TERRIBLE SHIPPING DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3115, 15 February 1909, Page 5

TERRIBLE SHIPPING DISASTER.

S.S. PENGUIN SUITS Off A BiOCK.

MANY LIVES LOST. THE CAPTAIN'S EXPLANATION. WEATHER VERY THICK.

On Friday night last, in stormy weather, the Union Company's well-known steamer Penguin, bound from .Nelson and Picton to Wellington, went ashore near Cape Terawhiti, in a treacherous reach of the sea which has brought disaster to seve-al ships. The first versions of the wreck declared that only thirteen persons had been saved. Subsequent reports doubled that number of survivors, but the burden of suspense about others was not removed even after Captain Naylor landed from the lost steamer and brought some definite news to Wellington. Two boats, with women and children, and members of the crew to ply the oars, he said, had been unaccounted for when he left the coast. The vessel struck, he thought, on the Wellington side of Tom's Rock, shortly after 10 o'clock on Friday night. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. CAPTAIN NAYLORS' STORY. Captain Naylor, who was in command of the iil-fated vessel, in an interview with a "Post" reporter, said he would necessarily have to be guarded in everything he said relating to the disaster, in view of possible turther proceedings. "We left Picton," Captain Naylor continued, "at 6.20 on Friday night, and got into the Straits at ten minutes to eight. The weather was fairly clear then. When we were about half-way across the weather set down very thick. I decided to set an outside course, which should have taken the ship miles clear of the place where she struck, and allowed for a big southerly set, and expected to pick up the Pencarrow light at ten o'clock when putting her head down the Straits. As it was coming on so thick, I was intending to stand down clear to the southward, and out of the way. "Then she struck. It must have been just after ten. As for place she struck, 1 think it must have been Tom's Rock, which is about a mile and a quarter off shore. It would be about abreast of the outfall of the Karori stream. "She just slid along the r„ik, touching it on the starboard side. The pumps were sounded, and it was found that the ship was making water r3pidly in the No. 1 hold and No.' 2 hold as wll.

' THE DEATH ROLL.

WELLINGTON, February 14.

"The boats were swung out, and thu first to be sent away were the women and children. There was a good deal of crying on deck, but everyone appeared to be otherwise calm.

"To have beached the ship where she struck would have been madness. It is an ironbound coast; not a life would have been saved had that been done.

"There was a heavy sea running, and one of the boats with women and children in it was smashed against the side of the ship, and the people were thrown out into the sea. I believe they were all got on deck again, but I would not be positive. "Two boats were got away. There were only women and children in them, except the crew, who were there tu row. I cannot say exactly who was in charge of the boats. "The men had to take to the rafts. Two of them were got out astern. I dared not let the engines go, because I could not tell who might be floating within range of the propeller. "I reckon she went down at about eight minutes to 11. That was when my watch stopped, and others stopped at the same time. She went down bow first. There were only two boats out of the five got away. The others were lost. "I got into the water from the bridge. I hung on to a broken boat, and so floated ashore. I was washed off several times and bumped about. "I could see the rafts. They had a very rough time. They got into a swirling treacherous sea, and were swung round and round. Several times those who were on them when she left the ship were washed off. I believe all on the rafts reached the shdre. "I saw two bodies washed up on the beach. I think they were women. It was dangerous to move far, so I crawled up into the scrub and waited till daylight. "Having found some of those who I got ashore on the rafts, I learned thai one party was in a hut on the i bear.h, while three of the men had

gone to M'Menamin's station for assistance. At daylight there was no si*ht of the ship to be seen." THE PASSENGERS. The following passengers buoked at Nelson for Wellington :—Saloon : Mr C. Chappell, Mr R. Jack. Steerage: Mrs and Miss Toomer and child, Mr Johnson, Mr Troadec, Misses Maguire( 3), Master Maguire, Miss Jennings, Master Berkett, Mrs Rutherford, Mrs Cunningham o , Mr Cunninghame, Mr Rutherford, Mr Jacka. Blenheim and Picton bookings were: —Mr Bridge, Mr Bird, Mr Bone, Mr Ellison, Mr Green, Mr HaJe, Mr S. Holcroft, Mr Hart, Mr Hogg, Mr Holmes, Mr Harold, Mr E. Matthews, Mr Underwood, Mr White, Mr Matthews, Mr Shaw, Mr Bird, Mr R : ggs, Mr Miller, Miss Ribbands, Miss M'Alley, Miss Wemyss, Mrs Hale. LIST OF SURVIVORS. Following is the list of survivors, so far as is known at present: Crew: Captain Naylor, R. Watts, C. Jone», D. M'Cormack, W. Rees, F. Wicktorin, W. Pierria, R. A. Thompson (purser), G. Ferrall, W. Luke (second ergineer), D. Lynn, G. W. Francis, Chas. Jackson, A.8., H. Snelgrove, O.S. Passengers: G. E. Perkins, K. Jack. R. Ellison, G. Bridge, A. Hopkins, C. E. Downes,. W. H. Green, L. T. Hobb, T. H. Riggs Milter, Mrs Hannan, F. Shaw Matthews, T. Hoiland.

FIFrY-TWO BODIES WASHED ASHORE.

The hope that the missing boat might have reached shore safely is now abandoned, as it has drifted in shore.

The list of those dead or missrig so far as can be ascertained is as follows:

PASSENGERS, Mrs Symons and two children Mrs Bishop Mis Brittan Mrs Hunt Mrs Toomer Mrs Hale Miss Dorian Miss McAlley Miss Ribbands Miss Hunt Miss Jennings Misses Maguire (3) Miss Ivy Toomer Miss Alice Toomer Miss Clure Miss Nodine Miss Jessie Rennie Mr Bird Mr H. G. Bore Mr Courteney . Mr Hale Mr S. Holcroft Mr Holmes Mr Harold Mr Underwood Mr W. F. Henry Mr V. White Mr Chappell Mr Iroadec Mr Coornbe Mr Johnson Mr Wharton Mr Shaw (Melbourne) Mr Keith Willian sjm Mr Seed Mr Rogers Mr E. Matthews (not to be confused with lad saved). Mrs j. Hannan and four children. Master Maguire. OFFICERS AND CREW.

Mclntyre, chief officer F. Driscoll, second officer G. A. Loossmore, third jfficer R. Urquhart, chief engineer W. S. Rentoul, third engineer C. Alexander, chief steward T. Hayes, boatswain W. A. E. Gale, A.B. Mrs C. Jacobs, saloon stewardess Mrs Hope, forecabin stewardess R. Watts, second steward M. Keys, forecabin steward D. Lynn, chief cook Henry McGuire, scullery man C. Joneo, pantry man Wellum, second pantry man Cooke, messroom steward Ernest Crook, saloon waiter G. Claydon, saloon waiter C. W. Es'acott, A.B. Bowman, A.B. Henderson, A.B. G. Gaffrie, donkeyman Rafferty, greaser C. Fairburn, fireman S. Ward, fireman

S. Corie, trimmer Barnes, trimmer Mrs Hope, stewardess To the above list of passengers have to be added Mrs W. R. Symons. two children and maid. It was wired from Nelson that some passengers of this name had not gone, though their names were in the passenger list, but these bodies have been identified. Late this afternoon there were fiftytwo bodies on the beach scattered over eight miles. BODIES IDENTIFIED. WELLINGTON. February 14. The following bodies have been identified:—R. Urquhart, chief engineer; Mrs Hope (forecabin stewardess). Mrs C. Bird, Mr C. H. Hale, Mrs Hale, Mr Rogers, Mr Seed, Mr H. E. Bowen, Mrs Jacobs (stewardess), Master Maguire, Mis 3 Maguir, Mr H. Wharton, Shaw, Mr W. H. Henry, Mr Bates, Miss Mary Doran, Miss Mary Fairbairn, (doubtful), Mr Mclotyre (chief officer), Mrs W. R. Symons and two children, 'Miss Jessie Rennie (Mrs Symons' maid), Mrs Sylvester, Mr Holcroft, Mr W. Higgins, Henry, Mrs Bishop, Mrs Toumer, Keith Williamson, F. Driscoll (second officer). Some doubt was at first expressed as to the probability of Mrs Symonds, her children and maid, being on the Penguin, but unfortunately it proved to be only too true, for Mrs Symonds' body was one of the first to be identified on the beach. The deceased lady was returning from a holiday at Nelson with her maid and two children, aged 15 and 14 years, respectively. The poor little ones had just celebrated a happy birthday. Mrs Symonds was the widnw of Mr W. R. Symonds, formerly shipping manager for Messrs Turnbull and Co., and a daughter of Mr W. S. Reid, late Solicitor-General. Her brother, Mr Edward Reid, is one of the staff of the A.M.P Society in Wellington, and the local manager, Mr Lowe, was an uncle. The scene of the wreck, though in point of distance, so near Wellington, is very inaccesssible, and pressmen, police and others who went to the spot had a fearful time. The rain fell incessantly, and made travel the hill tracks almost a matter of impossibility. The Terawhiti went round to-day. but could not get in touch with the shore. The fiftytwo bodies recovered are lying along a stretch of eight miles of beach, and it is not yet certain what will be done with them, but efforts will be made to get them to town by boat to-night or to-morrow. It is a noteworthy feature tnat out of °,7 persons saved 21 of these came ashore on the two rai'.s, not one person who got on to the rafts being drowned, although they were capsized seve.al times before eventually making land.

ABOUT THE VICTIMS. - Mrs Brittain, was the wife of Mr H. F. Brittain, Nelson, formerly of Auckland. Her husband was visiting Wellington at- , tending tne veterinary classes, and being s mrcewhat unwell Mrs Brittain was comi-ig to Wellington to look after hi ti. She l?aves a family. The third engineer of the Penguin was Mr Stanley Rintoul. Ho was unmarrkd and a native of Nelson, where his parents reside. His age was about 25 years. He had been in various steamers of the Union Company, but only joined the Penguin six weeks ago. He formerly served as second engineer on the Richmond. CHRISTCHURCH, February 14. Mr Keith Cape Williamson, whose parents reside- in this city, is supposed to have been a passenger by the Penguin. He was a nephew of the stationmaster at Wakefield, and had distinguished himself at Canterbury College, having passed his B.A. degree, and the first section of his LL.B. degree, and was' recently awarded an exhibition in mental science. His age was about 21 years; NELSON, February 14. The Hannan family come from Tadmor. Troadec was a Stoke Orphanage boy on his way to a farm at Wellington. Miss Hunt's parents reside at Motueka. The four Maguires had been inmates of St. Andrew's Orphanage, and were returning to their father. W. S. Rentoul,, third engineer, was a native of Nelson, where his parents reside, and Captain Naylor, was also a member of a Nelson family.

A FOKTUNATE ESCAPE. One of the most fortunate escapes from a passage on the Penguin was that of Miss Elberia O'Sullivan, the daughter of a deceased Havelock settler. She had taken a position as teacher in the Sacred Heart College, Wellington, and was to have commenced her duties on Monday. She was to have made the trip with her mother, but their farewells at Blenheim occupied so much time that they missed the only train which could connect with the Penguin, an incident, which Miss O'Sullivan regarded as extremely unfortunate until the dreadful news of the wreck was telegraphed over the Straits the following morniner. PREMIER'S CONDOLENCES. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) sent the following message to the manager of the Union Steam-

shiD Company at Wellington upon hearing the sad r.ews:—"l deeply regret to hear of the disaster to the Penguin, and the more so on account of the sad loss of life that has attended it." Later the Prime Minister wired from Rotorua: —"As intimated to you by Er. Findaly, if there is an ything the Government can do to help in connection the sad disaster, it will be most readily done." Mr W. A. Kennedy stated in his reply to Sir Joseph Ward that the Postal Department was doing all in its powei - . He expressed his thanks for the Premier's generous offer. THE ONLYJWOMAN SURVIVOR. LOSES HER HUSBAND AND FOUR CHILDREN. HEART-RENDING STORY. WELLINGTON, February 14. The only woman survivor of the Penguin wreck was Mrs Joe Hannan, and particularly heartrending is her story. Her tour children were all drowned before her eyes. She told a most pathetic story to a "Times" reporter, who interviewed her at Mr McMenamin's station. She said: "My huband was working on the railway down south, and he lately contracted consumption, so we booked our passages by the Penguin, taking our four children with us, our intention being to go to Rotorua to aee if it would do my husband any good. "At about 10 o'clock^on FiiJay night we heard a bump, and a little later the stewardess came down and told us to get ready, as the boat was sinking. We all rushed on deck, and I was told to get into one of the boats which was being got ready. I refused to leave my husband and children, but they forced me to get into the boat, separating me from Mr Hannam, although my children were with me. The boat was filled with passengsrs and one sailor was also ordered in. THE TACKLE FALLS GIVES WAY.

"Just as they went to lower the boat the tackle falls gave way, and the craft went down head first into the ocean, all my children being drowned except my youngest baby, two years old, which I had lashed to one of the seats. Nobody seemed to have time to rescue the children, but I suppose that could not be helped. There we.e six women in the boat, and I think somewhere near the same number of men. We get safely away from the ship. The saloon stewardess (Mrs Jacobs) helped us before we got into the boat. My word she was a , brave woman. She did everything, got bla. kets and wrapped us up and was calm and collected, and didn't flurry us in the least." "OH MUMMA HELP US!" "When the tackle falls gave way I heard.one of my children call, "Oh, mumma! mumma! help us," but God knows we were powerless to do anything. My husband was on the deck, and I said to him when we parted, "Cheer up old man." He replied, "Good-bye," and I have not teen him tsi.:ce. "We drifted about, and during the night we saw one of the rafts quite close to us. We coo-eed and tried to- get up to it, but cpuld ;iot. We must have been some hours in the boat. We could see the rocks ahead of us, and we tried to keep off them. The sailor who was in charge doing his best. AVOIDING THE KEEFS. "We drifted about—it seemed for hours. Everybody was straining at the oars and trying to avoid the reefs. My poor little baby was then still alive, and I realised that it was all I had in the world. The boat was filling with water—leaking badly and those not rowing kept bailing out the water for their dear lives, but we could not check the inflow, and we realised that it was only a matter of time when the boat would be right awash."

UPSET IN THE . SURF. "We knew by the roaring of the breakers that we were close on the surf, and, pull as we could, we were unable to keep the boat with her head to the sea. Suddenly, I don't know how it happened, an enormous wave struck us side on and the boat capsized. Everybody was instantly thrown into the sea, but I managed to grasp a rope, and God alone knows how I hung on. A young boy, Ellis Matthews, was floating near me, and I got the rope to him and helped him to make himself secure athwart of the capsized boat. We were right underneath the boat, but the air must have forced the water out, and while the bottom of the boat stood out of the water we clung on with our heads towards the floor of the boat, and we were thus enabled to breathe. We were really imprisoned between the keel of the boat and the seats; the boat still I floating all the time upside down. It seemed that we floated about for hours until finally we were washed up on to the beach." PINNED UNDER THE BOAT. "We were, you must remember, still under the boat in its capsized condition, pinned in under the thwarts of course. The water was very shallow, but the spent waves coni tinued to Jap right up to our bodies. [We had no way of getting out. My poor little baby had in the meantime

By Telegraph—Press Associati. n NELSON, February 14.

AN EXTRAORDINARY CURRENT.

NELSON, February 13.

died from the shock and exposure. I think the life belt must have choked her. While losing my all, I had saved the life of a strange boy (Matthews). The terrible experience had told on him, and he lay by my side unconscious. I made up my mind to get out from under the boat, and I started to scratch away the shingly beach to make a hole to creep outcf. Then I heard the voices of the station shepherds, who lifted up the boat and got us out, and we were taken to the homestead. The names of the children I lost were: Kosald Edward, aged 10 years; George Alexander, aged 5 years, Amelia, aged 3 years; Ruby May, aged 2 years."

THE PURSER'S STORY. A TERRIBLE TIME. WELLINGTON, February 14. Mr A. K. Thompson, Purser of the Penguin, has now been twice wrecked in the last eighteen months. He was in the ill-fated Kawatiri, lost last year on the Tasmanian coast, when six persons were drowned. He says there were sixty passengers and forty of a crew on the Penguin when she left Picton on Friday evening. "It se^ms. to me," he said, "that only 27 have got ashore alive, leaving 73 as the number who have gone. I was only partly dressed when the ship struck. Seas were washing aboard forward as the Penguin began to go down by the head, and all the passengers were sent aft. The sailors and male passengers assisted in getting out the boats. As we got these out and let the rafts adrift the shin went down. 'lts all up now, swim for it,' called the chiefofficer, and it was like diving into space, such a terrible drop we had. Eleven of us got on a raft, and we had a terrible time. Three times the raft turned turtle, but each time we all got back again. At last we got into the breakers and jumped for it, and all got safely ashore. Three times I had undergone the sensation of drowning. The last I saw of the poor chief engineer was when he was untying a gangway. 'lt might come in useful to someone to cling to,' he said. Even when ashore the survivors had an awful time, finding it almost impossible, in their exhausted state, to climb the almost perpendicular cliffs. Finally the men reached McMenamen's station and were treated most hospitably."

The following passengers from Nelson by the Penguin proceeded no further than Picton:— Mr and Mrs Rutherford, Mr and ivi s Cunningham, Mrs Jennings, Mr and Mrs Jacka. Several others, whose names do not appear on the passenger list, are reported to have bean on the steamer, and enquiries are being made in regard to these.

By Telegraph Press Assoiciation

Captain Stewart, of the Pateena, interviewed by a "Mail" reporter this morning, said he left Wellington at six o'clock last evening for Nelson direct. The weather was thick, with a moderate Southerly gale. The land was at times wholly obscured. He did not see the Penguin. Captain Stewart had expected a moderate ebb tide, but had not experienced it. He was not disposed to be communicative about the tides, but enough was gathered from him to show that the condition was very unusual.

Captain Carey, of the steamer Blenheim, states that his vessel and the Opawa were carried many miles northward last night by an extraordinary current. The Blenheim was forced into Picton.