ABOUT THE VICTIMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 18, 15 February 1909, Page 2

ABOUT THE VICTIMS

Wellington, Lust Night. -Mis. Jliitluin was tlw wile vi Mr. 11. !'• Jiriltiiiu, stock inspector ut .Nelson 1 11J formerly of AiK'kliunl. Her hus'jiiiil was vi.-iling W'oMinj- ti>u attending 'lie veterinary classes, and, being somewhat unwell. .\l,s. Jirittuiu was coming 'ii Uellimuou lo look after liim. .She leaves 11 family.

(Mr. Ilritliiin was recently stationed in Sew Plymouth).

I hi' third engineer of the Penguin ivas .Mr. Stanley ltentoul, unmarried, a iiaiivil of Nelson where his parents reside. His age was alwut 25 years. He had been in various steamers of the (won Company, but only joined the i'ciigum six weeks ago. He jormerly iiiviid as second engineer on the- Kichnioiid.

-Nelson, Lust Night. The following passengers from Nelson by the I'engimi proceeded no further than I'KUm: -Air. and Airs. ltulherford, Air. ami Airs. Cuniiinghaine, Airs. Jennings, Air. und Airs. Jaeka.

ISnveral others, whose names do not appear on the passenger list, are reported to have been on the steamer, and enquiries are being madei in regard to those.

' Air. Keith Cupe, Williamson, who is reported to have been lost, is a brother iii the siatlonmaster at Wakefield. The llauuaii family come from Tadmor. Troadec was a Stoke Orphanage boy on liis way to u farm at Wellington. Miss Hunt's parents reside at ilotueka. The four Alaguires hud been inmates of St. Andrew's Orphanage, and were returning to their lather. Mr. 'W. S. Kentoul, third engineer, was a native of Nelson, and Captain N'aylor is also a member of a Nelson family. Chrlstchureh, Last Night. Air. Keith Cape Williamson, whose parents reside in this city, is supposed lo have been a passenger by the Penguin, He had distinguished himself at (.anterbury College, having passed the lI.A. degree and the first section of the L.L.B. Ho was also recently awarded nu exhibition in mental science. His age was about 21 years. it has been ascertained that Mr. and Airs. William Higgins Henry wore passengers by the Penguin. Mr. Henry was employed at the Economic, Wellington, a-.id was a nephew of Airs. S. A. Staples, of this city. Airs. Henry was a daughter of the Kev. Jamos Maxwell, Presbyterian Minister in this city. He had been on a visit to Brigk'twatcr. To-day Airs. Staples received a telegram stating that her nephew's body had been identified.

Among those supposed to have been on board the Penguin was Miss Livesay, well-known in hockey circles, wliose parents reside at Glendovery road, Fendalton-

Wellington, Last Night. .Some doubt was at first expressed as to the probability of Airs. Syinonds, her children, and maid, being on the Penguin, but unfortunately it proved only too true, lor Mrs. SymondY body was one of the first to be identified on the beach. The deceased lady was returning from a holiday at Nelson with her maid and two children, aged IS and 1 4 years respectively, and tho poor Utile ones had just celebrated a happy birthday. Mrs. Symons was the widow of Mr. \V. R. Symons, formerly shipping manager of Alessrs. Turnbull and Co., nuil a daughter of Air. W. S. Ecid, lato Solicitor-General. Her brother, Mr. Edward Reid, Is one of the staff of the A.Al.l'. Society «n Wellington, and tho local manager. Air. iowe, was an uncle. Greyuiouth, List Night.

There is great anxiety felt for the safety of Edward Coumbe, of this town, who was a passenger by the Penguin. He bad attended tho Foresters' Conference at Nelson and was going to Wellington for a holiday. He is a young married man, and his mother and brothers reside in this district.

SCENE OF THE WRECK. "' ' i\ TRYING EXPERIENCES OF THE RESCUERS. Wellington, Last Night. The scene of the- wreck, though in point of distance so near Wellington, is very inaccessible, and pressmen, police, and others who went to the spot had a fearful time. The rain fell incessantly, and made travel over the hill tracks almost a matter of impossibility. The Teinwhiti wont round to-day, but could not get in touch with the shore. Thn FIFTY-TWO BODIES RECOVERED are lying along a. stretch of eight miles of ucaek, and it is not yet certain what will be done with them, but efforts will be made to get them to towa by boat to-night or to-inorrow. j THE -PREMIER'S CONDOLENCES. OFFERS OF GOVERNMENT AID. Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) sent the following message to the manager of the Union Steamship Co. at Wellington upon hearing the sad news:—"Deeply regret to hear of the disaster to the Penguin and the more so on account of the sad loss of life that has attended it." Later the Prime Minister -wired from Rotorua:—"As intimated to you by Dr. Flndlay, if thero is anything the Government can do to help in connection with the sad disaster, it will be most readily done." Mr. W. A. Kennedy stated in. his reply to Sir Joseph Ward that the Postal Department was doing all in its power. He expressed his thanks for the Premier's generous offer.

MESSAGES FROM SIR JAMES , MILUS. Rolorua, Last Night, Tho Prime Minister lias received the following message from Sir James Mills, managing director of the Union Company, who is now in Sydney:—"Am grateful to yoit For expressions of sympathy ami offer of assistance, which has been communicated to me here. Am deeply distressed at the sad loss of life." , ■ «**'! Sir James Mills, managing director ot the Union S.S. Co., cabled to the Press Association from Sydney:—"Am much distress at sad loss of life on l'enguin. I desire to convey my deepest sympathy with all those concerned in the disaster, and especially with those who have lost relatives and friends.' 1

HISTORY OF THE PENGUIN. ' .Built liv Tod ami McGregor at Glasgow in 18114, the Penguin was one of tlte oldest vessels in tho Union Company's, fleet. Her gross register was H-24 lons, and her indicated horse-power 850. She was originally engined by Napier and Sons, of Glasgow. For several years she ran in the GlasgowLiverpool service, with her sister ships, the Havea and the Owl, and was considered an ideal vessel for that service. A'.iont 1878 she was purchased from her owners. Messrs. Burns and Co., by the Union Company, and arrived in New Zealand about 1878 or 1870. About fifteen or eighteen years ago she was re-cngined and remodelled by the Union Company, a very large sum of money (some people say £15,000) being spent on her. Although one of the oldest, she was always regarded as one of the most useful of the Union Company's smaller steamers. She has been a frennent visitor to Moturoa, at one time. railing here very regularly, ill the days when the old Hawea traded to this port. Of late years she has been engaged almost entirely in the Wellington-l'icton-Nelson service. About twenty years ago the l'enguin lay up for 24 honrs on the net at French Pass, but she came off undamaged. Some years later she. ran aground in Ijueen Charlotte Sound, hut again was taken off undamaged. She has had a very itnercsting history.

CAPTAIN XAYLOR. C'n]>Uhi Xnvlor knows the Welling-ton-Pieton-Xclson i-un particularly well. ('upturn Watson, of the Kittawa, was to have taken over the command of the Penguin early last week, Captain Xaylor being instructed to proceed to the Union Company's head office nt ltaicdin for orders. At the last moment, however, these orders were varied, Captain Savior remaining in charge of the vessel.' Previous to taking command, ho was chief oflicor of the Penguin and most of the other Union Company vessels that have bora running between Xelson and Wellington. At St. Mary's (Anglican) Church, New Plymouth, yesterday special prayers for the bereaved were offered and at both morning and evening services solemn "dead inarches" were played by the organist (Mr. Remind).