Wreck of the Geelong.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2774, 17 March 1879, Page 3

Wreck of the Geelong.

THE ENGINEER'S STATEMENT. Mr Kiukiiam, late engineer of the Geelong, has made the following statement as to the circumstances of the wreck to a reporter of the Star :—

"The Geelong loft Hokianga and crossed the Hokianga bar in the last quarter-ebb tide. There was a nice breeze, and the square sail was set. We did not keep more than 5 to S lbs. of steam, as we knew from the state of the tide that wo should arrive very early. As we got oil' Wliangape Heads, the fireman asked "Are wc not going to fish?" I went into the engine-room, as we were close to the bar, when I received orders through the speaking-tube from the captain "to stand by." Wo crossed over with safety. 'I here was no sea ; but when we got inside, the steamer ran aground. There was not suflicicnt water. i hat was about a quarter past six o'clock^ The captain gave me orders to go astein when lie found that the steamer was aground. 1 put her astern. The wheel would not move, because the floats were catching. She moved at last several times, and I did everything I possibly could to get her astern, but she was hard and fast. The next order was "Drivo her full speed ahead." /Again she did not move. She was only going harder on the bank. I kept steam on as long as I could with safety, but as tho sea was breaking heavily against her, I was afraid of some of the steam pipes giving way and doing injury, and seeing it useless to keep steam on any longer, I blew oil' steam to prevent accident. Tho ve-sel's back was then broken. The stem of tho vessel was parted at the bulk head against the boiler compartment, and was turned crossways, leaving the lioiler standing exposed, aud the whole of the after part detached. There was uearly 2ft. of water in tho ougiim-room. A boat was hanging in the davits on the port .side, and I am surprised that it was not carried away by the sea. After some time tho boat was launched over the steam chest. She filled, but one of the natives jumpod overboard- and got the boat through the surf into deep water, where he bailed her out, and took her jover on the North sido of tno river into smooth water. The captain was still on board, und I sang out " Why don't you send Jimmy for tho whale-boat ?" Tho na'ives and some of the passengers said tho same. Tho captain shortly afterwards came to me aud said " Can you swim ?" I said " No." 1 next saw him jump overboard, and tho people on board cried out to him to go for the whale boat. The passengers appeared afraid to jump overboard. Mrs McMath was the first to undress and jump overboard' and the others followed in _the best way they could. Jimmy came back part of the way to meet the captain, aud they both pulled away iv the boat to smooth water. I saw no more of them afterwards. It was then just getting dark. The only persons now on board were myself and the cook. The dick of the bridge on which we were stauding gave way. Then the iireman jumped overboard with a life buoy. He was followed by the cook with another life buoy. I was then alone. I could not swim. I was alone three quarters of an hour. The next portion of the vessel that went was the part between the boiler and the engine leaving the boiler and funnel standing. In the meantime the bulwarks, and forward part of the vessel, together with all the timber about the paddle box, wheel, and deck house, were washed away. The whole forward part ol the vessel broke otf at the bulk-head, and the wreck floated about in pieces. A wave 12 feet above me completely buried the boiler and funnel. I saw the other side giving way. Tbe timber was flying about me in all directions, aud at last there came one tremendous sea, which carried away the paddle-boxes, and carried me away with them. I must have been in the water for three-quarters of an hour. Sometimes I was above and sometimes under water. The last time I went down I had given up hope. I heard a cooey, and I managed to answer before I went uuder. lam told that I was going down when the men in the boat go 4 hold of me. I recovered consciousness in the middle of the night, and found myself in a hut in front of a large fire. I consider my escape providential.