PITIFUL SCENES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9563, 9 August 1909, Page 5

PITIFUL SCENES.

I WRECK OE THE MAORI, A TERRIBLE DISASTER. HEAVY DEATH ROLL. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received August 8, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, August 7. Several fishermen yesterday morning detected twelve men clinging to the Maori's mast tops. They established communication with the men, and despite the enormous waves breaking over the wreck they saved two, the others being drowned while coming ashore. Rocket communication was established by evening, and food and brandy sent to the wreck. There is_a fair prospect of rescuing the other eight.

i> The fishermen displayed great heroism, in rescuing the sailors. The Maori is in deep water, and her back is broken.

The "Daily Mail" correspondent wires later that the MaiVi was wrecked thirty yards from the rockbound coast in an inaccessible position. When the boats ieft the ship twelve men were still asleep below, and were unaware of the disaster* They threw a line ashore, and Engineer Middleton and Fireman O'Brien crawled to land with difficulty, and two were drowned in attempting to get ashora. The remainder took refuge in the rigging for 48hours, and were frequently drenched by the heavy seas. By means of a rocket apparatus a rape was thown on Saturday morning and eight men were dragged ashore through a tremend ous sea.

The boatswain, George Stewart, a native of Lyttelton, states that he cut free two boats when they had been filled, and he thought he himself was the last to leave with the third bdat. not knowing the others were below. His boat was pulled desperately for the shore, and occasionally sighting* the other two boats At dawn they saw the jagged coast and steered for a patch of sand. The boat, however, struck a rock and was overturned. He started to swim ashore, and lescued Stillwell and Milton. The latter weighed 18 stone.

Tweny-one out of 53 have been saved.

There were pitiful scenes at Shaw Savill's office in Leadenhall street, mothers and wives awaiting news, the crew being mostly Londoners. Received August 9. 12.30 a.m. LONDON, August 8.

Amongst those saved on the Maori were the following: -- Engineers Brewer, Maywood, Bowler, Thomson, storekeeper Barr, seaman Evans, fireman Hutchings, a cook named Hatch, a ship's boy named Clarke, and another named Mills.