STATEMENT OF FRANK

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3855, 7 May 1881, Page 1

STATEMENT OF FRANK

A SURVIVOR OF THE ILLFATED S.S. TARARUA.

The story of Frank Denz, seaman, is as follows:—

I married in Auckland two years and a half ago. We had one child, fifteen months old. I • persuaded my wife to Visit Melbourne. The Company let me take her at half price. When she came on board, Captain Garrard came forward and said to her, "I'll give you the other half of 'the fare, and you can buy a new . dress with it." Poor girl, she never got it. When we got to Port Chalmers, my wife and Mary Kelly went to Dunedin. I warned them carefully to come by the * three o'clock train. I wish to the Lord I had told then* sir o'clock. The man who had been at the wheel before me relieved me for a few minutes to j?et some coffee. I took the coffee and came out to drink it as the ship struck. She was full almost at once. My wife, Mary Kelly, and another woman clnng to me naked. The back wash of the sea that broke over carried us right aft. The women all screamed at first, but some were brave and believed na when we said there was no danger. They Were put in the smoking house and covered. I put a ru* and my jacket on my wife. Mary Kelly would not go into the honse, but helped with the ropes and seemed to wish to encourage the men, but they were not afraid. They made the same noise as ever. You would hare thought to hear, them swear, but they could not sink. I was not more afraid than the rest, but the wife kept clinging to me, and that made me w«dfe— The captain was cross, and scolded me, but I could not push her away at such a time. I wish to God I had taken my chum's adrice and put her and the child in the second mate's boat, then I would not hare to look for them on the beach. When the carpenter was ordered out of the boat for them to take charge he said, "Thank God, I'm safe." The ship wai the safest place then. If the wina had not come up she would hare been then yet. The men complained of one of the hands in the boat. He was afraid of getting wet. Kept looking for the sea, and, missing stroke, th« captain had him hoisted out.. He also said, " I praise God I'm out of her." I was ordered to take his place. I was crying, as I oould not bear leaving my wife and child. Then the captain persuaded me and held oat his arms for the child. I gave her to him and said, " Now, captain you'll look after her, won't you P He said, " Yes, Frank, I will be sure of that " I tied the baby's hood on. This is it (holding up a little blue hood). I found it on the beach. I held this ahawl (holding it up) round the wife and lashed it on with two manilla I yarns. See how it is torn with washing off. 1 would not take £50 for those two things. I had £11 and a watch. I gave them to her to make her feel safe, and so that she would .hare something if I was drowned. She cried out to the other women, "Dont be afraid; Prank will save us; he's going in the boat" She thought I could do anything, poor girl- I think I hear her now. Our boat was 34 ft. long, but upset cud over end, and not sideways; that will show you how the sea was. We all got ashore but the boy who cleaned the brass on the ship. Just before we upset, the poor chap said, " I believe it's through me that the vessel struck, for I'm very unlucky. I daresay those on board thought it rery hard that We did not come back, but they saw the fix we were in. I would have gone back "" to the wife if I had been sure of being lost. Perhaps I would not now, but all that day I would. I never prayed so much in my life before. I prayed for her, and then ran again to the point to see if there was a steamer coming from the Blufl. I saw when she broke away the side of the smoking-house and the Captain laid the women forward ; he had my little Kill in his arms- When the cook came ashore he told me that Mary Kelly was washed off afc the same time as himself. He tried his best to save her, but could not. Dr Campbell was setting the engineer's leg, and was washed off at the time. Long before dark all the women were drowned, %u<J all the children but my child. The captain was in the. rigging holding it. There were about 40 men m the rigging. I kept my p* oa T them M lfc grew dark. The'last thing I saw was the captain holding mv little girl. I m sure hi died with her in hts arms, but he could not save her. "So. it was not. to D e' It «»s «* ,to 5 eV *?, d plVin§ with the IHtle blue hood, tho sailor sobbed audibly. '?he aboTe is not C3I<>WIW. but otto*™***** * HMe.-P, W. *xi*. ciovQß, We ß leyau Minister.