LINER ON THE ROCKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 76, 19 August 1914, Page 2

LINER ON THE ROCKS.

PASSEXUERS IN PERIL. ! WJLIKLEKS irKS>"A(;KS I'OR HELP. Human nature; showed itself at its best! Tins tribute was paid to tin; passengers of Uii! Anchor liiht California which Wild wrecked on I'ui'v Island, olf the Irish const (says the Clasgow Weekly News). These, to the number of six hundred and ninctv-livc, arrived' in tie. l Clyde by the Donaldson liner Cassandra, which had gone to the assistance of the helpless ship. All ilie- resciu'il were I emphatic in their .praise of the arrangements which enabled them to be transferred to the Cassandra without loss of Jilt', and with only one serious accident. This was mainly due to the absence of panic on the liner when she struck the rocks, although naturally, there was some, excitement anions those who remembered the recent disasters ■find were unaware of the extent of.the mishap. Once the first fears were over, everyone on board, including the women, settled down to make, the most of their misfortune. Over six hours .passed before other boats came on the scene to help in the work o! rescue. During the period of waiting, the maimed liner was I tossed like a. (luck bv the heavy swell on a sea which dashed loudly on a bleak , rugged promontory which Hie liner had ' struck. The anxious time of waiting I was made tolerable bv the knowledge that the wireless messages tor 'help had been answered by ships which were steaming (]uickly to the rescue". The lirst sign of aid came from the . naval ships, which Hashed their searchlights"' over the wreck, and they were speedily followed by other ships, which circled round the helpless liner like a i bond of protection, driving away terror I from those on board. Some members of the crew - tried~to cheer up the passengers by singing popular choruses, which were taken i:p by the victims when thev felt that help was near. When tnij order was given to don lifebelts in preparation for disembarking in boats some fear was shown, but the most anxious time of all was when the passengers wen; transferred from the boats to the Cassandra. The small boats, owing v.o the swell on the water, could not get near the big liner, wdiose decks towered above. This height was surmounted by various ways, bloats were iirst drawn up some twenty feet, and thereafter people were pulled on deck in boxes, 'blankets and hammocks while other? climbed on board up companion ladders after a rope hail been .secured round their bodies. Piteous were the scenes as women were landed on the deck, some of them collapsing in sheer fright, wliile others wept hysterically as they dung to the ship's sides until their friends were brought up to safety. Then reunions were. heartfelt.