THE WRECK

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1922, Page 5

THE WRECK

MEN AT AUCKLAND. .WELCOME FROM GOVERNOR. THREE HOSPITAL CASES. GRIEF OF THE CAPTAIN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, June 3. The Wiltshire’s crew arrived here by tiie Katoa to-night, and received a warm welcome from a huge crowd on the wharf. The Governor-General was the first to board the vessel and greet Captain Hayward, whom he invited to be his guest at Government House, expressing regret that he could not offer hospitality to the rest of the officers. Captain Hayward thanked Lord Jellicoe, but said: “I have only these clothes.” To this Lord Jellicoe replied, with a smile: “Mine will not fit you, but we have aide-de-camps of different sizes.” Captain Hayward said it was impossible to go at once, as he had work to do; whereupon Lord Jellicoe said: “Ring up, and a car will be sent when you are ready.” The officers of the Wiltshire and the captain of the Katoa were then presented to the Governor. The Mayor also extended a welcome to the captain and crew. The men were given a grant of £2 each and a parcel of clothes, and then conveyed to the Sailors’ Home, where all possible was done for their comfort. Two cases were admitted to hospital— John Foster, an All. on the Wiltshire, who fell on the track across the island and sustained a serious fracture of the leg, and Keogh, an A.B. on the Katoa, suffering from pneumonia. The latter is in a serious condition. COURAGE OF THE CREW. The Wiltshire’s surgeon, Dr. McCullough, had much to say in praise of the patience and courage of the crew. Of a total of 103 (including a stowaway), he said, not one man could be justly complained of. They displayed all the attributes of British seamen, and were cheerful all through the ordeal. It was a wonderful feat, said the doctor, to land such a number of men without a mishap under such circumstances, and it was unfortunate that one of the number met with a serious accident in the journey across the slippery track overland. John Foster, able seaman, fell and sustained a severe fracture of the left shinbone. Harry Fielding, an assistant steward, would also have to go to hospital. He sprained an ankle on board the ship a fortnight ago, and was making good progress to j-ecovery, but the terrible walk overland from the ocean had made the limb swell badly, and he was now incapacitated altogether. The general health of the crew is good. This morning the Harbor Board’s tug left Tryphena for Rosalia Bay, as the rest of the party had not arrived at the former place. She sent out two boats and took the men, including some of the shipwrecked crew and the naval men. Captain Hayward was among the number, and he was so exhausted’ that he had to be assisted on board. “SHE’S GONE NOW.” “She’s gone now, so what’s the good of saying anything?” gasped the skipper. “Anyhow, what’s the use of asking? I am not allowed to say anything.” Much against his will, he was persuaded to lie down in a bunk of the Te Wahina’s cabin. It s glorious weather,” he said, looking upwards at the blue sky. “Ah I” he added wistfully, “the right weather comes at the wrong time.” They tell it of Captain Hayward that, despite his age and infirmity and his terrible grief over the loss of the ship he has fathered for so many years, that he was the most cheerful man on board. He was out to do anything for anybody, with smiling Bps despite a broken heart.

THE ARAHURAS PART. THE CAPTAIN’S STORY. Gisborne, June 3. Captain Dryden states that the Arahura was in the Bay of Plenty battling against the heavy easterly gale when the Wiltshire’s first call for help was picked up. A turn was made immediately and the Arahura went all out in the direction of the Great Barrier. The atmosphere fairly buzzed with wireless. It was to and from the Wiltshire and other vessels which had received the cal'. The night was very thick and the gale increasing, but the Arahura made good progress and at 7 a.m. sighted the wreck. Great waves beat against the cliff where the Wiltshire was stranded. The Katoa was standing by but, being a light ship, could not keep to windward off the lee shore and was some distance off. The Wiltshire was head on, about 50 yards from the steep cliff, fiercely pounded by huge seas. Few signs of life could be seen on board, as the crew were apparently sheltering below. The Arahura worked cautiously to within a mile of the Wiltshire, not daring to go closer as the east coast of the Great Barrier is unsounded. Wireless messages indicated that the water was riaing in the Wiltshire. Eventually the latter signalled by flags that the dynamo had stopped anti the wireless was out of action for sending purposes, though they could still receive messages. The Arahura’s operator then sent a message explaining how the plant could be brought into operation for short range messages, and after that the Wiltshire’s wireless improved.

When Captain Dryden inquired as to the position of the Wiltshire, and how those on board were faring, a despairing reply was received as follows: — “Situation desperate, the danger being the great sea that at this time is running higher than ever.”. There was no possibility of a lifeboat living as the sea was as high as it could be anywhere, possibly with the exception of Cape Horn. It certainly was the highest he had ever seen on that coast for years. The Arahura stood by • till 2.30 on Thursday, and as nothing more could be done in the raging sea, Captain Dryien decided to resume his voyage. The passengers describe the feeling of Helplessness at the inability to succour ihe shipwrecked crew as most intense, fhe Arahura’s wireless operator had phones on continuously for seventeen boxara.