A THRILLING NARRATIVE. STORY OF THE CHIEF OFFICER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 375, 8 June 1889, Page 3

A THRILLING NARRATIVE. STORY OF THE CHIEF OFFICER.

W. Miller, first officer of the Maitai, states : While the surf boat was being launched one of the eiewcame and seized the lifo-boat and by sheer strength hauled the boat free from the lashings. It was a great feat of strength. His name was James Mason, an A.B. After that he assisted me to get the boat over, and then ho went to his own boat. He belonged to the second mate's boat. When our la t boat was got out it filled, and the whole crew of her had to jump to the little boat, and we would have lost our lives had it not been for the pheer strength and ability of the ship's trimmer, W. Meredith, who pulled us into the boat. But for him wo would prooably have lost our lives. In the meantime a fireman named T. Lyons worked manfully with the buckets to keep tho water baled out of the boat. At this time the ship was just disappearing. Had it not been for the bravery otthechief engincei-,Mr Gilford, things would have been worse for us. He stuck on deck until the seas washed over him. The captain then got a lady passenger to jump into the water from the bridge of the steamer. She did so, and afterwards the captain and eh. of engineer jumped, and the two of them with the lady, passenger were hanging together waiting to be pulled into the boat. We hauled them 1 in over the bow.

BRAVERY OF THE CAPTAIN. Tha captain said, "Never mind me, I'll sink with the ship, save the passenger?," When he saw they wore all off ho jumped for the boat. To the captain's forethought and judgment in bundling the ship and boats we owe our lives. His superior seamanship enabled u» to get into the boats and also get them into workingorder. If it had not been for his abilities no doubt we would all have been drowned in the port lifeboat. The captain &eems to have done his duty thoroughly ? Yes he did, and so did tho engineer?. The chief engineer, Mr Gilford, and the second engineer, W. Robinson, with Fireman J. Smyth, remained below in the engine room until ordered on deck by the mate when the ship was foundering. When tho boats were ready for leaving wo ordered them out of the engine-room to come and save themselves.

THE SECOND MATE'S STORY. Charles Ansoll, second rnafce on bhe Mai" tai, states : — We made the land about 5.20 on Sunday morning. It Avas dirby, ' thick weather, and there was a heavy sea. At 6.20 the vessel struck. I called all hands on deck and cleared away the boats. We got bhe women and passengers into one boat and lowered away and gob clear of the ship. After that we had a row of thirteen miles. We owe a good deal to bhe captain's searaauship. We gob the groatesb kindness from Captain Fairchild, and also from Mr Cook, bhe station man on tho island.

I THE CHIEF ENGINEER. ', Mv Gifford, the chief engineer, &ays : * { was awakened on Sunday morning

shortly after 6 o'clock by feeling the vessol crash on a rock. I heard the telegraph go " Stop the ongines." Immediately afterward ib ordered them " Ahead " again. Who was in charge at the time ? The second engineer, Mr XV. Robinson. He called me immediately after. I burned out and dressed and went below. I found Robinson on duty together with the fireman John Smyth. We all romaimxl in the engine room until called on deck by the socond mate. He cold me to have the engine going full spe-^d ahead and come on deck, as tho vessel was foundering. Smyth the fireman and myself nevor left the foob plates until ordered to do so. When I went on deck, I found the surf boat but and the men getting out the liieboat. Wo experienced some difficulty in getting out the lifeboat Just as it was out someone let go tho forward falls.

ARCHER'S DEATH. Tho boat fell ono end under water. At the timo Lhero were lhi-ee men in the boat, I saw George Archor in the forecabin steward thrown overboard as the boat fell. Ho wa,s lost. I never saw him again after he was thrown out. The afberfall also got jammed, but we managed to clear that, and tho boat was left hanging by bho head rope. Shy was full ot water. One after another the people on board jumped into tho water, and were taken into tho boat. Mr Miller exerted all his strength l to keep the boat up to the sea. The captain came up from aft where he had been seeing bho purf boat clear. He brought an old lady passenger with him. He told her to jump, which she did in a most sphitecl manner. Then the captain wanted to bo the last man on board the ship, but as she was going down fast it was no timo for arguing, and he in raped into tho sea and hauled himself alongside bho boat and was pulled on board.

DEATH OF THE PURSER. The purser was standing at the after davit. I asked him several times to jump to Hie boat. Tiie mute also shouted to him to jump or he would go clown in the swirl a-? the vessel was foundeiing. He shouted lor iho boat bo bo pulled in nearer, as by that time the water was washing;' over our heads on the bridge. I gave the ond of the boat's painter to tho uurser, and told him to jump with that and pull himself on board. I jumped with the bight of the painter and pulled myself to the boat." I think the purser wa» unablo to realise his danger, and was waiting ior the boat to come in. When we got into the boat the vessel's stern v\ as high in tho air, and the propeller was going round. At the same time the whistle was blowing. The purser let go the end of the painter and went down with tho ship. I think groat credit is due to Captain Dawson for the manner in which he bandlecl the ship and for the discipline shown by the men through his supervision. We experienced great kindness from vJaptain JJaircbild.

SECOND ENGINEER'S STORY. J\lrW. Rolu'nfeon/second engineer, states I was in the second mate's boat. The passengers and crow underwent gieafc hardship after we landed. Three others and myself ' walked from one end of the island to" the other looking for shelter for the women. We were five hours on the journey. We wore tramping through scrub and bush, and what little clothing we had was torn off us as wo went along 1 . Wo have lost all that we had, and now only own what you sec us, in. >

CARGO AND INSURANCE. The JNlaitai was an iron screw steamer of 275 cons gross register, and her engines wore 55 h.p. She was built at Wellington in 1885, and has since been employed in the Union Company's East Coast trade. She had on board a fuli cargo, the principal portion of which consisted of transhipments ex Huapehu, from London for Auckland, also some sundries for this port and 300 sacks potatoes for Sydney. * The Maitai was insured in the same way that all the Company's fleet are covered against losa,,the Company taking a certain proportion of the risk according to the ago of the vessel. It is understood that the Maitai was insured in outside insurance companies for about £5,000, but the extent of the Union Company's risk has not been obtained so tar.

ship towards their claim, on the morning of the 20fch of May. On being missed, search was made, but without result until yesterday, when the body of I Bradford was found shortly before eleven-o'clock in the evening in a narrow gully, about a chain above the dam at the claim. The body was not much decomposed, and it had one or two bruises, One on the face and one on the thigh. The. accused Wad del was arrested at the claim, which he had continued to work this morning 1 , and after being taken to tho lock-up at Waitehuna was brought on to the Lawrence gaol this evoning. ,