THE PERICLES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10009, 4 April 1910, Page 5

THE PERICLES.

HOW THE PASSENGERS WERE LANDED, A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Capyright. Received April 2, 9 a.m. PERTH, April 2. The steamer Monaro arrived at Cape Leeuwin yesterday, and embarked the Pericles' castaways, totalling 509. One of the passengers gave an interesting account ot the disaster. He savs: — "The crew was busy getting the derricks for use at Frernantle, when a sudden shock was feit, as if •a big sea had struck the steamer. The wentber was fine and cloudless, and the sea calm. The steamer trembled from end to end, and then heeled over to starboard, but kept on going T!'<? steam was eseani'g with a roar from somewhere , below the waterline. There was no sL:n of a shoal any« here. "The captain at once took steps to find the extent of the damage. The order to man the deck-boat was given, and when we reached the upper deck the men were getting out the boats. There was no panic, no foolish terror; everybody appeared anxious to help everybody else. When the blind Dr Elmslie and his \alet were making for the first boat every hand was stretched out to help them. J wanted my wife to go without me on the first boat but she declined, unless 1 went. So it was No. 2 that we finally got into, with upwards of forty others. ""here was terrible excitement m the boat, naturally, and the sea, which looked so smooth from the deck of the Pericles, was rough and high for a small boat. When we goS fairly away we found the ship lying head to the wind, the bows being submerged to the level of the sea and the stern sticking up so that the propellers were clear of the water. "In half an hour every soul was clear of'the ship, and she was gradually sinking. The forehold was evidently full of water, and only her watertight partitions were keeping her afloat. When we had received instructions from the chief officer'.*! boat to pull for the lighthouse, six . miles distant, all started, and the way everybody behaved was a credit to the race. "A sweet woman started singing 'Pull for the Shore, Sailors.' A big wave struck the boat and her voice died In her throat, but she was on at it again. All joined in the cfiorus, and acted as if on a picnic. Then the woman sang 'Onward, Christian Soldiers,' 'The Midshipmite,' and all sorts of songs with choruses to them. "The captain saw us fairly started tor the shore, then he went back to see the last of his grand ship. We left her about 4 o'clock, and about 5.30 the floating palace listed to starboard and sank slowly out of sight. She made no fuss about the last plunge. She had been knocked out hopelessly, and went out quietly and doggedly, with colours flying.

"As we drew towards the shore we wondered where un that wild, .surf beaten coast we were going to land, but the lighthouse keeper was watchins?, and he kindlsd a blazing fire opposite where we were to land. As we rowed we saw awful granite rocks on our right hand, where the tpray rose high in the air. Our coxswain kept clear of them, and make straight for the smoke. A couple of boats had arrived before us. "Ere we reached the beach those half-naked sailors, stewards, cooks, firemen, and stokers were into the waves to clutch our boat and fiaul her up, and they handled the women and children in a way that made my heart thrill with pride. They carried all asho.re drysnod, and as boat after boat came in they did the same thing till thirteen boats had landed about 450 people on the desolate beach. "The captan's boat was late in coming in, as they waited to see the last of the ship, but when she came it was wonderful to think that so many people should have been landed from a sinking ship on a surfbeaten shore without a single accident. Not only was there no loss of life, but not a single accident of any kind. "The four houses at Cape Leeuwin were hospitably piaced at the disposal of the shipwrecked prople, who landed without money, change of raiment, or anything but what they stood in, but were grateful to be ashore alive. "If the steamer had struck; an unchartered rock on either of the' previous' nights there would have been a disaster to send a thrill through the world, but all happened on a glorious afternoon, and the heroism and courage of the people were beyond all praise."

CAPTAIN SIMPSON'S STATEMENT. PERTH, April 2. Captain timpson, commander of the ill-fated steamer, stated that the Pericles was following the course he bad travelled on many previous occasions. The vessel's'speed at; t< e time of tie disaster was fourteen knots and her position seven or eight n.iles south of Cape Leeuwin.

With the second officer, he was on I the bridge, and was suddenly startled by hearing a grating noise. Th>3 lasted only a few seconds, and was immediately followed by the vessel swinging from side to side, and she then began to dip cowards the bows. He was soon convinced the vessel was doomed. When the deck became awash he and several officers left the ship, but remained in the vicinity until she sank, three hours after striking. The captain's opinion, which is shared by the second officer, Mr Lege, is that the vessel struck a sunken unchartered rock, which tore the bottom of the forepart out. CASTAWAYS ARRIVE AT FREMANTLtt.

THANKSGIVING SERVICES. Received April 4, 12.25 a.m. FREMANTLE, April 3. The steamer Monaro with the Pericles' castaways arrived yesterday afternoon. A great gathering at the wharf warmly welcomed their arrival. All are cheerful, though some are scantily attired.. Temporary arrangements are being made for their accommodation. The Mayoress of Perth has called a meeting in the Town Hall for tomorrow to arrange for supplying clothing and other necessaries for those requiring assistance. Thanksgiving services were held in the various churches to-day, to whicn the castaways were invited and many attended. It was a picturesque and impressive scene at Flinders' Bay prior to the embarkation for Frernantle. A clergyman drove over from Karridale and conducted a thanksgiving service on the jetty.