Further Details of the Tararua Catastrophe.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3850, 2 May 1881, Page 2

Further Details of the Tararua Catastrophe.

[By Tblegeaith, pjsb Pkess Association.]

WELLINGTON

This day.

Captain Cameron, who landed from th» Hawea, got all the survivors together, and having procured a vehicle, sent them as far as possible to a boat harbor. He states on. returning to the scene of the wreck, he saw the bodies of a young female (apparently about 20, years of age), and that of a young man about 25 years. The bodies were perfectly nude and were enveloped in a sheet.

George Kobiu, steerage passenger, states that he left the ship in the last trip of the mate's boat On reaching shore it capsized. He made for the beach, which he gained in safety. As soon as we reached the shore we lighted fires, and kept them burning all night. At dark we saw the slip's passengers were then climbing the rigging. Picked up the cook as he swam ashore. Robin picked up a saloon passenger's body, quite nude, about 30years of age. Captain Garrard was perfectly cool, and gave his orders yeiy collectedly. Wm. Hill, a throuj>h passenger to England, says:—When the ship struck he went to look for his wife, and found her washing about the deck. All was confusion ; the women and children were screaming. As the lust starboard boat was got out, a sea store her in, and he went in the mate's -boat to find a landing place, but was unable to reach the reef, and put back to the ship, but found it impossible to get alongside owing to the heavy sea. ' John Chatterton, steerage passenger, who was saved from the mate's boat, states —Was in my bunk when the steamer struck. There was an immediate rush on deck ; all was quiet and orderly. We were a mile and a half off shore at first, but. drifted to about half a mile. Soon after I got off, the women were carried to the forecastle head, and at 2 p.m. took 1.0 tbe rigging. One of the cabin passengers (man) came ashore about 4 p.m on Saturday, but died shortly after we hauled him on the beach. A young woman came 'ashore on the reef much disfigured, life being extinct. We on shore could do nothing to help them. He lost everything, and could not swim all the way, but had to wait for smooth water and then strike out. After reaching the he saw several persons clinging to pieces of wreck., but they fell off as they neared the shore. Antonio McCallif, chief cook, says :— At 5 a.m., o"h Friday the steamer struck. She bumped twice and then became fast. When tide- went down the Captain ordered me to cook some meat. This was done, and I served out meat, potatoes, and coffee, About 2 p.m. on Frul»y the shipwas fast breaking up, and' Belrig sdriven further in shore. The Captain then gave orders to carry the females to the forecastle head. He carried them himself from (he smoking room, and we took them forward, we afterwards got on the forecastle and the.captain said "I hare done all T can. I have no boats available. The tide will be out in another half hour I and I will try to do the best I can."

Immediately lie ended speaking a heavy sea came and carried away the dingy and cutter. We stood on the forecastle until another heavy sea struck her, and as there was a rush«ot passengers to the side, and the rail was carried away, and I and about sixteen fell overboard. The Captain exclaimed "Oh God ! what are What are we to do now." I picked up a young lady, a Hobart Native, and managed to keep her afloat for about five, minutes, calling out for a rope when a big sea struck us and she was. washed from my hold and I saw her no more. I then made for the shore, and encountered a lot of wreckage floating about. I got clear of it with great difficulty, and before I reached the beach I was nearly exhausted, and culled out to one of the passengers ashore to help me. He pulled me out and put me on the sleigh and laid me before the fire, where X was supplied with a drop of brandy. I saw Furnien in the rigging. G. L. Lawrence states —Went on the bridge when the vessel struck, and found the captain and officers there. The captain ordered the boats to be lowered. The seamen and engineers were steady and obeying orders,. but the passengers were much confused. The oaptuin asked me if 1 would go in the boat and tiy and find a place' to land. When the boat with the second mate was about 500 yards off the shore the mate gave me a chance to go ashore. I jumped overboard, and after a severe battle with the waves succeeded in reaching it.. I thjeu proceeded to a dwelling and asked them to send a man to telegraph the disaster. They landed out of the second mate's boat. On the second trip the first mate cane, with a boat containing 9, and endeavored fo throw.,a line, to the reii, Jbxit th« Jxjjkfccapsized. Eight, however, reached shore: After tlie second mate had put out to sea with the boat, we saw the people being washed off the forecastle, and after this the forecastle was cleared, the passengers and crew taking to the rigging. We saw matches being burnt until 11 o'clock. At 25 minutes to 3 we heard a shriek from the vessel. We heard a voice (supposed to be the captain's) calling out for a b^at, and that was the last we heard of her. At daylight she was gone. The body, brought from Hawea has been recognised as that' of a Swede named. Anderson, of the Carrick ranges, Otago, aged about 50.