THE HIMITANGI

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10577, 7 March 1912, Page 5

THE HIMITANGI

STRANDED AT THE CHATHAMS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. - Anxiety in Wellington regarding the overdue steamer Himiitangi was ended this afternoon, •when the Marine Department received a message from Cape Palliser, stating that the ste-amer Gertie had reported that the Himitangi was stranded at the Chathams, and that the crew were standing by her. The Gertie, one of the three vessels sent in search of the Himitangi, arrived a few hours later, and confirmed -fcho message. She also landed four of the Himdtangii's passengers. The Gertie reached Waitangi last Saturday, and from the roadistead could see the Himitangi stranded on the East side of Petre Bay. , /Captain Rodgers, who went with the Gertie as mate, said he had ascertained that the Himitangi went, shore on ft<he : morning of Sunday, February ll*h, and that'silie had ar-' lived at Waitangi at two o'clock that moirnirig and anchored in the Jroad•stead. . .Three, hours latei* she "was found to he on the beach, having di'agged her anchor.- She was standing upright and broadside on, on the level sandy heach. Efforts to get her off flailed, but with, the aid of gear and ■suitable weather it is considered probable that she will be got off. The residents of the island are treating the captain and the crew well, and meanwhilo the vessel is in no danger, being in a soft easy bed with the anchors out. Early in the afternoon of the day i the vessel was stranded, the ship's cook, J. Merritt died suddenly, from natural causes. He was buried in the cemetery close to the scene of the. stranding, and also the body of Capt. Hood, a very old resident of the island, who had died a day or two before. Between the time of the stranding of the vessel and tbe departure of the Gertie there were six dri.it}« on the island.