The WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1899.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 46, 8 April 1899, Page 3

The WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1899.

The Stella disaster, of which we give all the available particulars in another column, recalls forcibly the wreck of the Wairarapa on the Great Barrier Island a few years ago, a shipful of trustful passengers being carried through a fog at full spaed on to the rocks and sudden destruction. It was mjre than suspscfced that tb.3 captain of the New Zealand vessel was miking an sffjrtto rmke a " record " pxssag3, and tha latest now 3 in relation to tin Stella is tint survivors nirrafce the captain's recklessness. He exclaim 3d that In inteud^d to arrive at his destination by live o'clock, if he broke hia neck in the attempt. It seem 3 strange that men to whom human lives are constantly entrusted shonld become so heedless of con* sequences as to act in such a manner. As m the case of the Wairarapa, so in the case of the Stella the splendid courage in facing danger aud death, and the magnificent heroism of both men and women,

far from -uncommon in the annals of Briton's sons and daa^hters, was once more displayed. There was no panic, bub a grand display of self-do-iial. The strong gave way to and assisted the weak. The courage displayed was not the indifference of the stoic, but that of men. and woman loving life, yet calmly facing the last dread foe of the race. \Yt ie.i.l ut a stewardess giving away lifebelt j and going down with the ship, of a professional singer seeking to strengthen and calm her fellows by singing " 0 rest in the Lord," and of a minister who prayed with the people while the ship sank. The conduct of crew and passengers at the wrecks of the London, the. Birkenhead, the Wairarapa and now the Stella make one proud to belong to the nation which, more than any other in modern times, furnished such examples of courage ii the face of peril and death.