WRECK of the UNION CO.'S S.S. TARARUA.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume X, Issue 1041, 17 May 1881, Page 5

WRECK of the UNION CO.'S S.S. TARARUA.

GREAT LOSS OF LIFE. FUR THER PA R TIOU LA RS. TII RIL LING INC ID EN TS. DUISEDLNT. Saturday fortnight. Further particulars of the wreck of the steamer Tararua arc to hand. The Avreek has caused the greatest excitement in town, and over 8,000 extras Avere issued by tho Otiujo Daihf Timet alone. At present only twenty persons out of about 1 50 on board arc known to by saved, viz., eight men in the second boat, eight Avho avciv seen fco land, ond ono who swain ashore "with the news of tbo Avreek, and three others. Of fche eight saved iv the boat the names of only lour have, been ascertained, namely, James Maher (engineers' storekeeper) ; ■ William Hill, (steerage passenger) ; Mr Maloney, (second officer) ; and James Burnett, (seaman). Tho othor four saved in tbo boat Avoro seamen, 2 of them being Dutchmen, but thoir names and those of the three others arc unknown. Tho boat is aAvay Avith them. The account given by tbe second officer is substantially as folloAvs : — The ship struck about fivo o'clock on Friday morning. The night had been very dark with a thick haze over flic land. Both the ofiicors and captain Avere on tho dock. Captain Garrard thought that ho Avas far enough to the southward fco clear Waipapa point, and gave instructions to alter the course to the west so as to h°ad for the Bluff Avherc tho vessel Avas bound. Ten minutes beforo the vessel struck, tho captain Avont aft to- verify his cour.se by standard compass. Whilo lie was doing so, tho second officer found the vessel iv a dangerous position. The course Avas altered immediately, but too lato, for the vessel struck ou a reef to the southward of Slope point. The ship being on the weather side of tlie reef Avas exposed to a heavy savoll. The second mate Avas sentAvith a boat's ci'cav and one passenger to look for a landing place and a second boat Avas despatched Avith tlie chief officer Avitli the same instructions. One of the crew of tho second mate's boat, .lames Maher, swain to the reef Avith great dilliculty to see if ifc avc re possible to laud the people tliere. Mcamvhilo tho boat in charge of the chief oflioer capsized. Maloney, the second oHieer, says that (ive persons Avei'j seen to land froni her. iio afterwards took his boat biu.k to the A'cssel, and then retiii'Mcd lo iho reef,' bringing three passengers. .Some of the oreAV, Avho Avoro supposed to bo ablo to sAviiu, jumped overbeard, but Avcrc not seen juram. The mate swam to the. boat, and Avas taken on board greatly exhausted; this plucky aotion oc- 1 curred early in tho morning.

THK CHIEF OFFICER'S NARRATIVE. The Chief Officer says— When I left the dock the course was west from 2 to 4. We had been steering west-south-west. The weather was hazy. The Captain came ori deck and altered the course. I was asleep when she struck. I rushed on deck. The engines wore reversed, but it was no use as the propeller was broken. The rudder was carried away. All hands were called to clear the boats. The ship was full of water, by 5.30. When the Second OlKcer's boat had loft, and was about half way to the shore, a young man named Lawrence swam ashore, having promised, if successful, to remain and help to land the passengers. He did so after finding his way to JBrunton's, and causing the first telegram to be sent containing the news of the catastrophe. Another attempt was made to land the passengers, and out of five two were drowned. Another boat was sent Avith the carpenter in charge to see if a landing on the reef was practicable. Uis report was unsatisfactory. The second mate then tried a landing on the reef without success. One man Avas lost. The Captain next sent the first mate in charge of a lifo boat containing three passengers and a boy. All landed safe except the boy, who was droAvned by the boat capsizing and breaking up at both ends. It was attempted to rep.*xir Ker-, "but was unsuccessful. Tho passengers were now in the rigging, and clustered on the forecastle, a head sea breaking over heavily. The heavy sea ay ashed several passengers, women, and children overboard, and after that they dropped off one by one. THE FIXAL SCENE. A survivor— the Maltese cook— who swam bravely for his oavh life, and tried to rescue a girl, states that the captain got all tlie ladies out of the smoke house to the forecastle head — all being there till 2.30, when the sea washed them off. The captain displayed coolness to the last, his exclamation when all hope was lost Avas "Oh God, Avhat shall Aye do hoav ! " The steamer soon settled doAvn. When night came on cries were heard on shore, then cheers as a light, supposed to be that of the steamer Kakanui, Avas seen, then a great crash, then only the rolling of the surf. Afc daylight the steamer -was seen heeled over, and gradually sank until only a portion of the spars was visible. lIKARTKKNDIVG SQENES. The Hawoa, Kakanui, and Prince Eupcrt Avent to the A-ossel's assistance. Tlie latter picked up the second mate aud a boat. It '■ is unknown here whether she picked up any more survivors. Tlie total men rescued were twenty. A portion of the mail bags was I picked up at sea, aud one child's body by the i Kakanui. I Those on shoro declare it was heart-rending to Avitness the tragedy taking place before thoir eyes, and that they were unable to help. i Two brave swimmers battled for life on a plank. One splendid swimmer left tho plank at the edge of the surf and came in Avith a roller, and he was seen struggling Avithiu a few yards, but was taken by the back drift. | The reef extends seven miles out. Tho mon landed almost naked ; but clothes wore sent afc the order of Mr J. S. Shanks to supply their Avauts. The kindness of Mr Drimston was unbounded. Singularly enough, the b uly that came ashore had a life-buoy attached ; life Avas scarcely extinct, but all moans to restore animation were unavailing.