THE WIMMERA SUNK

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1918, Page 5

THE WIMMERA SUNK

BY ENEMY MINE. OFF NORTH CAPE. CONSIDERABLE LOSS OF LIFE FEARED. CAPTAIN AND OFFICERS CO DOWN. ALL ABOARD BEHAVE MAGNIFICENTLY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, June 27. It is officially announced that she Wimmera sank north of Auckland. Eighty-five- have been landed and 66 are at present unaccounted for. The Naval Adviser to the New Zea« land Government has issued the following statement, dated June 27, 11.30 a.m., to the Press Association: "I regret to have to state that at 8 p.m. on the 26th inst. information reached me from naval sources that the Huddart Parker steamer Wimmera, which had left Auckland at 10 ajn. on the 25th -inst. for Sydney, had been lost off coast of New Zealand by an internal explosion at (5.5 a.m., which took only ten minutes to sink her. Eighty-five of the passengers and crew (whose names are given below) landed last evening at Tom Bowline Bay, near the North Cape, and at the present moment are en route to Auckland in rescue vessels, which were provided by the Wimmera's owners at the earliest opportunity. It may be added that the survivors, who ware in night attire, were, generally speaking) in fairly good condition when they landed, and that they have been temporarily supplied with food and rlothing, both from naval trawlers in the vicinity and also from settlers at Parengarenga, who sent over aU the available assistance immediately they heard of the disaster. Definite information is difficult to obtain at present, but it is established that the ship left Auckland with 66 passengers and 75 of a crew. The following numbers have been landed: Lady passengers 15, children 16, men passengers 18, ship'a officers 7, able seamen 8, stokehold crew 11, stewards' department 12; total, 85. This leaves a balance of 56 persons unaccounted for, the names of whom are not yet known to me. They may still be on their way ashore, or they may have landed on the coast and not yet been discovered, although _ search both on the coast and in the vicinity of the disaster has been in progress by naval and other vessels since 8 o'clock last evening." Here follows the nominal list of passengers known to have landed. Further information will be communicated to the press as soon as it has been verified. Al inquiries as to the welfare of individuals known to have been on board should be made of the Huddart IParker Co.'s office. Correction.—The Wimmera was sunk by an external, not an internal, explosion. A PASSENGER'S ACCOUNT. TWO EXPLOSIONS HEARD. ONE BOAT SUNK; ANOTHER SMASHED. Auckland, Last Night. Amongst the first batch of survivors from the Wimmera who landed at Tom Bowline's Bay is Mr. Tucker, 03J5, of Melbourne, a well-known worker in aid of the Australian Patriotic Association objects. An interesting account of the experiences of the party was telegraphed to the New Zealand Herald by Mr. Tucker this evening. Mr. Tucker states that prior to the Wimmera Deign sank two distinct explosions occurred. The lights were extinguished in two minutes, but there was no panic amongst the passenters or the crew. The women and chflren behaved magnificently, and the Vessel kept an even keel for fifteen minutes, and then settled by the stern; Finally her bows rose about fifty feet jn the air and the vessel plunged. The vessel was struck near the stern, and the social hall was smashed to pieces. The fact that the vessel kept an even |ceel for some time, and that the wind was making towards land helped materially to lessen the magnitude of the disaster. It was a moonlgiht night, with a fair sea. The captain, first officer; 1 the chief stewards and several others remained on the vessel to the last, and apparently went down with her. Four people were rescued from ■;, the sea, including the chief officer, whofwas washed off the deck. As the steamer sank one boat was swamped and one was stove in. The difficulties that arose in persons getting clear of the vessel were principally due to their inability to get on deck after the light went out. One family of eleven and another of seven were all saved, and fourteen stewiards and all the stewardesses are missing from the first party of four boat- ' loads of persons that were landed at Tom Bowline's Bay. Most of the stewards who were saved were compelled to clfflnber through a skylight. A greaser, who was in the tunnel at the time of the explosion, was saved. Several of those who were the earliest to reach the deck were amongst those not included in the four boats that reached Tom Bowline's Bay. Timely assistance was rendered ,by the trawlers in the vicinity. The 84 persons in the four boats, most of whom were chii in their night attire, were without boots, and received welcome assistance en landing from Mr. Murdoch 'Munro, a sheep farmer. After having

walked and crawled over eight miles of rough hill country they were shown every kindness by Mr. Munro and tha Maori residents in the vicinity. After the arrival at Mr. Munro's station, the assistant purser, accompanied by a Maori, rode 17 miles to telegraph the news. All the members of the party are well,, but footsore and tired. Every kindness has been shown them by the reeidnts of the Parengaranga district. Mr. C. Wilson, the second officer of the Wimmera, reports that when the disaster occurred a vessel was despatched to the scene. Commander Riely and Mr. Wilson and a party rounded Tom Bowline Bay and followed the eurvivors for ten miles to Mr. Munro's station with brandy and provisions, blankts, etc., and the survivors were transhipped by a launch to Te Hapua to await the return of the steamer Waiotahi, by means of which they will proceed to Auckland. The women ar.d children, who are i& good spirits, are being well oared for by the residents of Te Hapua and Parengarenga. The survivors in this party comprise 34 adults, 16 children, and 44 members of the crew. ' , Huddart Parker announce that one 'boat, containing thirty people, landed at Tom Bowline's Bay, and another, containing thirty, reacjjed Mangonui, . Later news from Mangonui announces the arrival of a boatload of- survivors, who were blown clear of the North Capo and drifted down the coast, making Kaimoia beaeh. The names available of those on board this boat are: Mrs. Jones, Miss Jones, Mrs. Dunn, Bruce,iW. Murdock, Shaw, J. McCartney. I. C. Gay, Mr. Graham, 6. Yates, Mr. Grimshaw, and due seaman. The secretary of the GJP.O. has been advised by the postmaster at Mangonui i as follows: Stacey, the native school teacher at Taemaro, on the coast four miles east of Mangonui, came is at 6.30 p.m. and reports that fonr survivors are in his house and about 26 on the beach. A. McKay, storekeeper here, with his launch and a .relief party, have fast left to pick up those on the beach. The. names known are Mrs. Dunne, Tom Orimshaw, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Bruce, Tom Oraham, Muldock, Howels, a Beaman, John MeArtney, Y. Me£ea, S. Yates, but the names are roughly written on a slip of paper. The sea is calm. Will report eventualities later. THE SURVIVORS.

following is a list, from hte aßsiitant purser of the Wimmera, of the survivors landed at Tom Bowline Bay: PASSENGERS. Ladies.—Tucker, Glencoe, Croft and six children, Gunn, Evans, White, Jenkins, Nicholas and child, Richards, MoEdwards (two), Turner, Boyd, Dfcvid&on and seven children, Richardson and two children. Men—Carguse, Hewson, Reman, Bradney, Sedgbere, Tucker, Liddle, Fair, Longbottom, Chapman, Jenkins, Charlesworth, Gordon, Bowring, Davidson, Richardson. CREW. Wilson (second mats), fatten (first engineer), McDonald '(third engineer), Gorrie (assistant putter), Curtis (second steward), Koeck (carpenter), Riddell (boatswain), McLean, Johonneson, Tommassen, Jones, McFarlane, Robin« son, Smith, Bennett (AJB.'s). Stokehold crews Williams, Bennett, Thomas, Frankham, Hugo, Edwards, Thompson, Campion, Baakseliedt, Bennett, Fanning. Stewards! W. Gallagher, H. Gallagher, Stapleton, Lee, McKenxie, Cumnuing, Corner, Wersley, Wood, Pointer (chief cook), Frankknd (butcher), Woods (scullion). THE MISSING, { Auckland, Last Night, j The missing passengers on the Winv i mera are: Mr. Hewit 84, Mr. H. Graham 67, Mr. W. J. Mabe 63, Mr. Jones 46, Miss Jones 22, Mr. and Mrs. Jones (theatrical 'artists) 39 and 32, j Miss Sayegto 38, Miss Greenwood 35, Miss Browning 31, Mrs. Browning 62, \ Miss A. Wylie 22, Miss Watson 30. C. MnMfflyn (stewardess), E. Newton (stewardess), J. Robertson (stewardess), J. Mulvenna (A3.), B. Benson (A3.), A. Geary (AJB.), J. Donaghy (AJB.), E. Martin (O.E), J. De Beaws (fireman), T. Graham (greaser), W. Brem*, C. Ne&l, S. Hawee, J. Fanning, W. Murdooh, F. Tildsley (firemen), J. McCarney, W. Roper, L. fiennksen, V. MeCreve (trimmers), W. Smeed, 0. J. Blackfcorougb (stewards), B. Saville (saloon waiter), 0. Crossa (nightwatchman), E. Gamble (paatryttan), T. Grimshaw (second cook), H. Butler, E. Greaves, J. Forsyth (stewards), E. Ed- j wards (third cook), S. Yates (baker). I VESSELS SENT TO TJifi SCENE, i Later. Two of the Northern Company's res- j eels, the Clansman and Waiotahi, Were dispatched to tie scene as soon AS the news of the disaster was received, and they are still searching for survivors. The Clansman left Whangaro* at 6.48 this morning and ateuld reach the soene at 2 pjn. The Waiotahi was despatched from Houhora at I pjn., and should reach the locality at 3 pjn. Four boots nave landed. At the instance of the deputy-mayor and secretary of the Parenga Gumfields Company, Mr. H. Gilfittan wired to the manager at Parenga requesting fchn to supply provisions and do all possible for the survivors, ' I DETAILS AS TO OFFICEBS. j The following are the parttealats of I the officers available here: H. J. Kella, the captain, has bees on the New Zealaad-Aastralia run for a long time. His wife and two children reside at Auckland. A. Nichol, chief officer, recently joined the Wimmera, having been previously aboard the Zealandia on tho West Australia run. Ho is married and his wife ' is residing at Sydney. C. Wilson, second officer, joined the vessel on the previous trip, replacing Mr. Thurston. A. Paxton, chief engineer, wae making his first trip, having relieved Mr. Morris, who had been chief for «oMe time. Kenneth Gorrie, purser, ie an Aucklander, with several relatiottstxesiding in the city. M. Hawkesweod, asslstantwpurser, >s also an Aucklander. D. Mowatt, fourth engineer, it#t native of Welllngtolu As the Wimmeta is an Australian ship most of the crew are unknown litre. Martin, ordinary seaman, fr af»\ an Aneklander v ■ j

LOSS OF RACEHORSES. Five thoroughbred horses weri shipped by. the Wimmera, and as then was no insurance on them the loss it a severe one. Messrs W. and V. Casej sent Informal and Demotic. Mr. B Cotter shipped Hymeona, Lady Jack and Deep Sleep. Informal was the lead ' ing Auckland two-year-old last season and his three-year-old career was full o; promise. Hymeona was recently pur chased by Mr. Cotter for 1000 guineas and Lady Jack for, it is stated, 27/ guineas. ( . THE WIMMERA. The Wimmera was built in GreenocT: in 1904 and was registered in Melbourne Built of steel, her length was 335.2 feet; breadth 42.2 feet, and depth 20.6 feet Her net registered tonnage was 1872 ani gross 3022. She was a single screfl vessel and belonged to the Huddar; Parker Company.