WRECK OF THE TAIAROA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1493, 15 April 1886, Page 3

WRECK OF THE TAIAROA.

Further Particulars. Since our hist issue a mass of information regarding this terrible disaster has come to bund. A boisterous S.W. gale set in about 4 o’clock on Sunday afternoon in the Straits, replacing the nor'-wester, and it is supposed Captnin Thomson hugged the shore to avoid the wind. The Captain of the Taiaroa, with the boat containing ten men, including three passengers, arrived at W <irau Bar at about 3.47 p ro. on the 12th. The boat was blown to sea and made land again. Those in the boat were Passengers— Thomas OHivier, Robert Henderson, and lames Harper, of (Jl r itchurch. Crew—lamuel Dairymple, engineer : Wm, Juinn, boy ; Wm. Tain, fireman ; James Vebb, carpenter ; Johu McDay, A.B. ; )nncan Campbell, steward ; Joseph Welder, chief steward ; George Thomson, Japtiio. The Captain was immediately aterviewed by the reporters, when he t«ted that after leaving Wellington the ’aiaroa had a strong N. W, wind to Cape Jampbell. At three o’clock the wind hopped round suddenly, and blew ban! rom the S.E., with thick rainy weather nd heavy fog. After the vessel struck he boats got away without difficulty, and very person was off the ship when he ot into his boat. There was a leavy swell on the beach, and the reather experienced on the journey down o Wairau bar was very cold and rough. Kerkeranqu, April 12,11.30 p.tn. Search parties from Kekerangu, Flaxlourne and other stations along the Coast iave been out all day looking for the mrvivors. Up to the present eight bodies iave ashore. They are at Wood)ank station, two being those of seamen tnd one apparently of an engineer. Five ie on the beach at Kekerangu. The ileamer is lying steadily, with small seas ireaking over her. Three men working it Clarence bridge swam on board, and iay there appears to be no holes or himage to the steamer above the water inc, the masts being perfectly firm and itationary. The Captain’s boat got away 0 sea and reached Blenheim; another soat still hangs to the line, and (loads reel upwards ; a third came ashore with >ne passenger alive, and a fourth boat | jontuining passengers is supposed to have sapsized with all hands, aa wreckage of 1 boat, such as linings, baa been found dong the beach. There is not the slightest probability of any other lives oeing saved. The body of one of the passengers that was washed ashore had a leg bitten off by a shark. Tlie wreckage that has come ashore at present consi-ts of several lifebuoys and the remains of the capsized boat. None of the bodies are actually yet identified. Hutton and McQoarrie (two of the saved) say that the captain, after the steamer struck, remarked that he thought he was within five miles of Kaikoura, and steering into Half-moon B *y. As a matter of fact, the steamer was heading direct for Clarence Bridge in the month of the river. When she struck, McQoarrie considers there were fifty souls on board, all told. April 13. Preparations are being made to inter the dead in the little Kekerangu cemetery, excepting that of the first mate, whose body will be buried in Blenheim, Mr R. H. Yallanoe, the well known sportsman, was among the drowned. Blenheim, April 12. Three men swam on board this morning and rescued a monkey and a cat. They obtained dry clothes in the forecastle, and made two warps fast from the masthead to the beach. Kairoura, April 13.

The Taiaroa is lying well in shore, apparently in a good position fur getting off, of which there is a probability. One of the men who swam from the pinnace at the stern sustained no injury. There is not a great deal of water in the fore part of the vessel, and about six to eight feet of water in her cabin. It is thought that the deck planks have started, and there is not much doubt bad passengers and crew stuck to the vessel they would have been saved. Hutton states that" many were sustained by the lifebelts only to die from the seventy of the night. There was not the slightest confusion, but perfect order, and not even a scream from the ladies. One boat tried to effe< t a landing, but returned to the vessel and reported that they were opposite a high bluff, but this was a mistake undoubtedly caused through the darkness. It is stated there was only one rocket fired. Had lights and rockets been used continuously, help woidd speedily have been obtained from the workmen at Clarence River bridge, who saw the steamer’s light, but took no further notice of it. Wellington, April 13.

There were eight hags of mails in the Taiaroa, six from Wellington and two from Nelson. There were five registered letters from Wellington for Government officers, and senders have been advised that the letters are in the Taiaroa, A special search is being made for the mails, and the steamer will be boarded as soon

hs the hoi goes down, and tbo m>il room examined. The Coroner Ims left Blenheim for the scene of the wreck to hold an inquest on the bodies recovered. The Union Company hare also despatched a medical man to the scene in case his services may be required by any of those rescued. The Penguin brought back the Tamoa’s papers and plate, and the Wanaka also brought up several articles taken from the wreck. The position of the wreck is unaltered. Captain Williams surveyed it on behalf of the Uniou Company and decided to abandon it to the Underwriters, as she showed every appearance of her bottom being clean gone, through working on the boulders. [A telegraoa from Kaikoura states that the Underwriters have refused the abandonment of the Taiaroa, and it is thought efforts will be made to get her off.] The steamer Taiaroa will be sold by auction at Wellington on Thursday next. Captain Bondell telegraphs; “Boarded ihe Taiaroa ; found water flowing in and ,>ut of hold ;no cargo washed out; conclude the vessel is damaged in the bottom ; otherwise intact; cargo can be maded easily if fine weather prevails.” 9.35 p.ra. The s.s. Waihi, with the captain and those saved in bis boat arrived this evening from Blenheim. Very little additional information has been elicited, hut it is known that there were five women on board the ill-fated vessel. These were Mrs Fitz Gerald, Mrs Jessie G-ime, Mrs Gibbs, saloon passengers from Wellington ; a steerage passenger, name unknown, and the stewardess (M. A.. Brown). So far as can be asceitained those on board numbered 47, being 20 passengers and 27 of a crew. The number saved was 14,, thus leaving 33 drowned. LIST OF SITED AND DROWNED. The following is the list of the save.; and dro weed so far as it has been possible to ascertain : Passengers Drowned.—Mrs G. G. FitzGerald, Mrs Jessie Game (or Fraser) ; Wm. Ward, torpedo instructor ; R. H. Vallance, Erskine, George Hawker, George Smith, James Ferguson, Murray, John Harboard,E. Bray Wigley, from Wellington; Alexander Martin, from Wellington. Passengers Saved—Sergeant Grant A.C., Constable McQuarrie, Permanent Torpedo Co’ps; P. Henderson, J. H. Harper, Gilbert Hutton, and Thomas Olliver. Crew Drowned.—R, Monkraan, chief officer; J. Powell, second officer; T. Stratford, second engineer; R. Spooner, purser; F, Hill, lamp trimmer. Able Seamen— J. Jones, R. Williamson, E. McMillan, P. Hansen, J. MePhee (fireman), J. McDonough, R. Irvine, J. Hunter, R. Williams. Stewards —T. Delaney, R. Bathgate ; M. A. Brown, stewardess ; G. Gallichin, chief cook; and W. Kellio, second cook. Crew Saved.— George Thomson, captain ; Samuel Dalryraple, chief engineer ; J. Feilder, chief steward ; Duncan Campbell, second steward; William (or Cain), donkey man ; J. Weal, carpenter ; J. Mackay, A.B. ; William Quinn, boy. It is at present quite uncertain whether there were not several others on board. NARRATIVE OF JOHN MCQUARRIE, A SURVIVOR. I am a native of Manchester, 32 years of age, and I came out to the Colony as second mate of the ship Warwick, to Port Chalmers, two years ago. I was a steerage passenger by the Taiaroa, and was lying in my bunk about 7.30, when I felt the ship strike on the ground. I rushed out on deck, and found everyone making for the saloon for life-belts. The Captain wis on the bridge cool and collected. Someone asked him where we were. He replied, “About five miles from Kaikoura.” Great confusion took place on deck while the boats were being swung from their davits. I get into a boat on the starboard aide, and in tho same boat were four women ; Mr Ward, the Whitehead torpedo instructor ; Mr Grant, and also a “spieler” with curly hair, who greatly lamented having lo leave his performing monkey. Tho women weie all dressed with the exception of the youngest, a Salvation Army lass of about 25 years of age, who had nothing on but her chemise. All the four women wore life-belts. It was quite light, and cold, We could sea hills, but no beach. A heavy sea capsized the boat after we attached it to the stern of the steamer "by means of a line. The women kept well up for a long time, but one after another they threw up their hands and sank from exhaustion, produced principally by tho bitter cold. As I swam past them one woman tried to catch me, but I eluded her, and, together with twelve others, succeeded in getting into another boat, which was floating keel uppermost. The boat righted itself, notwithstanding the heavy sea, and I found all we had was one oar. My companions seemed to be terribly distressed and exhausted, and when the boat turned over again fire went under and never came up, leaving the second mate, five seamen, and myself. The five groaned fearfully, and laid in tha bottom of the boat, one after another, gurgling in the throat and dying. The second mate was very weak also, but he helped me to throw the dead men overboard, as their bodies and upturned faces washing from one side of the boat to the other greatly distressed and obstructed us, The second mate said, just as day was breaking, “ It’s no good ; 1 can’t keep up any longer,” and by the time the boat grated on the boulders of the beach, and went ashore, he also was dead, i managed to crawl out of the boat and up the sandy creek towards the hills, and was making for a light, when a man met me, and took me in a trap to Kekerangu station. I consider the night was not too dark to prevent the captain seeing where he was, arid I believe everybody might have been saved had they swam straight ashore. The captain and officers behaved coolly, and the steward served out lifebelts as quickly as possible, i really believe the captain thought he was heading direct for Kaikoura. The four women consisted of two passengers and two stewardesses, all bein" elderly females but one, and all behaved splendidly, and made no fuss. I believe all four were drowned close to the steamer itself. NARRATIVE OF GILBERT HUTTON. Left Wellington at eleven o’clock on Sunday morning, and met the full force of the fouth-easier, when off Cape Campbell, and J after s ruggling along the steamer went ashore between 7 and 8 p.m, The Captain

tried to get a line ashore, but failed. They then took to the boats, all being suppl ed with life belts. Four boa s left the steamer, three of which hung on to a line attached to the steamer. About midnight a heavy sea capsized the boat nearest the steamer. I got on board the second boat, and about a minute after it capsized. Several ladies were in this boat. The third boat (captain in charge) broke adrift, and went out to sea, and we saw no more of it. Struck out for the beach, and reached it safely. Walked about until daylight, and reached Woodbank at six o’clock this (Monuay) morning. PRELIMINARY ENQUIRY. The preliminary enquiry into the cause of the Taiaroa disaster was held on Monday evening before Mr Pasley, Collector of Customs, and Captain Lambert, Nautical Assessor. Captain Thomson stated that the ship left Wellington at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday the 11th instant. A strong N.W. breeze was blowing. We steered S. by W. The usual course is S. $ W., but on account of the strong N.W. breeze we kept one-quarter point in more than usual till 3, when we were abreast of Cape Campbell, and the course was altered. The wind then fell light, and came down from S.E. suddenly to S. i W. It was at this time raining heavily and blowing hard, and the sea came up very suddenly. I was on deck till 6.30, and she then, as far as I could see, seemed to be a good distance off the land. The mate was on the watch on the bridge. Before going below at 6.30 I told the mate that if he thought the vessel was getting close in or the weather came on thick so as to lose sight of land to let me know. About seven o’clock he came and cold me that he could see land on the port bow. I ran up immediately on to the bridge. They were putting the helm hard a starboard. When I got there I stopped her and then went full speed astern. She took the ground, and at the same time the chief engineer came and said it was of no use going any further astern as she was making water. I gave orders to have the boats got out, and the passengers put into them, I told the second mate to try to run a line on the bench. He could not effect a landing at all, so I got a line over the stern, towing the boats on to that. All the boats, were fast to it except mine. The mate got iato my boat, and wo let her drop astern alongside the other boats. Whan wo got alongside the first lifeboat I told the mate to go into her and take charge. Tnen we 1 dropped further astern, and when we came to the last boat the carpenter missed it, and we drifted away. Tbe second mate was in the last boat, and he came after us to give us a tow back. He towed us for about an hour, but could make nothing of it, and sang out that he would have to let go, I told him to let go, and we drifted away. We kept as close into shore as we could, to avoid being blown to sea. There was a heavy sea running, and I tried to make Cape Campbell, but could not, and steered for the Wairau bar, where , we arrived at 2 o’clock on Monday. Everyone in the boat had lifebuoys on. I did nbt take any soundings, but the usual precautions were taken. There was nothing wrong with the compasses so far as I know. They were ] corrected seven or eight months ago. Some magnetic influence, with the strong current setting in, may have caused the accident. The wind where the Taiaroa struck appeared , to come more from tbe south, but the sea set is strongly from the S.E. Two lady passsu- 1 gers and the stewardess were in No. 1 lifeboat. John Maokay, who was steering on the ' afternoon prior to the accident, and was on the look out when she struck, said he had steered the lame course on the Taiaroa for 14 months. James Webb (carpenter) and Samuel Dalrymple (chief engineer) also gave evidence. INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE WRECK. The Wellington correspondent of an ex- : change sends the following:—Among the incidents connected with the disaster may be mentioned the following, which are vouched for by one of the evening papers : A gentleman, on a visit here from Greymouth, and residing with some friends at Pelone, informs us that he, last night, dreamt that the Taiaroa was wrecked. H« mentioned the fact at breakfast before several people this morning, and stated that he had seen the vessel lying on her beam ends. Mr James Smith, draper, of Te Arc House, and Captain Anderson, of the A. 0., had intended leaving by the Taiaroa, but at the last moment changed their minds. A well-known commercial traveller yesterday morning tossed up a coin to decide whether he should go or not; fortunately fate decided against his departure. Another incident was the following ; On her departure from here yesterday the Taiaroa had moved away from the wharf about twenty yards distant, when an intending passenger put in a late appearance, and in a most excited manner hailed the steamer. The captain very courteously gave orders to slop the vessel, and steered alongside again, bub in the stiff northerly gale then blowing thie proved a difficult task. Nearly half-an-hour was taken up in backing and going ahead before the end in view was accomplished, and the passenger was taken aboard, thus going to his death. Mr Levy, traveller for Messrs Rothschild, Jacobs, and Co-, wholesale jewellers, Dunedin, had considerable difficulty in making up his mind whether to go down by the Taiaroa yesterday or by the Te Anau to-day. At length he decided not to sail yesterday, several friends having strongly urged him to postpone bis departure. DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL. The Taiaroa was an iron schoonerrigged steamer of 228 tons nett tonnage and 438 tons gross. She was built at Glasgow by Inglis in August, 1875, and her dimensions wereas follow : —Length, 189 ft Sin ; breadth, 23ft 3in ; depth, 12ft 6in. She was built under special survey, and was classed 100 Al at Lloyds. She was of 110 h.p., and was capable of working up to3oo b.p., and duringher long connection with the coastal trade of New Zealand proved herself a very serviceable craft. During the last twelve or fifteen months she has been running a weekly t service, in conjunction with the s.s. Wanaka, between Dunedin, Timaru, Akaroa, Lyttelton, Wellington, and Nelson, and did good service in that line, boon after her arrival in the colony, she ran on shore near the Bluff, but got off without serious She was then then purchased by the Union Steamship Company, and was at first employed in trading to New Caledonia. The value of the steamer was about £15,000. The following is an extract from a letter received by Mr E. Pilbrow, Temuka, from his brother : “ Wellington, April 12th, 1886 I am going ta Sydney to-day in ‘HaurotC We are all greatly put about at hearing of the loss of the Taiaroa, which left hero yesterday. You will have all particulars before you get this ; but poor Bob Val! m. e was on board, and only by a fluke a bit more of the sporting men were not on the steamer. It does rot make the ! voyage before me very pleasant. J.E. s'ays lu?re° another week for the Halt Race?.— L Yours, etc., J. Pilbrow.”