FROM JAWS OF DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 131, 5 June 1922, Page 8

FROM JAWS OF DEATH.

WILTSHIRE CREW ARRIVE. CASTAWAYS LAND FROM KATOA. LORD JELLICOE FIRST ABOARD. HOUSING WELCOME BY PUBLIC. The manner in which the hardships and deadly peril from which the Wiltshire's crew had been so hardly snatched, liad stirred the sympathies of the people of Auckland, was shown on Saturday afternoon when the word went round that tho Katoa, with all the rescued men, would arrive in port shortly after four o'clock. Long before the vessel cr.me into view round North Head the head of the Central wharf was densely packed with humanity, while the approaches to tho Queen's wharf became quickly thronged as the moment of arrival drew

near. The Quern's wharf itself was closed to the public in order that no undue crowding and display should occur to embarrass the men who had been enduring so f.uch adversity of fortune ana nerve tension during the pnst few days. The officials and those who were on the wharf to offer the city's hospitality to ttfe shipwrecked mariners made, however, a goodly company at the wharfside to welcome" the unfortunate seafarers and their gallant rescuers. Among the more prominent citizens awaiting the relief vessel were the chairman and nieniuers of the Harbour Board, the Mayor and several members of the City Council, the president of the Sailors' Home, chairman of the Hospital Board, president of the Navy League, president of the Seamen's Union (Auckland). Captain Sergeant (Harbourmaster), the Town Clerk and secretary of the Harbour Board. Auckland manager of the Union tsS. Co., and a numerous company; of other prominent citizens. A little while before the Katoa came up the harbour, his Excellency the GovernorGeneral also arrived to add his sympathies to the castaways and congratulations to the rescuers.

BURNING QUESTIONS. A blinding rainsquall temporarily blotted out the approaching steamer shortly after she rounded the heads and sent many of the watchers scuttling for shelter, but they were soon back at their points of vantage, and the long toot-tooting of welcome from several ferry steamers crossing the harbour loosened the emotions of the folks awaiting to greet the steamer and her .lii.mau freight.

The blue and white uniforms of the handy men of the navy were the first to be distinguished among the forms peopling the main deck ot the collier, and then as she draw in and swung round to berth rousing cheers rang out from the mass of watchers on the Central wharf. As the hurraying subsided, a stentorian voice roared from the deck of the Katoa, "What won the Great Northern Hurdles?" this demonstration, of the ruling passion of at least one "hearty" aboard being enough to break the tension and send all hands into a roar of hearty and relieving laughter. Another evidence of the manner In which thoughts float to the tongue In moments of stress occurred as the ship was hauling alongside, when a weatherbeaten, grime streaked shipmate queried anxiously of a .burly policeman on the wharf side, "Say, matey, -what time do the pubs close here?" "Six o'clock prompt," -was the ready answer, "but that'll be all right," added the informant amidst a guffaw of merriment from ship and shore.

Cheers for the rescued, the rescuers, and the settlers of the Barrier were in good voice by the Queen's wharf party and returned as heartily by the ship's company as the Katoa drew up, and just as she was berthing another vojley of rousing cheers were given for the shipwrecked mariners and their rescuers, at the call of the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson.

GREETINGS TO CAPT. HAYWARD.

His Excellency was first up the gangway, and went straight to the bridge, where Captain Hayward was standing. The welcome was a hearty one from one sailor to another. Grasping the captain's hand, Lord Jellicoe first congratulated him upon there not having been any loss of life. Then followed regret at the loss of the vessel and cargo. His Excellency then invited Captain Hayward to be a guest at Government House, adding his regret that he ooiild not offer similar hospitality to the rest of the officers.

Captain Hayward thanked His Excellency, but eaid: "I have only these clothes," to which Lord Jellicoe replied with a smile: "Mine will not fit you, but we have aide-de-camps' of different sizes.

Captain Hay ward eaid it was impossible to go at once ac he had work to do, whereupon Lord Jellicoe eaid: "Rin" up and the car will be sent when you are ready.". The various officers of the Wiltshire and also the captain 6i the Katoa were then presented to his i.xcellencv.

MAYOR'S WELCOME. Mr. J. H. Gunson next shook hands with Captain Hayward and congratulated him upon the -whole of the crew of tne Wiltshire having been safely brought to land. It was a great gratification, his Worship paid, that there had not been any loss of life under such dangerous conditions. Mr. Gunson added: "I welcome you and your officers and crew on behalf of the citizens of Auckland." The Mayor then shook hands with the various officers of the Wiltshire, after -which the chairman of the Harbour Board and the chairman of the Hospital Board were introduced to Captain Hayward.

No time was lost in landing the Wiltshire's crew. Typical modern men of the sea, foc-sle and stokehold, they filed down the gangway between lines of warmly voiced welcome and sympathy with that stoic stolidity of British sailormeu. Worn and tired faces were among them, but tliey were not looking for commiseration. They were taking the bad with the good, and in sundry improvised garb, some with pitiful little bundles of personal salvage, they trooped cheerfully or with assumed nonchalance to the room in the wharf shed, where sundry articles of clothing were handed out to them.

As the men of the Wiltshire came down the gangway they went into the wharf shed where they were lined ii[> l>y tlio bosun and received tlieir wages. They then marched alons to a counter where warm underwear, boote and caps were issued by the Superintendent of ■Marine, Captain Attwood. Each man also received two founds in money.

TWO CASES FOR THE HOSPITAL. After the Wiltshire's crew had left the Katoa, the ambulance drew up alongside the gangway to receive two cases for admittance to the hospital. J. Kehoe, an A.B. of the Katoa, the man who went out on the rocks and took the line on the shore from the Wiltshire, is suffering with pneumonia, and is in a serioue condition. The other patient is one of the crew of the Wiltshire who is suffering from a sprained ankle. CARESSED BY THE CROWD. As each motor got its complement of shipwrecked mariners, equipped with fresh clothes and two pounds in cash, and made up the wharf, the crowd of people clustered round the railings and spreading far out into Queen Street and Quay Street set up lusty cheering. The gates swung out, and Harbour Board officials and policemen had all they could do to induce the converging mob of men, women and children — even infants in arms —to make an aisle wide enough to let t!ie car crawl through on its way to the Sailors' Home, round the corner.

Cheer after cneer, somewhat irregular in volume, but none the less hearty, greeted eaeli car, and hundreds of hands were thrust under the car's hood to grasp the hands of the wrecked men, who were only too willing to grasp the outstretched "flippers."

Women and girls were almost hysterical in their half-inarticulate welcomes. One mother right in the front row was carrying a very small child in her arms, and as the car drew level with her she thrust the youngster—it could not have been more than IS months old—■ into the car, from which it emerged looking very scared and on the verge of imitating the skies which have been weeping for days. "Oh, my, he's only a boy," shouted In a voice full of tears one excited girl to her friend.

"Kissin' him!" laughed the crowd as a gentleman who had evidently Ibeen celebrating a win at the races climbed dangerously on the footboard and insisted on hugging the storm-tossed mariner in the front seat.

Boys rode on the foot-boards half way to the Home, and the cars passed through a continuous double line of waving handkerchiefs, waving hands, and shouts of welcome. , i

ARRIVAL AT SAILORS' HOME. WARM DINNER FOR THE MEN. At the Sailors' Home the men, as they arrived, were loudly cheered by the thronging crowds in front of the entrance, making eager efforts to catch a glimpse of the survivors as they alighted from the cars and made their way through its midst, pulled and pushed by those who grasped their hands from the front or gave them a parting slap on the back as they passed on with their hoots and extra clothing in their arms. They were soon seated at a warm dinner, which was served out to them as they arrived.

Sympathising inquirers pestered them with questions as they passed up the etepß, and more than a few assured them with a laugh that they were quite all right; and one fellow, who was helped up the steps, jokingly replied that he was "still a bit sticky," adding force to the remark as he almost stumbled at the next step and was righted again by those on either side.

The accommodation was much taxed, but those who could not be accommodated at table in the main dining-room were provided for in another room, where they were regarded with much interest by the crowds assembled in the street at the open windows.

FACING DEATH. NOT SO BAD AS REACTION. "It isn't facing death that is terrible; it is the reaction," remarked one of the steward's staff of the Wiltshire as he stood lined up in the queue of the D.B.S. (distressed British sailors as they are termed in nautical parlance), each with his bundle of clothing, boots, etc., and each waiting to be called in to receive "two lovely quid" (again in salt-water language), which was being paid out in a corner of the big shed on the Quee| Street wharf on Saturday night.

"No," went on the philosophical steward, "it isn't death that is terrible. When you have to face it you take it more or less calmly, odd as that may sound. Of course every face ie eet and white, and some people are so constituted that they collapse altogether. Blame 'em? Not a bit of it. After what we went through I wouldn't blame any man."

"It is not the fact that death is staring you in the face that is hard. It is the waking up to the fact that the sudden call has passed, and that you are possibly saved. Not actually saved, because aifter the first shock was over and we knew that the old ship was not going down there and then, we did not know at what moment we might not get the call again. Those awful hours ot waiting, with people hardly a stones throw away on the shore waiting to save you, but helpless to do so, that unmanned the bravest of us. No, I never want to go through that part of it again. I would ratlier be torpedoed a hundred times, because the shock is sharp and sudden, and there is always a boat to pick you up. One cannot forget those awful hours of waiting before we were hauled up the cliff. Thank God that's oven,"

THE QUESTION OF SALVAGE. MATTER UNDER CONSIDERATION. When people know that the personnel of the chip is safe ashore they naturally go on to wonder what will become of the thousands of pounds worth of valuable cargo with which the Wiltshire was loaded. If anything can 'be saved it is a matter in which the insurance companies are interested, as practically everything shipped is insured. Captain Plunkett, who acts as 'Lloyd's agent, and Captain Hood, who represents the underwriters, look after this matter of salvage, and it is now engaging their attention. Cargo that will float has 'been coming ashore on the seaward side of the Barrier since the Wiltshire broke in two, and there is a gang of men looking after this flotsam in the interests of the insurance companies. The next step will be to see if a vessel can get alongside tln» wreete to take off anything that can be recovered from the holds in the half of the vessel that lies on the rocks. To enable this question to bp decided, soundings will have to be taken, and Captain Plunkett will go down to the Barrier as soon as convenient to carry out this work.

THE CITY'S HOSPITALITY.

CARING FOR THE MEN. ARRANGEMENTS AT SAILORS' HOME. Everything was in excellent order at the Sailors' Home on Saturday for the reception of the men when they arrived by the Katoa. A hot meal was provided, including soup, the gift of Lady Jellicoe. The men were very tired, and were then shown to the lomfortablc beds which had .been arranged in the Mission Hall alongside the home. Several of the crew of the Wiltshire were suffering from bruised feet and minor injuries as the result of their trying tramp across the hills from Rosalie Bay to Tryphena, and they were attended to by Dr. Richards, who kindly offered his services at any time if the men required attention. Each of the crew was given a little stimulant before retiring, and were very thankful for the kindness that was extended to them. On Sunday they were tihe guests of the Governor-Genern] and Lady Jclliooe at Government House, and were delighted at the hospitality extended to them. Last evening, :i concert arranged by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Davis, was also thoroughly enjoyed. To-day a large number of the crew went to the races at fiilerslie, an invitation having boon extended to them by Sir Edwin Mitchclson, president of the club.

A conveyance was provided by the clab to take them to Ellerslie and bring them back to town.

On Sunday the Salvation Army supplied a programme of sacred music and took up a collection for the men, which amounted to £7. An impromptu collection made among the public who awaited the arrival of the men outside the Sailors' Home on Saturday amounted to fi n/io.

Great commendation is cue to the manager of the home, Mr. E. Twohill, and Mrs. Twohill, for the excellent arrangements made for the reception of the men; also 'to Mr. T. E. Whitton, the secretary, who left no stone unturned to make the men comfortable. A number of gifts for the men were made by citizens.

A conference called by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, is to be held this afternoon, at which Captain Attwood, Auckland representative of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Relief Society, and the manager of tflic Union Steamship Company, Mr. Carter, will attend. The conference will consider the financial position of the crew of the Wiltshire and what more if necessary is required to be done by the public for the comfort of the men. |^

The Tepid Baths have been tihrown open to tlie ship's company of the Wiltshire, while this morning a. special tram cur was provided to take the members of the crew to witness the races at Ellerslie, nnd to bring them back to town this evening.

AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

A SAILOR'S "AT HOME." The officers and men of the Wiltshire were entertained at Government House yesterday afternoon by the GovernorGeneral and Lady Jellicoe, whose aptitude for meeting all classes of on a common ground that is mutually pleasant was never more thoroughly illustrated. Tile guests, many of them in makeshift habiliments, were soon quite at ease in the Government House groivnds, as they realised the sincerity of the Governor's interest in them, and incidents of the wreck were re-told from majiy individual angles for the benefit of his Excellency. Appreciation of the practical sympathy and interest of Lord and Lady Jellicoe was expressed in words and in cheers before the party returned to their quarters at the Sailors' Home.

MESSAGE FROM DIRECTORS,

Mr. J. H. C. Bond, Dominion superintendent of Zealand Shipping Company, Tjtd.fTi-dvisps having receiver! the following cable from the chairman nnd directors of the Federal Steiwn Navigation Company, London:—i"Your cable giving information that the -whole of the crew have been landed has been received with the utmost relief br tlie chairman and directors, who wish to convey to all those who have assisted in tlie work of rescue their great indebtedness and tHianks. , '

WILTSHIRE MEN'S GRATITUDE

EXPRESSED TO THE KATOA. People on the waterfront might have heard an orgy of cheering just after midnight. This Tvas the crew of the Wiltshire who had assembled on the Qujen'e wharf to farewell the Katoa. Tt will be remembered that when the Katoa got the "5.055." from the Wiltshire she was bound from Auckland to Whangarei to load cement for the South leland. After landing the crew of the Wiltshire on Saturday night the Ivatoa remained at the wharf until midnight Sunday, and then resumed her interrupted journey. Nothing could have been more genuine than the gratitude of the rescued men as expressed at this midnight send-off.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE.

GATHERING AT TOWN HALL To-morrow the citizens' luncheon hour intercessory service will take the form of a special thanksgiving for the rescue of the crew of the Wiltshire from the wreck. Tlie service, which will lie held in the Town Hall itself, will he from 12.30 to 1.30, and will be presided over by the Mayor, while Bishop Averill will take the first prayer. An invitation has been extended to the officers and crew of the Wiltshire to he present, and the citizens of Auckland are cordially invited to participate in the • service of thanksgiving.