THE MISSIS & STEAMER OHAU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 28

THE MISSIS & STEAMER OHAU.

ALL HOPE ABANDONED.

CIRCULAR BY UNION STEAM SHIP COMPANY. FLAGS TO BE HALF-MASTED ON SUNDAY. The following is a copy of the circular issuei hy Mr James Mills, managing director' of th Union Steam Ship Company, to all brand managers respecting the disappearance of thy steamer Ohau: — I regret very much to advise you that there is every reason to lear that the b.s. Ohau foundered in the severe gale experienced in Cook Strait on Saturday, 13th inst. The Ohau was coal laden from Greymoulh to Dunedin, End was passed by the Rosamond close by The Brothers' lighthouse shortly before 1 o'clock Dn Saturday afternoon. She was seen by the lighthouse-keeper at Capo Campbell at 3 o'clock, and was then about 10 miles north. She was kept in sight until dark, struggling against a furious south-west gale and heavy iea. Her masthead light was sighted at 5.2() p.m., but aftei that nothing was seen of her. although a look-out was kept for her off and on until 10 o'clock. The gale was an unusually heavy one, and eeveral of our steamers were forced to seek shelter,, delaying their arrival at their destinations from two to four days. Until within a few days ago it was confidently hoped the Ohau would turn up also, but when after the weather moderated there was no sign of her, it was feared something serious had happened.

The Brunner was despatched from Wellington to search the coast line, but after a thor- \ ough examination no signs of the ship or of [ wreckage were discovered. We are forced, therefore, to conclude that she foundered, with all hands, during the night of the 13th inst. We find it difficult to account for the loss of the Ohau, as 9he was a strongly-built vessel and well found in every particular. She was built by Messrs Denny Bros, to a special specification, and recently underwent a thorough overhaul, being fitted with new decks, etcNo doubt there will be many anxious inqniriea made to you regarding thoae on board. I therefore enclose list of her officei-s and ■ crew. She carried no passengers. ' Tile loss of the Ohau is very distressing to us, and as many of her officers' and crew belonged to Dunedin, we are brought very closely in touch with the widespread sorrow entailed by her loss. The relatives and friends of those missing have the heartfelt sympathy of the directors and staff in their present bereavement. — Yours, etc., (Signed) Jvmks Mills, Managing Director. I Crew list of s.s. Ohau, as per articles: — Richard Brewer, master, married. Murdoch MaePherson, chief officer, married. Robert Hogg Warrender, second officer, single. J. F. Heddell, lamps and A.8., single. A. Taylor, A.8., single. J. Martin, A.8., single. [ TV. Carey, A.8., single. J. Angus, A.8., single. A. Weibe, A.8., single. W. J. Nidioils, deck boy, single. Kcbert Burns, chief engineer, married*

John Young, second engineer, ■married. D. Grant Stevenson, third engineer, single. J. W. Cliarnock, donkeyman, married. J. Underwood, fireman, single. W. Denny, fireman, single. J. Ferguson, fireman, single. R. Wilson, fireman, single. Joseph Fielder, chief steward, widower. A. Pender. second steward, single. A. Schofield, cook, single.

A. G. Mathieson, purser, single.

The officers were insured for the following amounts: — Richard Brewer, master, £750: Murdoch MacPherson, chief officer, £500; Rcbert Hogg Warrender, second officer, £200; Robert Burns, chief engineer, £500; John 'Young, second engineer, £400 ; D. Grant Stevenson, third engineer, £500; ' A. G. Mathieson, purser. £200. The fact of all the officers being insured Shows the wisdom of ±ho company's regulation which requires all their officers to insure their lives for sums varying according to their rank, and the company contributes a portion of the premium. The scale is as follows: — Captains £500, chief engineers £400, chief officers £300. sec6nd engineers £200. second officers £200, pursers £200, all junior officers £100. The company has also a liberal provision for which, if any officer desires it, he may insure for 50 per cent, more than the amount his rank calls for. It will be seen that several of the Ohau's officers took advantage of this. The managing director has instructed that all the company's vessels shall carry their flags half-mast high on. Sunday next as a token of respect to the memory of the officers and crew of the Ohau. This will be done at all portß.

WELLINGTON, May 23.

The Post says that just before the Ohau left Greymouth — in fact, theiirst and second whistles of the Ohau had been sounded — Captain Brewer, Captain Worrall (of the Wainui), and Captain Connor (harbourmaster at Greymouth) were conversing on the upper deck of the Wainui, and Captain Brewer emphatically expressed his determination to steer a southerly course to Dunedin, " for," said he, "I will escape the southerly blow in the other quarter." Captains Worrall and Connor bade good-bye to Captain Brewer, under the impression that the latter would go south about to Dunedin, and at the same time remarked that he (Captain Brewer) would have fine weather for his passage, for the- weather there was very calm. Evidently Captain Brewer altered his mind before leaving Greymouth wharf, and took a northerly course. The southerly course from Greymouth to Dunedin shortens the distance between the two ports by some 50 miles, but a drawback to this is the possibility of meeting much rougher weather than would be likely if the northerly course were taken. Moreover, the southerly route is a somewhat lonely one, and unless under exceptional circumstances navigators much prefer the other course. On this occasion Captain Brewer was so positive in his determination to take a southerly course that the reason for the sudden change in his plans is a- mystery. The officers of the Rosamond report that they saw the Ohau about 1 p.m. on Saturday, an hour or sc before she was sighted from Cape Campbell.

The secretary of the general post office states ihat the Ohau had a small mail on board from the West Coast for Dunedin, consisting of 119 letters and 51 other articles.

May 26.

The officers of the Westralia report that at 1.30 this morning, when on the voyage from Lyttelton to Wellington, she passed quite close to a black painted boat bottom upwards. The description they give of the boat tallies with those on tne Ohau, and bears out the conviction that the steamer went to the bottom with all hands.

The agent of the Union Company at Greymouth mentions in his advice regarding the Ohau that she left Greymouth in splendid trim, 2in light, and that the deck cargo was a very small and compact one. Captain Brewer's last remark was that it would help to keep tliem dry.

May 28. I A quantity of wreckage has been washed ' ashore near "Flat Point, on the East Coast. ! It is believed to be from the Ohau. A ! further search is Being made, with a view to identifying it with the misfing steamer.

GREYMOUTH, May 28. The flags in town were flying half-mast high #>-day out of respect for the crew of the Ohau.

With respect to the telegram that the Brunner, while about nine miles from Wellington Heads, "saw some white pin© timber, but on wiring to Greymouth it, was found this did not answer to the description of the Ohau's deck cargo," Mr R. Chisholm informs us thai his firm (Scoullar and Chisholm) are in receipt of an invoice from Groymouth which shows that, in addition to a large quantity of red pine shipped to them by the Ohau from Greymouth, there were 1500 I f. of half-inch white pine. The invoice »vjis dated May 12, which was subsequent to the departure of the missing steamer. The fiags on all the shipping in the harbour, the Harbour Board and shipping offices, and a number of private residences throughout the city were flown at half-mast on Sunray as a mark of sorrow and respect for the officers and crew of the s.a. Ohau, supposed to have foundered in the recent storm. The number of fiags flying throughout the city on Sunday showed how widespread is the sympathy for the bereaved, and respect for the lost ones. A similar mark of respect was paid at Port Chalmers.

The service on Sunday morning at the Port Chalmers Presbyterian Church wa3 conducted by the Rev. B. G. Tpnuent, who made special refeiecce to the foundering of the s.s. Ohau. At the close of the service the organist played the "Dead March"' in " Saul," and the congregation remained standing.

In the Tabernacle, Great King street, on Sunday, feeling reference waa made by Sir Watt to the missing steamer. He said : " This day the flags in the U.S.S. Co. are flying half-mast, the usual token or sign of mourning. And r.o doubt the fears expressed through tli3 papers by the general manager are now shared in by all. The possibility of the steamer Ohau putting in an appearance now is very remote., and we can only extend to the bereaved whese loved ones are, in ali likelihood, swallowed up by the merciless deep our warm sympathy. May they look lo the One Who can alone sustain in such a trying ordeal. May He Who has promised to be the widow's stay and the orphan's shield poin\ into the troubled spirit the healing balm of His Own consolation and comfort."

Prayer was offered on behalf of the sorrowing ones.

At the Moray place Congregational Churcn on Sunday, in place of tho second hymn, the Rev. "W Saunders commented on the sad disaster to the s.a. Ohau, and asked the congregation to stand while the organist (Mr D. Oooke) played the " Dead March " in " Saul " as a mark of reepect for the crew who have met such an untimely death. At the morning tervice in the North-East Valley Baptist Church on Sunday, the "Dead March " in " Saul " was played, and at the evening service Beethoven's "Funeral March,'' in memory of the officers and crew of the Ohau.