WRECK OF THE RANGITOTO.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1098, 15 August 1873, Page 3

WRECK OF THE RANGITOTO.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

The shock was so great as to rip open a portion of the vessel's side and it was decided at once to beach the vessel. This was done as near as possible to where she struck, at the foot of a cliff several hundred feet high, in fifteen minutes the water had put out the fires in the engine room ; and at this time Mr Nancarrow and his boat's crew had left the vessel to seek assistance. A gun was fired from the wreck, and by the lurid light of the blue fire those on the Wellington could see the Rangitoto literally jammed against the beetling cliff inside of the point where she struck, from this time until daylight every effort was made by the officers and men of both vessels to save all that could be saved—the English mails, passengers, luggage, aud such cargo as could be got at. At daylight the Wellington steamed back to the point where the boats had landed their living freight, and picked up about sixty personsi principally women and children. On nearing Marchioness Cove, the scene was a curious one. The passengers were all massed together as the steamer came inshore, aud standing right out in the foreground, as if to be nearest the rescue, was a lady with a child in her arms. All were got speedily on board, and the Wellington again steamed back for the wreck. All care and attention was paid to the wants of the passengers, the whole of the cabin passengers by the Wellington giving up their bei'ths for the use of the ladies and children. On reaching the wreck the scene had changed ; the sea was gradually lapping over the Rangitoto's deck, but it was thought that it would be better to leave a boat's crew with her. The chief officer and seven men were sent off to the wreck; they got on the deck of the Rangitoto, and the Wellington was about to steam away Nvhen signals of distress were seen from the men on the wreck ; the hull of the Rangitoto was seeu to settle down ; the crew leaped into the boat, the mate having to swim for it; and in a few seconds a few feet only of the bow of this fine vessel alone remained above water. At this moment the decks seem to have burst, and tanks, kerosene cases, and a multitude of articles were floating about.

The Ladybird, on returning from the scene of the wreck," brought word that the steamer was fast breaking up, and that the first north-easter will, it is feared, demolish her. The kerosene tins on board have been stove by the sea, and the oil was floating on the surface for a considerable space, emitting a most powerful odour. The inquiry into the wreck of the Rangitoto was coucluded on the Ist instant, when the Court, after considerable consideration, gave its decision to the effect that, in its opinion the master should have taken the vessel past Jackson's Head and all outlying danger; but as he had an officer who held a certificate of competency as master, and he had on previous occasions taken the vessel through the passage, the Court, while taking all things into consideration, held that the master should be censured. The immediate cause of the wreck appeared to have been an error of judgment on the part of the chief officer with regard to the distance between Jackson's Head and the reef; but as he had frequently taken the same passage, the Court was of opinion that on that occasion he did not exercise such vigilance as was necessary in intricate navigation. In his case, also, the Court judged that he should be censured and admonished for the future. The Court was further of opinion that had the slidiug door of the water compartment been shut at the time of the casualty, the vessel might possibly have floated some considerable time longer.