THE LATEST.

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

THE LATEST.

TOTAL DEAD NUMBER SEVENTY. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLLINGTON. Last Night. The latest accounts place the total dead at seventy, and the living at thirty. HOW MASTERTON KECEIVED THE NEWS. THE COMMUNITY SHOCKED. ANXIETY ABOUT LOCAL DENTSUNFOUNDED FEARS. TWO VICTIMS WLLL-KNOWN LOCALLY. MR AND MkS C. HALE. MRS HALE HAS A SISTER IN MASTERTON. A MOURNFUL WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. THIRD OFFICER HAS A COUSIN IN MASTERTON.

The news was received in Masterton with feelings of the profoundest sorrow, t7e whole community being shocked beyond measure to learn of a disaster which must bereave many families known to local people, "and possibly mean the loss of absent residents themselves There were perpetual inquiries mafe at the Age office

throughout the day and last evening las to what further particulars were available. It was rumoured early on Saturday that Mr Neil McLaren, of Bush Gully, and Mr McKenzie, of Miki Miki, were to have returned by the Penguin on the ill-fated voyage, and for a considerable time after the rumour gained currency great anxiety was felt as to whether such was the case "r not. Fortunately there was found to be no occasion for Concern, as news came through that both these well-known residents had returned by an earlier steamer. Than another rumour was in circulation that a well-known local tradesman was probably a passenger on the vessel, but this statement was quite foundationless. However, there were two psrsons who were numbered among thevictims —Mr and Mrs C. Hale —who wtre well-knjwn in Masterton, particularly Mr Hale, who as a commercial traveller (he represented Messrs Mackay, Steen and Caldwell) cams into contact with a great many business people. Mrs Hale was a sister of Mrs H. Harris, of Essex street, Masterton, and having accompanied her husband to Masterton on many of his visits, during which she resided with her Bister, she, too, became acquainted with a large number of local people, particularly in social circles. Naturally the news came as a very severe shock to Mrs Harris and family generally, and Mr Harrisleft late train on Saturday evening for Wellington to identify the]Jbodies. Mr Hale was very popular indeed in business circles. He was of a particularly genial disposition, which with a handsome presence made him a welcome visitor on his rounds among the business firms. Mrs Hale, like her husband, w<is a bright, buoyant-spirited lady, and a favourite with all her friends. The saddest feature attaching to their sudden call from life is that tomorrow is the anniversary of their wedding-day. T As it is probable that the bodies recovered from the wreck, will be buried to-morrow, the date had a sad significance for Mr and Mrs Hale.

Mrs Harris and the family have received many expressions oi sympathy in their sad loss.

Another Masterton resident/ has lost a close relative. The third officer of the vessel, Albert Loosemore, has a cousin residing in Lincoln. road —Mr A. Eastman—who is in the employ of Mr T. B. Michell. -Mr Eastman informed an Age re- " porter that bis cousin had only been , out from Home about four months, ' and was married just prior to Leaving. He was a native of Lewisham, - liOndon. Mr Eastman goes to Wellington by the early t train this morning. MR HARRIS VISITS THE SCENE. A PITIFUL SIGHT. Word was received last evening from Mr Harris that he had visited the locality of the wreck, and identified and claimed the bodies of his sis-ter-in-law and her husband. Mr Harris stated .that the scene was a heartrending one, and likely to live vividly in his memory for a "long time. The most pathetic part of all was the sight of the relatives and friends passing down the lines of corpses laid out for identification. Mr Harris found no difficulty in recognising Mr and Mrs Hale. M;s Hale was, he said, fully dressed, and looked as though she was quite prepared to go ashore. She was not disfigured in any way, and nad apparently not suffered any rough handling from the waves and the rocks. Mr Hale, on the other hand, was badly cut about, and appeared to have undergone a severe buffeting;. Mr Harris said that the total number of bodies recuvered up to the time of his message (which came by telephone) was seventy-four. A message received in Masterton late last right stated that the Government have made arrangements for a squad of Permanent Artilleryment to bring the bodies in from the scene of the wreck, and these will be on' view for the purposes of identificaton in the old Drill Shed, Wellington at 2 o'clock, this afternoon.