WRECK OF THE S.S. WAIRARAPA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2734, 6 November 1894, Page 2

WRECK OF THE S.S. WAIRARAPA.

Sydney, November 2. The Sydney Morning Herald, com* meuting on the Wairarapa disaster, says—“So far as it is possible to learn from the particulars that have reached Sydney, it appears that all on board behaved well and courageously in the face of direct peril and imminent death. Wa have at least nothing to blush for in the bearing of officers, orew, and passengers in the dread hour of the catastrophe.” November 3. In the list of saved are 22 persons who did not book by the Wairarapa in the ordinary way. Melbourne, November 2. The Argus says that the commander of the Wairarapa proved devoted to hie duty, and in the face of death questions are withheld. Ibe paper comments on the singularity of the fact that there are more wrecks of intercolonial steamers than of vessels fr m abroad. The Age says of the disaster that to landsmen it looks like rash navigation to let a vessel tear along in a pitch dark night in a region studded with rocks and islands, with little apparent heed to the ship’s exact position. Auckland, November 3, The following are identified among the bodies found at Great Barrier Island«. Robert Magee, fireman. Passengers—Mr Bray, of Sydney, Misses Scoullar (two), Dunedin; Mrs 0. Stewart, Miss E. Burton, Mr Warry, Port Chalmers; Mr Spencer, Auckland (all cabin passengers). At the inquest held on 31 bodies at Maori Bay, a verdict was found that they were drowned through the a reck of the Wairarapa. The third officer, Herbert Johnson, was the chief witness. In cross-examination he said he did not feel easy about the ship’s position on account of the, thick foggy weather. He spoke to the captain and asked him to slow the ship down. The captain said the ship was right, going on her usual course. This was an hour before the ship struck. The eaptain was perfectly sobev then and during the whole voyage. After the accident he did all a captain and seaman could and should do. During all the vopage the captain was constantly at his duty. The vessel was going about twelve or thirteen knots, her usual speed. She travelled from Cape Maria Vau Dietnan without either slowing down oc using fog horns. Respecting the speed the vessel was) steaming at, the coroner asked the witness ; H Was it his (tho captain’s) to get iu Wore any other ship, that made him keep up that speed ] ” Witness : “ No; it waa not racing, nor any rivalry,” The police arc engaged in burying bodies along the beach- Fifty more coffins or shells were sent by the Nautilus to-night, and 100 winding sheets and carbolic acid.

Mr Jackson Palmer telegraphed to the Premier for permission to charter a steamer to search for bodies. The request was granted, and she left on Saturday night. At the inquest on the bodies at G*"**' Barrier, the verdict was to the deceased oe— , , r O . u ‘ c , th ‘\ t , v t .oils had met I heir death oy being drowned in the wreck of the steamer Wuirurapa, Tlio personal property fraud on the dead will bo rctftipgd by the pojice qntfi it is identified. The funerals of Captain Laura Flavell of the Salvation Army' and Alisa William*

took place to-day. The Newton Band played the “ Dead March.” Thousands of people lined the streets. Miss Williams’s sister, who was saved, lies in a critical condition. Her hair has turned grey. Wellington, November 3. The postal authorities have recovered 83 bags of mails from the Wairarapa, and hope to get the remaining 17 to-day. The letters are mostly deliverable, but the newspapers are much damaged. Mr Bass, chief postmaster at Auckland, wires that 40 additional bodies have been recovered, also two hampers of parcels. The officials think that if the weather holds good there may be some salvage of passengers luggage, etc. The Postmaster-General has arranged to pass free by post letters on business of the Wairarapa relief fund sent to or from mayors of boroughs or other such public officers as may be decided upon to deal with the matter. Mr Langley, one of the survivors, who arrived by the Mahinapua, was interviewed, but adds little to what has already been published. He says that he saw no children on deck after the ship struck, and believes that numbers of women and children must have been drowned in their berths, as their cabins, which were on the port side, filled immediately the vesesl heeled over.

Ten of the crew of the Wairarapa who were lost were members of the benefit society, and their relatives are entitled to death allowances amounting in all to £l4O. It .a probable that a sum will be voted out of the benevolent funds. The society’s funds in hand now amount to £3701. During last year the receipts were £2966 and expenditure, £2104 leaving a surplus for the year of £862. There are 893 ordinary members and 54 honorary members. The benevolent fund for exceptional cases amounts to £506145. Captain John M'lntosh wes born on the island of Tyree, one of the inner Hebrides, in August, 1840, and joined the company’s service at the end of April, 1879, as chief officer of the Ladybird. He served successively as master of the Southern Cross, Alhambra, Omapere, Hero, Waihora, Tekapo, and Te Anau, and in November, 1890, was to the Wairarapa. Before joining the Union Steam Ship Company’s service the late Captain M'lntosh was for seven and a-half years master of the ship Ulva, trading between London and the East Indies. He was insured under the Union Company’s regulations for £SOO with the New Zealand Government Insurance Department. Great Barrier Island is situate on the eastern side of the Hauraki Gulf, and affords great protection to it from seaward. It is twenty-one miles long north-north-west and south-south-east, and ten miles across in its widest part, which is about the centre, A range of mountains extends through its whole length. Mount Hobson, the highest, rises to a peak from the central part of the island to a height of 2330 feet. On the western side are several bays and harbors, for the most part open to westerly and south-west winds, but affording excellent shelter from easterly. As far as can be gathered just now it is thought probable that the steamer had over-run her distance in a fog and, aided by a set to the southward, met her fate about Catherine Bay or Point Abercrombie, on the north-western end of the island. The northern extreme of the island is a high peninsular one mile in length. Seveeal high pinnacle rocks stand off the western coast, named Aiguilles, or Needles Point. From Needles Point the western coast trends south-west by south five and a-half miles to Miner’s Head, the North Point of Catherine Bay. The summit over this head is a conical hill, resembling a beehive. There is a small cove immediately south of Miner’s Head, where coasters may anchor in fine weather, A roca, a wash at high tide, lies in the centre of

it. His Excellency the Governor on Saturday afternoon received the following cablegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies :—“ I desire to express my regret and sympathy at the shipwreck of the Wairarapa and the groat loss of life.— Rifok.” Mr Frank Leighton, sou of Mr J. F. Leighton, one of the passengers, returning home after an absence of four and ayears, states that about midnight on Sunday he heard a frightful crash. It was understood that the steamer was going about 13 knots. Men, women, and children rushed on deck, but good order was preserved. The saloon commenced to fill, showing that the vessel’s bottom had been crushed through by the shock. The passengers were screaming aud terror stricken, though the majority retained sufficient presence of mind to throw themselves upon a raft or cling to any part of the vessel lying to the windward, as she was gradually settling down on the port side. In about half an hour all the lights were extinguished, saving the blue light on the bridge and mast head lights. About half-past four she took a big lurch and a sea swept over her, carrying numbers with it, and with daylight a heart - rending scene presented, itself. Passengers aud crew were clinging to all parts of the vessel aud some were drifting about iu the water with life belts on, but nearly all were seen to perish, it being impossible to render assistance. Through out the morning numbers were swept off exhausted. The scene was truly terrible. The scene of the wreck was one of the worst spots on the island- Two of the boats were smashed iu, and a third got away with officers and seamen. I myself, with many others, got into the rigging of the foiemast. I was asleep when the crash came. Mr J. C. White, an old gentleman from Sydney, 85 years of age, and 66 years in the colonies, aud Mr F. C. White, from Ballarat, a qoqsjn of mine, occupied the same cabin, I had some difficulty in rousing them, and both were lost soon afterwards. Nearly everyone was supplied with a life belt. There were some 16 horses on board, and these, it is feared killed some of the people. As the bridge gave way the captain, who had a lady beside him, is said to have dived into the sea aud neither he nor the lady were •aeu again. As the day began to dawn we gradually discerned the high coast line and frantic endeavours were made to get ’ a line ashore from the foremost ringing. After some vain attempts a man named Currie, from Scotland, got a considerable distance, but the line was not long enough, and he barely escaped with his life- At length a line was secured amd the first lady to go was a Miss Pickeuson. Another lady, a Miss Williams, was not so fortunate j she beqanje entangled in the lines aud appeared to bo strangled; and a Salvation Army lass —- frowned in Al ‘ _

tuo attempt. The ropes were subsequently worked upon a more satisfactory plan, and the remainder were got ashore in safety. RECOVERING THE BODIES. The following graphic description of the search for the bodies of the victim ? is by a special reporter of the Auckland Star ; The first corpse was that of a man, name unknown, lying on a stone with a life bolt under his arms. A dead

horse lay between high and low water, a few yards further on. Round a rooky point and about 300 yards along the beach, again under overhanging rocks, the shocked party came upon the second corpse—that of a young woman. As each body was located, with planks and tools brought from the steamer a rough coffin was fashioned, and the body nailed up therein, after minute particulars of the appearance of the body, etc., had been carefully noted down to assist the work of identification. The second body, that of the young woman, presented a shocking spectacle. With a life belt under her arms (like all the drowned persons washed ashore) she lay huddled on the rocks. She had been a good - looking girl of about twenty-five years of age, with what seemed to be auburn hair. On he r finger was found a ring with small pearls and some greenstones set in it. Close by lay the third remnant of poor humanity, another young woman a lifebelt strapped round her body, wrapped in a bit of sail cloth. Portions of her body were frightfully discolored by bruises, received, no doubt, by contact with the rocks, and her light brown hair was bedded in the sand. It was stated by some of the survivors that she was a hospital nurse, a steerage passenger from Sydney. On her fingers were three rings, one with pearls and small stones. She was apparently about 20 years of age. Numbers four and five of the bodies recovered in this bay were those of two women, and presented a pitiful sight (both had life fastened round them). Savage sharks had attacked the body of the former. The younger girl was apparently fourteen or fifteen years of age. Men in the party had to turn away their heads to hide their emotion as they took in the situation. The young girl was evidently a Roman Catholic, for round her neck she wore a cross and some Catholic relics tied together with worsted thread. The other woman was apparently about 28 years of age. She wore a wedding ring and a diamond ring with three stones. Both faces were so knocked about as to be unrecognisable. Next in order was found No. 7 a man. This body had on grey, striped trousers, strap round the waist, one boot on, and had black hair and a red moustache, apparently about twenty-five years of age. Close by lay a dead horse. All sorts of wreckage, oranges, &c., strewed the beach. The next body presented even a sadder sight. The corpse was that of an elderly lady, with brown hair turning grey. She lay on her face on the sand and shingle, a bandage being visible on her right foot. She wore a nightdress and wrapper, and seemed to be much bruised and knocked about on the rocks. On her wrist she wore a gold bracelet watch, while four valuable rings were taken off her fingers by the police. One was a gold wedding ring, the others a diamond ring and two rings with small stones, on which was found the monogram “ M.R.G.A.”

Search parties then proceeded along the beach, climbing over rocks, and occasionally wading knee deep. The whole coast-line is strewn with thousands of fragments of wreckage. They suddenly came across another body, a man, wh.h a life-belt on, sandy moustache, brown h..i , trousers and shirt on. Round his w,.Lo was a belt sewed to the lining of h a trousers, and found to contain mon.y. This man is supposed to be a salo-m passenger. Around a little rocky poi..; was the body of a young man with a re .1 moustache, light hair, waistcoat and j striped tweed trousers and shirt on. A | life-belt was strapped round him. Be | was sft Gin in height, and about thirty | years of age. A purse, with a key in it, I was in one of his pockets. Ten yards away was the body of a young man sadly discoloured. A big powerful-looking man, was the next body discovered lying on his face on the stones with a life belt on. The body was much discoloured from bruises, indicating a great struggle for life. The man was fair, turning grey, moustache light, and age about fifty years, but the face was unrecognisable. The next bodies identified were those of Mr Whaley, commercial traveller, and the youngest Miss Scoullar, aged about fourteen. The man’s body, with a lifebelt on, was lying with one arm over the face. Under a high cliff the party found a portion of a gig from the Wairarapa smashed up m th j bnch. Farther on two more bodies were found, one a woman with grey han’, clothed in a black alpaca skirt. The name “C. Stuart ” was sewn on the garment, and it is believed to be Mrs 0. Stuart, saloon passenger. Beside the old lady’s body was that of a youug girl, slightly built, The girl, who seemed to have been pretty, with brown hair, was so terribly disfigured by the rocks that the the features were not recognisable. The name E. Burton was on the clothing. It is now known that there was a Miss Burton in the saloon. She was apparently about fourteen years of age. Hard by lay on her keel one of the ill-fated steamer’s boats. The nineteenth body was near the lifeboat. It proved to be that of Warry, a saloon passenger, of Pgnediu, He way sft Sin in height, with red beard ami moustache, apparently between thirty and forty years of age. He was a brother inlaw of Mr Chick, who is also lost in the Wairampa. Mr Chick kept the Port Chalmers Hotel. The body of Mr Wany was fully clothed, having two coats, a waistcoat, &c., and ono boot on. The right hand was tightly clenched as the dead man lay under the sun with his life belt still fast round him.

LOCAL REFERENCES. I Mr J. Dean, jar., arrived at Geraldine on Saturday last, having came from Sydney by the flaqroto, and not by the Wairarapa, as was at first supposed. A ‘ few other shearers in the South Canterbury district also came by the Hauroto. 0. Scott, is one of the names published in the list of the Wairarapa’s passengers He is supposed to be one of the Scott ‘ brothers of Woodbury, nqd was expected ' from Sydney. I’lm name “ Scott ” ' appears amongst the list of those saved. Mrs McDonald, stewardess, who war drowhed, was a sister of Mrs T. Eaton, Woodbury, and was known in thh. district. It was rumoured that a young man named 0. Chapman, well-known ai Geraldine, who recently went to Sydney was amongst the saved, bun nothin definite is known about the matter. Th | name which is published in the Uat ui ) saved is 0. A. Olpipuian. Qn Sunday Bvirif''" 1 ’ I 111 ’ references wer w xn the churches at Gcraldim and Temuka with regard to th sad fate of those who were Just m the ill-fated vessel, and the surrm of those left to mourn their lost one; At the Presbyterian Church (-onildim at the morning service the“ Dead -'larch was impressively played by the orgams.. Mr T. Shevratt, and the also mom mention of the sad allair i< his prayer ani in his subsequent remarks At the St. Mary’s Anglican Clinrcu, tlm Kov. Mr Preston preached an otlecUvu aonuon, touching feelingly on the event

by which so many lives were lost. The mat er was also alluded to by the layreader in the evening. The Rev. H. Williams, at the Primitive Methodist Churches, Geraldine and Temuka, preached very impressive sermons, dealing in a graphic and pointed manner with the pathetic subject so much on the public mind at present. Appropriate hymns were sung during the service. The matter was also referred to in the evening at Geraldine by Mr and Mrs Bates. The Rev. Mr Standage at the Temuka Wesleyan Church, and the Rev. J. Dickson at the Temuka Presbyterian Church, also referred in appropriate terms to the sad calamity. Among the providential escapes in connection with the ill-fated Wairarapa, none is more deserving of mention than that of Mr Alfred Opie, of Winchester. Some three months ago he went to Sydney in that steamer, and fully intended coming home in her last trip. Fortunately for Mr Opie, he was detained three days at Bourke, by blight in the eyes, and was compelled to come by the Hauroto. Mr Opie reached Winchester on Friday, and it is needless to say he received a most cordial welcome from his friends. Mr G. Brown, of Milford, regarding whose safety fears were felt, returned home yesterday morning, having travelled by another steamer. He also brought the welcome news that one or two other Temuka residents who it was feared might have been aboard the ill-fated Wairarapa were in New South Wales when he left.