonging to Kindross and Co., the Sir Donald, got up steam and went out towards the vessel, which by this time had pulled up, showing that one anchor was holding. When the Sir Donald got alongside, a boat was lowered from the ship, and four passengers — three gentlemen and a lady — were pub on board the steamer. Capb. Todd said bhe vessel had nob touched the ground, and as the weather looked as though it would moderate, he thought bhe one anchor sufficient. The Sir Donald then returned to port. During the night the weather did modei\ ate. and the sea had fallen considerably by Wednesday morning. The Northumberland was then found to be in the same position, about half a mile from the shore. At 11 a.m. signals were seen from the ship requesting assistance and another anchor and hawser, as a second anchor which had been put out over night attached to a steel hawser had parted. The weather thickening with heavy quails and rain, things began to look as nasty as on the picvious day. Five smalj local steamers, the Sir Donald, 800-jum, Weka, Fairy, and Wairoa got up steam and went to the vessel with a view to towing her to a safe position, bub befors reaching her the remaining anchor parted, and the ship was rapidly driven, broadside on, towards the beach. It was then that a fatal disaster occurred. The 800-jum, when about 100 yards to leeward of the ship, was caught by an immense wave, which rolled hei over. A boat with about 20 seamen was lowered from the ship, and picked up the engineer, who was the only man saved of the four on board the 800-jum. The Fairy then picked up the boat and took all on board. Long ere this, crowds of j>eople had proceeded up the Petane Beach, and when the Northumberland was near enough, an attempt was made to fire a rocket and rope aboard. Three shots were iired unsuccessfully, and the rockets were exhausted. Then ropes were floated from the ship, and after many failures one reached near enough to be seized. That was fastened to a telegraph pole, and the board-ship end was taken to the topmast and a cradle rigged, by which, with many narrow escapes, the whole of the crew were landed ; Captain Todd being the last to leave the vessel. It is not easy to obtain a connected story, and all sorts of accounts are given by eyewitnesses, but the above is actually what occurred, with the omission of details. None of the bodies have been washed up. The ship is fast breaking up. Two of her masts went last night, and the beach is strewed with cargo. A. Waddell, one of the drowned men, who volunteered to go on the 800-jum, was manager for Thompson and Co. jerated water makers. He leaves a widow and seven children. Captain Setter, of the 800-jum, leaves a window and three children. He was formerly a resident of Melbourne, and had been long in the employ of bhe Union S.S. Company. Ho was brave even to rashness, and has frequently rendered valuable services with liis little steamer when vessels in the offing. The other men drowned were Charles Barnes (seaman) and another seaman named Kelvingfcon, and a stranger known as "Scotty Ned." These three with Mr Waddell and Captain Setter make five lives lost. Cargo from the Nsrthumberland is strewn on the beach for over a mile. Part of the hull of the 800-jum has also been washed ashore. It is said that a number of " roughts" adopted the role of " wreckers," and held a regular pandemonium on the beach. Large crowds broaching the cargo, many were drunk. The one policemen present called upon a party of respectable citizens to aid him, but they were set upon by drunken roughs, and had to let things go on as before.