Statements by Two Constables.
Nelson Evening Mail, Rōrahi XXXI, Putanga 179, 30 Hōngongoi 1897, Page 2
Mō tēnei niupepa
Statements by Two Constables.
" The Quietest Wreck on Record." A Woman's Thoughtfitlness. Playing the Piano to Keen un Spirits. Gjsbobve, This Day, 1.40 p.m. Among the passengers on the seoond boat whioh arrived at Gisborne were Constables Crawford, of the local police force, and O'Brien, who was on his way to Hastings, whither he had been transferred from CoromandeL Interviewed' jointly, they stated that the vessel strnok at 11 p.m., when both, of them were in bed. " It is the quietest wreck you o-m possibly imagiEe,"*waß the verdict bf both. " not even a woman screamed." •~* r -~ Both of fte wwtrfjieg assisted, wife
the other paffl^^^a^tiig'otifc boats, and they- ware fonnd room ia the . : " ! last one, the captain's boat. ; r .i'A" We got away from tbe vessel as best V i we could," said the constables, "as she' was evidently, starting to settle down and . [ cant over, and abont 15 minutes after we : left the side we looked round and Could see nothing of her. We were cruising **- round until half-pact 1 this morning, and she went down an hoar and a half after ' she struck." "I can't help thinking," said Constable Crawford," "how qniet the whole thing was. It could not have been quieter if " it had been on a wharf. There waa a little difficulty about getting tha firstwoman into the boat, and a man who was a foreigner, and I suppose knew no better, wanted to get in front, and that's a^ r^ io 3 ioow anything about the hrst officer's boat getting ashore,*' added the constables, " it was so dark you could not Bee your band before your face. By the bye, to show you how quiet it was, I may tell you that in the midst of it all one of the passengers sat down at the piano and played a lively tune just to keep the women's spirits np. I can assure you it was highly appreciated. ,
