MRS CAVANAGIFS STATEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 13 July 1907, Page 2

MRS CAVANAGIFS STATEMENT.

Per Press Association. Auckland; July 11 'i In; following allidavit by Mrs Cavanagh was read at the Kia Ura inquiry this afternoon: "1, Johannah Cavanagh, of Kawhia, make oath and say: I am a married woman residing in Kawhia, My lnu!;and and J were aboard the Kia Ora when she was wrecked. X have not read, jny husband's evidence given at the inquiry. When the Ivia Ora struck 1 was in bed. 1 did nut know what danger the boat was in. I was thrown out of bed, and got back again. My husband then came, and told ine not to be afraid, lie told me lie would get his boots and come back for me. He took me out of the cabin and on deck, at the same time helping Mrs Cox up the stairs. My husband then got Mrs Pratt to get a lifebelt, and my husband put a lifebelt round me, and we went up to the bridge. 1 saw men trying to lower the big boat, and somebody told the women" to go around to tho other boat. I went around, and my husband put me in it. Someone threw a blanket after me. Mrs Cox was put in after. Then two of tho sailors got in, and then the other ladies were put in. After we had pulled a short distance away, I saw part of the Kia Ora go down. I could eee the land all the time. After part of the Kia Ora went down, I saw my husband run forward on the part of the boat that was still out of the water. Soon after that the Kia Ora disappeared. De Wolfe was in our boat holding a light, and giving orders. The firiil, I think, we picked up was a liver and white dog. Just as we

>icked up the dog I heard Captain Black ock call out, ''Bring the boat." Hi iVoifo said, "It's 110 use talking. W< iiui't. We'd go down with the Kia Ora.' We. then went on picking up the peopli n the water. My husband was the las .0 be picked up. He was not taken inti :hc boat at once. Do Wolfe said, 'Ther is no room in the boat. You will liav :o bang on to the side. The boat ia toi full.' At this time we had two dogs ii the boat. My husband hung on to th boat for a while. There was a converse tion which I did not hear, and my bus

hand was got into the boat. The ladies wanted to he taken to (he land, but the sailors said. 'No: we would ha ve to lung ofT till daylight.' When daylight broke, we could not see the land, and a. compass was got out. We landed about 8:80 a.m. The raft went ashore first with 11 men on it. After going ashore, a fire was light,»J by the sailors and passengers. We wore all standing and sitting around the fire for a while. Some of the men then went to sleep, while some of them went to get help. We were all wet. During the day we all ran about the beach to keep warm. Late in the afternoon the fire was shifted nearer the hill, and the crew turned the boat and

raft up for a break-wind, but the crew went underneath the shelter, and the women and passengers were left out in the cold. It was raining all the time. I did not ask to be taken under the shelter. It was full up. My husband said Something to the other men about the passengers being left out of the .shelter, but there was no notice taken, t had my wearing clothes on, nothing else.

After assistance arrived, Bob Wellison

handed my husband a bottle of whisky, and my husband gave me a nip out of it. I put on a mail's flannel, and that and a pair of sox was all I had im while imv clothes were being dried by my iius- | b.ind. I was lying on a rug on the I bench near -the shelter, with another rug over me. Some of the sailors started

swearing; I believe they had too much

whisky. One of the sailors, wdio was lying close to the fire, together with one of the under stewards, leaned over from where they were lying, and pulled the blanket off me, leaving me practically naked. I pulled the blanket over me again. The sailor who did this has the upper teeth out of the front of his

mouth. The two of them laughed when he did this, as also did the stewardess, who at the time was lying on the chief steward's arm near the boat. I told my husband what had been done, and who did it, but I asked him not to make a row, us we had enough trouble. While coming from the camp to Shera's I had pains in my side, but when I got to ■Sheara's t was all right. The doctor from Xew Plymouth askeil me how I was, and f said I was all right. We were looked after well at Shera's. I cannot travel." All the evidence lias now been taken, and counse's' addresses will be taken to morrow morning.

A question in connection with the wreck of the Kia Ora was put to the Minister of Justice the other day by Mr Jennings, who wished to know whether the Minister would take steps to recognise the meritorious services performed by Constable McCarthy, and the Wil'.ison brothers, of Kawhia, also Constable Dick, of Mokau, in going tn the assistance of the survivors of -'the wreck. Mr MeGowan said that no official report or ! information had yet been received respecting the services rendered by the persons named, but inquiry would be made, and the matter considered.

A correspondent of a contemporary writes: Tt may be of interest to your readers to know that the, rock the Kia Ora is said to have run oil is known fo the natives as Piritoko. When Te Rauparaha lived on Tirau Point one of his wives swam out to it and back. Her name was Taha Moana. Many of his lighting men tried to accomplish it, but never could. It is also an old fishing "•round of the natives. That was Te Rauparaha's last stand in the latter end of the 20's, perhaps 1828. The distance of Piritoko from the Point (shore) is about one mile and three-quarters or two miles."