TONGARIRO SHORE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1916, Page 5

TONGARIRO SHORE.

IN A DANGEROUS POSITION* 1 I RESCUE OF Thfi wusv*. CARGO INCLUDES BULLION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. m. • „ Napier, Yesterday, lie S.O.S. call was responded to bf the Westralia at Gisborne, and the Arahura at Napier. Both vessels left immediately for the scene. The Westralia arrived first and found all membera of the crew on the Ivoutounui, i coaster owned by Richardson and Co. The Westralia took 88 on board for Napier. The captain, first and second officers, first second, qmd third engineers and six members of the crew are standing by for an examination by daylight. ~w J ie n Westralia left the vessel the Tongariro was still afloat, her bow being supported by the Bull Eo«fe Water was in all the holds and the en-ginc-i-com and the vessel had a heavy list to port with 20 fathoms of water under her stern. Seas were breaking over her bow.' • There was no panic. The port boats only could be usfj, One \va# smashed .and five men thrown into the sea, and another capsized through a davit breaking, The occupants were all rescued. The rhook was very severe und brought the vessel to a dead stop with 8| terrific noise. i The Bccne of the wreck i» 5} milea N.N.2. of Portland light. Some of the men received minor injuries, but were no serious casualties. ' 1 A member of the crew said the cap*' ; tain was on the bridge at the timew! The crow were ;n the boats for three hours and returned to the t'oomed vessel three tunes in case atyona had ■ b'.en left behind. » It ii stated tl.at caipo totals 8000 tons and includes .CIW.NjO of bullion. Salvage operation* can be am cessfully conducted' even it' the vessel 3ink». The Westralia, which rushed to th® scene from Gisborne, arrived at Napier at 7 a.m. to-day, bringing the Tonga- 1 rira'g thiic! officer and all (75) of the crew, Including the stewardess, the only . woman on board. ' I The Westralia left the Tongariro at 1.20 this morning and her deck# were than above water. The crew got away only with what they stood up in. >"i» one was drowned. Captain Makepeace and the. first nflicer (P. J, Ballard) and the second 'J. B. Davis) are standing by the vessel. " Gisborne, Yesterday. The Arahura reports reaching "tha scene at 1,2.15 a.tn„ then the Koutoutnl came near with Captain Mokenmee. the officers and six of the crew of the Tongariro on hoard, |( The captain reported that N'os. 1, 8 and. 3 holds and the engine-room were flooded, the steamer bejng on Bull Rock forward and having 25 fathoms aft.. The Koutounui was standing by'.the Tongariro and there was no need for the Arahura'* assistance. The Westralia had arrived at 11 o'clock and took on board the rest of the crew froni the Koutounui and prooeeded to Napier. v The Calm also had arrived at the spot and, lier services not being requited, proceeded on her voyage, leaving about the same time as the Westralia. ®No particulars were gained as to how the mishap occurred. It is feared the vessel'may slip off tho rock and become a total loss. From the Arahura the • outline of the hull was observed. The Koutounui must have been in the local-1 i ity at the time of the mishap. The j weather was fine and the sea caim. 1 The Koutounui, when seen by the Ara-; hum, had two empty lifeboats in tow. ' Advice received by Mr. Hallamore, manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, this afternoon, states that tho vessel has not yet sunk, and is lying about two miles east from Bull Rock, 'l; and appears to be in a very dangerous position, as she is lying in the open sea, exposed to the north-east winds. The Koutounui is still standing by, and i another sinall vessel, the Ttiatu, is approaching the Tongariro. j Wellington, Yesterday. The Tongariro had on board 3800 tons of cargo for Wellington. 2400 for ton, and 1500 for Dunedin. < : A CLOSE CALL OBSTREPEROUS NEGROES. SHE VESSEL DOOMED. Napier; Last Night. The crew from the wrecked Tongariro arrived in Napier to-day, en route'foil Wellington, per Westralia. Seventy- ■ eight arrived. Nine are stopping at, the scene of the disaster. ; V : t ;: : Many were in their night clothes, - there being no time to get their effecta 'owing to the suddenness of the alarm. A few men were slightly but none seriously. Some American negroes lost their s heads and one had to be stunned ta he kept quiet. Some of the crew were immersed » ! long time in the water, owing to tho boats upsetting. In Napier they wero supplied with boots, clothing and com* forts. _ j,,; There was no news at a lato hour of the position of the Tongariro. -If the < sea hail been heavy all lives would have been lost. -;x<, The Tongariro is almost certain to ba a total loss.

SALVAGE OPERATION'S PROCEEDING. 'Napier, Last Night. The Koutounui arrived at Nopief about 10,30 to-night with £23,000 worth of bullion'in boxes, and the pas« gangers' and crews' effects from tlia ; wreck. The Til Ata got right alongside, as the weaOtr was calm and 'jiihaged tin; elFceti '/' here is a lot of vjluabln c.ii'g') on board iiml some may be salvaged, if tlia ! fine weather keeps up. ' ; The vessel is unlikely to break up un« less an easterly or north-easterly gale springs up. The Te Aroha is leaving Wairoa to be on the scene. Extra efforts are to be made. | TOXGARIRO'S CARGO. The Tongariro loft Plymouth (Hi .1 lino 30th, Newport News, U.S.A., on July 20th, Panama Canal on July 20th, and arrived at Auckland on August 25th. She left Auckland at 1.20 p.nw on Tuesday for Wellington. She htut on board 3800 tons of cargo for 1 Wellington, 2400 tons for Lyttelton, and 1500 tons for Dunodin. '' Captain Makepeace, of the Tongariro, was in command of the Kaipara when she vu blown up by the German* > •> Iflld off *li» Trench oOMtj ,