WRECK OF THE S.S. TARARUA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 382, 3 May 1881, Page 2

WRECK OF THE S.S. TARARUA.

In ortr last issue we briefly informed our readers of the wreck of this fine steamship. Since then, however, particulars are to hand of a sad loss of life in relation fiereto, over 100 persons having been drowned. Amongst these were sevral from Tisaaru and districts; including Mr G. Martin of the firm of Martin Bros, of Otaio. We hear, although the names do not appear in the passenger list, that Messrs T. and M. Flaherty, well-known contractors, residing near Temuka, were amongst those who have gone to their long account. They were about to proceed to Queensland;. Mr Gillingham, of the firm of Gillingham Bros, was a large land owner, at Albury, and was proceeding to the Old Country, on account of considerable property left to the family by an uncle. It is with dep regret we have to note that the Revs J. B. Richardson, J. Waterhouse, Mitchell, and J. Armitage, were also amongst those who were drowned.

The following account of the wreck is given by Mr R. Lindsay, the chief officer : I turned in at 4 a.m., the captain aDd second mate being on deck. At-5.15 a.m. the vessel struck. When I left the deck the vessel was steering west. From two to four had been steering WSW. The weather was hazy over the land. Noticed nothing unusual when I called the watch. The captain altered the course, as stated. I was asleep when the ship struck. I rushed on deck. The engines were reversed but to no use. The vessel struck aft, unshipped the rudder, broke the propeller, and the engines were of no use. They were stopped, All hands were called to clear the boats. Ten minutes after the engines stopped the ship was full of water. At 5.30 the first boat was lowered with the second make in charge, four sailors, and one passenger as a crew to try for a landing. One of the passengers, Lawrence, a young' man, when about half way swam ashore, having previously promised if successful, to remain and help in landing the passengers. He did so after finding his way to Brunton's and causing to be cent the first message per station hand, Charles Gibb, who rode 35 miles to Wyndham by 12.30. Another attempt at landing passengers was imde but of five two were drowned in the surf. Another boat was lowered, the carpenter being sent with it to see if a landing was practicable on the reef. His report was unsatisfactory. The second mate was sentand tried a landing on the reef, without success. One man was lost. The captain next sent the first mate in charge of a boat containing three passengers and a boy, all of whom landed safely except the boy who was drowned. The boat was capsized and opened at both ends rendering her useless. Repairs were made by the men on shore, but the sea was too heavy to launch her. The vessel was thumping heavily The passengers were in the rig ging and clustered in the forecastle head,

the sea breaking over heavily. At 2.30 a heavy sea washed several passengers (women and children) overboard, and after that they dropped off one by one, A survivor, a Maltese, who swam bravely for his own life and tried to rescue a girl states the captain got all the ladies out of the smoking-house to the forecastle head, all being there till 2.30, when the sea washed them off. The captain displayed coolness to the last. His exclamation when all hope was lost, was " 'Oh God ! what shall we do now." The steamer soon settled down.

The following is as complete a list of passengers as the Union Company are able to supply :—From Dunedin to Melbourne—saloon : Mr W 0 Ramsay, Mr J 0 Eva ; steerage : Mr A Rae, Mr George Grey, Mr James Young, Mr P Anderson. Mr William Dobsou, Mr J Dobson, Mr J Bambridge, Mr Harry A Cook, Mr 0 Shrevar, Mr M Dowdall, Mr H N G Andrews, Mr John Barry, Mr Robert Wright, Mr George Robins, Mr George Martin Anderson, Mr Robert Brown. From Dunedin-lo Hobart —steerage : Mr and Mrs Biyant. l<rom Duuedin to Bluff—saloon : Mr Bailey. From Sydney to Bluff—saloon : Mr L. Rogers. From Auckland to Hobart steerage : Miss Mary Kelly. From Auckland to Melbourne saloon : Mr William Bell; steerage ; Messrs Denny, Chatterton and Sarah. Fiom Tauranga (or Hobart—saloon : Mrs Brenoan and three children. From Napier to Melbourne—steerage: Mr J Daly. From Wellington to the Bluff—steerage ;■ Mr Penman. From

Wellington to MeU>ourrie—saloon : Mr C Burgett, MrSTB Marsh, Mr and Mrs E W M Downes; steerage : Mr Thalin, Mr T. O'Sullivan, Mr Williams, Mr Charles Holt, Mr T Davies. From Lyttelton to the Bluff—steerage : Mr Lawrence. Mr Sharp, Mr Boyle. From Lyttelton to Melbourne—saloon : Rev J Waterhouse, Rev J B Richardson, Rev Mr Mitchell, Rev J Aroutage:, Mr E Gonnal, Br Campbell, wife, five children, and female servant, Mrs W B. Jones, Mr John Gordon, Mr J Waterhouse, Mr Charles Gough, Mr Crawford, Mr Gillingham ; steerage ; Mr and Mrs Hill and child, Mr J Wallace, Mr William Young, Mr B Hancox, Mr J Soown, Mr T Jones, Mr William White, Mr Daniel Davis, Mr Carl Carlberg, Mr Neil Gough, Mr William Green, Mr W Bassett, Mr J Ashworth. Officers and others—Master, G. F. Garrard ; chief officer, R Lindsay; cecqnd officer, E Maloney; chief engineer : Alexander Munro ; second ditto, Alexander Livingstone ; third ditto, Andrew Sutherland ; purser, W B Jones ; carpenter, John Morrison; chief steward, C Allen-; stewardess, Miss Aitken; crew (so far as known)—E. Johnston, T Dixon, C Stewart, F Deraz, J. Gibb, E McDavitt, D Corbett, Frauk Rohl, S Artnistead, William Brien, W Smith, J Collins, Charles Silvas, E Weston, J Barrett, G Koran, T JSKehoLoD,. H Dobsou, W Adams, A Armistead, James Maherj James Warren, Robert Burwood,. T Haynes, W Davidson, A Mackaline-y, and four names unknown.

L. Rogers, of Invercargill, was not a passenger. He missed his passage at Port Clialmgrp. G. Wiltshire w to be added to the list of those who joined the vessel at Wellington.. It is now known that several people were booked and joined the vessel at Dunedin, Of these Dennis English, William, Euglish, and Alexander McKenzie, shearers, are known to be aboard!.

The following is a corrected list of the survivors of the wreck of the Tararua : Crew ; Robert L-.ndsay, chief officer ; Peter Maloney, second officer; James Burnett, Edward Johnson, Charles Stewart, Torquel Nicholson, Franz Danz, John Weston, Thomas Dixon, A.Bs. ; Franz Rahel, fireman ; John Maher, fireman ; Antonio Micaeliff, chief cook. Passengers: William -Hill, steerage ; John Chatterton, steerage j George Lawrence, steerage ; Henry Deely, steerage ; George Robins, steerage ; Thomas Davis, steerage; Gustave Tellien, steerage.