TRAGEDY AVERTED.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1920, Page 4

TRAGEDY AVERTED.

MISHAP TO THE WESTRALIA, A NARROW ESCAPE.! TRIALS 01? STORMY NIGHT, By Teleirapli.—Prea« Assn.—Copyright.' i Received April 15, 10.20 p.m. Melbourne, April lj> A passenger on the \ Wostralia. otaten itilie voyage from the Bluff wa* unevent« fail until the unlucky 13th. The p«w< senders were holding a concert in tiha saloon, enjoying the contract between the light and laughter inside and the noise of waves hammering against the ports and rain pelting on deck, when the ship suddenly bumped, causing a breaith* less hush, but no panic. Mrs. Oook, of Ohristehurch, bravely fin« ished a song while the steamer wai bumping on the sand. The chief steward ordered everyone to don lifebelt®, and this was carried out quietly. The BCfIM on deck was a strange one. Some 'women and children were clad only in night fttire, end the night waa black as pitch, and the wind was lashing the Bea into foam.

The crew were busy with the boats, tyit we were told the davits were old-faah" ioned, and judging by the difficulty experienced in swinging the boats ouit, that was easy to believe. By 915 everything was in readiness for any emergency. The ship was dragging and bumping, and waves were dashing over the port Bide,

At ten o'clock we were told the wireloss had "spoken" the Loongaaa 180 miles away, and she was coming full speed to the rescue. The morning light showed how miraculous our escape h«d ibeen. We were within two hundred yards of the rocks, which showed above the foam.

If, in the darkness, the dhip had gat off the sand-bank which she providentially grounded on, nothing could have saved us from the rocks. Every effort was made during the night to put the ship astern. The most trying moments were those when the engines started, and the ship strained and struggled to get free, without result. The passengers behaved splendidly. The long night dragged by, until the engines put full speed ahead, and the vessel slid off the bank, with the Loongana. standin? by. The Westralia was makihg water, and took a list to starboard on clearing the banks. The tanks were trimmed, and the ship was righted, while pumps kept the water in check. The vessel reached port at 7,30 this morning. The passengers opened a subscription list for the crew, and handed an appreciative letter to the skipper.—" l Au.9.-N.Z_ Cable Assn.

DIFFICULT CURRENTS. PERILS NARROWLY AVOIDED. Received 10, l.g a.m. Melbourne, April 15, The Marine Board will hold an inqnuy concerning the grounding of the Westralia. • One of her officers states he considers the mishap was du e to heavy rainfall and the current running through Hanks' Strait rendering it impossible to fir the 6 1 nip'j position accurately. Had they touched one of two rock* which they must have passed Within a few feet, there would have been littl« of the Westralia and few of the crew ot passenger left to tell the tale

Luck and the expert knowledge ot Captain Bates got them out of the diffi-culty.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.

I NOT IN ANY DANGER. Melbourne, April 15. The Westralia is leaking slightly bul is in no danger, Tt . . Sydney, April IS. iho Westralia advises that there is t> leak in No. 3 hold. A south-east gal* was blowing and a rough sea running lit the time of the grounding.