MANUKA WRECKED

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19805, 18 December 1929, Page 11

MANUKA WRECKED

Struck Reef at Long Point PASSENGERS AND CREW SAFE Ship and Cargo Total Loss [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, December 17. In a thick fog, which enveloped the south-eastern coast of the Dominion last night, the Union Company's steamer Manuka ran ashore about 11 o'clock near Long Point, 26 miles south of the Nuggets Lighthouse, and became a total wreck. The vessel had on board nearly 150 passengers, as well as a crew of 110, and, though the disaster was fortunately not attended by any loss of life, the passengers endured a terrible and unforgettable ordeal, spending several hours in open boats clad only in their night attire before a landing could be effected. The vessel herself soon became a total wreck, involving the loss of her cargo, as well as the whole of the passengers' luggage and effects. Included in the cargo was a valuable collection of paintings estimated to be worth about £25,000.

fc tttte of the terrifying nature of J*** when the vessel struck hearZ mi the passengers were instantly to take to the boats, nothing fc ike way of panic occurred, and the tfaen and presence of mind of the .ptoia, the shi P' s officer!! ' aad ° reW ' „ well a« the general behaviour of the jamgtts themselves, are highly compirst News of Mishap. lis location of the wreck is an isolated one off the coast of the Cathns diitrirt, and owing to the lack of diK etcommunication it was not until the cany hours of this morning that news if tke disaster began to come to hand, ininot until later in the day that the city learned the full magnitude of the calamity. Prompt steps were taken to espe with the situation. Immediately ti receipt of the news, the Harbour Beard'* tug Dunedin was dispatched to tie seene of the wreck, and the Ulion Company ordered the collier Hainan*, en route to Timaru, to proceed to tie spot. Tie first intimation of the disaster tat received by the local manager of tj* Anion Company, Mr S. K. Sleigh, itatly after 11 o'clock last night, and (tttained the brief announcement that Ik ravel had gone ashore in thick mfker. Later came the reassuring inioation that the passengers had been aiij transferred to lifeboats, and were mituig the advent of dawn to enable tt« to land. It was also reported ftaf tin sMp was bumping heavily, md that water had entered No's. 1 and I hoJflSjtnii also the stokehold. Great relief was experienced when it was learned that the disaster had not been attended by loss of life, and this was intensified to a deep note of thankfulness »iea it became known that the passenpra aad erew had had a miraculous escape. Vessel Strikes Rocks. Tie Manuka, en route from Meltoante, left Bluff for Dunedin at 5.30 Jut sight. The distance is about 140 *3ejj and where the vessel struck at wag Point is about halfway between fitet a»d Dunedin. During the night featy fog descended all along the coast ttd in tßdeavonring to set a course by &* Nnggets ligh'thouse, Captain Koss«uk kept his vessel too close inshore, fcarestft of this fact and the eoml|We l«k of visibilitv caused bv the »pe«trable fog, the vessel struck the **r edge of Long Point. The first indication that the captain **» of toe disaster was a grinding M jagged points of rock tore PWigaps in the hull of his ship. The ~*t sioek was followed by a succes- ** of tremendous rolls as the ship tf»ted and trembled on the rocky ledge. «• vessel was badly ripped forward »d amidships, and it was only because aeenghes were kept going, thus main■"iag her position on the rocks, that ?*** saved from falling back into •JP water with probably heavy loss of *;Re actual point of Long Point j*frated the hull of the Manuka amid3£» when she struck she was *• Point, which could be dimly dis•"JM towering up in the darkness, and &«t gave a terrifving impression of ■• hopelessness of rescue. Passengers Assembled. ** majority of the passengers were J"JJ »t the time. Boused bv the first Radons shock and the subsequent *"»g and pounding of the ship in the ***y eoastline swell, they immediately what had occurred. There was ' «B* to dress, and as orders were ""■WMtely issued to don lifebelts, and J!"* the lowering of the boats they "*« what clothes lav readv to hand £sr H,* he l r . Wn " t "° the F ° r " rue ship-s lights were not yet marshalled bv the crew in readiTor their transfer to the boats. • M» Boats Launched. »«mLi^. k 0f low erin:r the boats was under great difficulties the bumping of the ship. On •»» Bort v positron of the vessel «P°" boats were useless, and on.y g^* 1 the starboard side could be *ta* e k° at containing members §,«,: **** was smashed to fragments „*• Proeess of being lowered, and its *£; w am to other boats that ha 1 Itfej more successful descent to the n eternity to the passengers—te£ti7*ween th e time thev were told kilt ft! their lif e'>e!fs and the iower- *»*!»# boats, but eventually this S *W^& Sfully accomplished, and the jt, s™rt. with their parked and ill- £» *uaan freight, pushed off into to await the coming of dayWlore seeking a landing-place.

ator, and two other officers. When the engines ceased running and the ship slipped further back into deeper water they jumped from the deck and were picked up by the waiting lifeboat. While the fog was primarily the cause of the wreck, the fact that it prevailed probably minimised the extent of the aftermath of the disaster, for had there been a heavy wind and sen the boats could probably not have made the shore on such a rough coastliue. A Safe Landing. The lifeboats remained off the Toint until the approach of daylight enabled them to move cautiously inshore. Some of them were at sea for from five to seven hours, and parties were landed at different points of the coast and at different times between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. It would be difficult to imagine a move inhospitable coastline for shipwrecked passengers to land upon. It is certainly one of the most dreary and uninviting parts of the South Island. Long Point, is 20 miles from Owaka, a mere township, and it is 40 miles from Balclutha. The principal means of communication is supplied by unformed clay roads, offering almost incredible difficulties to motor transport, and the trek of those of the passengers and crew who elected to return overland to civilisation was an arduous undertaking in the extreme. At Owaka they were provided with immediate necessities An the way of food and clothing, and then were brought on by special train direct to Dunedin, stopping en route at Balclutha, where tea was provided. Dunedin was reached about 8 o'clock. A considerable number of the passeugers and crew elected to return by the tug and the Kaiwarra, and these reached port about 11 p.m., after a longer but rather less trying experience than those who came by road and train. Vessel Slips Off Ledge. About three hours after she first struck the Manuka made her final plunge back into deep water, a column of luminous steam and smoke from the boilers anid engine-room ascending gey-ser-like in the darkness. When she came to rest only the forward part of the hull and foremast were above water, the stern position being so deeply submerged that only the top of the mizzenmast was showing. A fortunate feature of the disaster was that a good many of the passengcrs landed at Bluff, otherwise the available boats would have been unable to accommodate all the ship's company. Tribute to Officers. Two of the passengers by the Manuka, Miss Leoua Hogarth and Mr Leonard Doyle, arrived in Dunedin by motor-car about 3.30 this afternoon. This is their first visit to New Zealand, whither they have come to take part in a theatrical tour after a very successful season, extending over some 18 months, in Australia. When interviewed by a reporter shortly after their arrival here, they were quite cheerful, though they frankly admitted that they had spent a very trying and anxious time. especially' before reaching the shore. "The weather on the trip up from Bluff was very dirty and foggy," said Mr Doyle, whose account was supplemented' by Miss Hogarth, "and there was a very heavy swell on the sea. The disaster occurred at six minutes to 11, by which time practieally all the passengers were in bed. The vessel struck a rocky ledge, and fortunately she remained there, otherwise she would have slipped into very deep water, and the results might have been terrible. I was informed that the man on the lookout called out 'Rocks ahead' just before the Manuka struck. The helmsman immediately signalled to the engineroom for full speed astern, but before the order could be carried into effect the vessel struck the rocks hard, and the order for full speed ahead was given immediately. Thanks to this bit of quick thinking and prompt, action the vessel was kept on a ledge of rock. The behaviour of the officers and crew was splendid. No time was lost in arousing the passengers and getting them on deck. This was done without anv fuss, and so promptly was the work carried out that by 11.20 all the passengers were safely in the lifeboats. The action of the passengcrs is worthy of the highest commendation. With the exception of one young woman, who was somewhat hysterical for a brief period, the best of order prevailed, thus assisting materially in the rescue work. The men waited patiently until the women were placed in the boats, the only exception being when males were called for to complete a boat's complement in order to undertake the duties of rowing. The captain was wonderful. He was here, there, and everywhere, exercising a very close supervision and doing his best to cheer the passengers. Position Not Realised. "I must admit that I did not realise tho seriousness of the position at first," continued Mr Doyle, "but yvhen I saw the stokehold staff oil deck and realised that they had been driven away from their posts by the_ inrush of water, it dawned upon mc immediately that something very serious had happened. By the time the passengers were ready to leave, it was apparent that the vessel was in a bad way. Rescue of Captain. "By 11.20 p.m. eight lifeboats were full and clear of the ship. The only people then left on board were the captain, two officers, and the wireless

A Notable Achievement. Htnrat nßhipinent of P assen e ers to the *f a nota^le achievement in view %isS feme difficultv and danger of ***«? h \ And whiie this resu!t uas •f f y , e °olness and composure **l ki. « the captain officers aequitted themselves mL. " with the highest tralt**it i» e .® eie Dcy 0 f the Mercantile ! k »J»*kJ! , ? e I of & ave emergency. M-'flS «** H** th « ship at 11.30 p.m. WttfX*™"! the only persons left on ""*• rae eaptain, the radio oper-

operator, who remained on board till the very last minute, eventually having to jump into the sea to save their lives. Before he left his post the wireless operator sent out a farewell message of 'Good-bye and good luck. One of those on board was a baby in arms, who said 'Get me into that little boat, Mamma.' By the time the passengers arrived on deck the Manuka had a heavy list, and it was impossible to launch the boats on the port side. The passengers were let down to the boats on the starboard side, but after some difficulty the crew managed to launch a boat on the port side. Wo were in the boat which was under the control of the third offieer (Mr Meatyard), who was particularly courageous and cool. When we left the ship we set out to find a landing place, if possible. With the rest of the boats we went down the coast for a mile, and returned about 1 a.m., just as the ship was sinking. As she plunged back into deep water a column of steam and smoke issued from the boilers and en-gine-room. The radio operator was signalling for us to save the captain and himself. We started to comply with the request, but just when they jumped overboard, a.nd another boat which was near the stern of the Manuka picked them up. The masts of the steamer crashed when she slipped back, and just missed our boat. No Time to Dress. "Although there was an entire absence of confusion on board, the preparations for departure from the Manuka were necessarily hurried, and there was no time to stand on ceremony. All the passengers left with only the clothing they stood in, and many of the women had only their night-dresses on, being without even stockings and shoes. Miss Hogarth was one of the more fortunate passengers, as Bhe had time to dress completely, and even to don two pairs of stockings, one of which she subsequently handed over to a less fortunate sister. Safe on Shore. "Mr Meatyard went round all the boats and told the occupants where to land. We started for a stretch of beach about a mile down the coast at 1 o'clock, but the tide against us was so strong that we did not get there until 5 o'clock, although each boat was manned by six oars. Some of the women gallantly helped in the arduous work of pulling.* As the hours went bv the nerves of all concerned began to suffer, and towards the finish strenuous exertion was impossible, with a result that little headway was made. During the hours of darkness the boats kept in touch with each other by means of vocal calls. The first boat landed at 5 o'clock, and all the others except one reached the shore between 5 and 0 o'clock. One boat went astray, but the captain went out about 7 o'clock and brought it safely to .diore. After we landed big fires were lighted and we were delighted to sit round them and enjoy their warmth after our unenviable experience. "Mr Calder, who resides near Long Point, where we landed, was a 'prince.' He did everything he possibly could for us, and in addition to providing us with welcome refreshments, he placed at our disposal a generous supply of dry clothing which was ex-treme-ly welcome The people of Owaka were marvellously kind, and we cannot speak too highly of what they did for us Only One Farson Injured. "Considering the dramatic suddenness of the disaster, and the rapid sequence of events, the escape from serious injury was remarkable, as only one man, whose leg was cut rather badly, was hurt. A large proportion of the passengers consisted of elderly men and women, and naturally they found the experience a very trying one. After lauding we had to traverse two or three miles over sheep paddocks, and the journey was such a hard one that the elderlv people, and especially the unfortunate women in bare feet, had difficulty in completing it. There were two whippet dogs on board. One has been accounted for, but when we left for DHiiedin it- was not known whether the other had got ashore or not. Apart from this, loss of life seems to have confined to a parrot." Passengers* Losses. An aeroplane circled over the stranded passengers about 9 o'clock this morning and dropped a message conveying the information that a special convov of motor-cars was on its way to carry them nearer their destinations. The" twelve artists in the companv which is headed by Miss Hogarth and Mr Doyle lost everything they possessed, but fortunately the properties required for the opening production, "The Family Upstairs," can be replaced locally. A large proportion of the equipment required was not shipped by the Manuka, and will arrive by a later ship- The members of the company suffered a serious loss in the way of personal effects which they ha\e been collecting in the course of their tour. including some valuable gems which were highly treasured. Mr Doyle lost some valuable papers connected with property at Home. In conclusion, Mr Doyle said this was his first visit to Xe'w Zealand. His entry was quite dramatic, even though it was unrehearsed, but he could not say that he had any desire for an "encore" of this description.

Scene at tie Wreck. j The last has been seen of the Manuka as a seagoing passenger ship. VN h' 1 " ' pressmen and photographers arrived at ! Long Point h-.r stem v.-as completely j submerged, but nt times it was possi.ue ; to glimpse through the constant swell | plain indications of havoc wrought by j the pounding seas. Mie was lying on j her side at an anizle of approximately j 30 degrees, with her bows almost clear j of the water, and perhaps half ot the | port side of her hull showing. Kyery j wave seemed to force her deeper into | the water, and curb time the cloud* I dispersed it seemed that there was loss of her above sea level. Companion doors slammed thunderously, and the [ heaving sea- produced strangely ominous rumblings and crashes, sounds wlnen told of great destruction beneath the sea level. With her funnel gene and her aftermost hard put to it '<> keep its truck above the waves, the vessel presented a sorry sight. Her bows with every ebb of tide, rose clear above the water, but every returning onrush brought fresh destruction to the top hamper, which was slowly being denuded of its former glory. Wreckage Coming Ashore. In a small cove north of Long Point were ample evidences of the destruction wrought by the waves. The shore was littered with wreckage of all descriptions, including what appeared lo be the personal effects of passengers, but largely decking from the vessel, most of which was absolutely shattered. The rocks seem to have an unbreakable grip of the afterpart of the ship, and while forward she responded to every vagary of the tide, her stern re- ; mained firm. It must be, therefore, only ; a matter of time before she breaks in j two. The tug Dunedin and Kaiwarra did not reach Dunedin by 11 p.m., as was expected. The Kaiwarra got inside the heads at 9.30 p.m., but owing to the persistence of the fog, it was nearly two hours later before she berthed at Port Chalmers. Tin- tug Dunedin was still at sea at midnight, not having been reported since she. left the scene of the wreck. Evidently she 13 feeling j her wav up the coast in the heaw fog. j • - I PASSENGER LIST. (TRESS ASSOCIATION IF.LEORAM ) DUNKDIN, December 17. The Manuka's passenger list of saloon passengers 08 (total passengers -IS) was as under: Dunedin—Mrs S. Best, Mrs M. Beaumont, Mrs O. Dennett, -Mrs W. Birch, Mr and Mrs W. Blnikie, -Miss M. Blaikie, Miss J. Dlaikie, Mrs H. Bouc.ant, Miss B. Chitty, Miss J. Clarkson, Dr. J. Colquhoun, Mr C. Coutes, Mr and Mrs W. Curphey, Miss A. Curphey, Miss E. Dwoney, Mr and Mrs L. Dovle, Mrs S. Duncan, Mr F. Duncan, Miss F. Fish, Mr E. Ford. Mr K. Galbraith, Miss K. Grace, Mrs J. llamer, Mr and Mrs P. Herbert, Mrs M. Uesford, Mr and Mrs .1. Docking, Mr M. llolgate, Miss A. llolgate, Miss M. Hopkins, Mrs W. Hughes, Mrs J. Jack, Mrs J. Junge, Miss J. Junge, Miss L. Liste, Mr R. Leitch, Mrs J. Lusk, Miss H. Matheson, Miss A. Moffatt, Miss Morfard, Miss H. Neil, Mr G. Nelson, Mr and Mrs M, O'Connor, Mr R. Roberts, Mr R. Robertson, Mrs J. Robertson, Mr H. Smith, Mr and Mrs J. Warwick, Mr and Mrs N. Webster, Mr C. Wheeler. Lyttelton—Mr J. Edmunds, Mrs M. Elder, Master D. Elder, Mr A. Hyde, Mrs A, Hudson. Miss J. Hudson, Miss M. Hudson, Miss M. Kellv, Mr and Mrs F. Lord, Mr L. MeArthur, Mrs A. Maddox, Mrs S. Smith, Mr C. St. Clair Simpson, Mr and Mrs McKenzie, Mrs D. Yeatman, Miss B. Yeatman. Wellington—Mr F. Cotterall, Mr D. Cimons, Mr and Airs D. Farquhar, Mrs M. Forrest, Mrs M. Leigh, Mr J. Marshall, Mr and Mrs A. Morlev, Mr and Mrs G. Ross, Miss E. Ross, Mr B. Speechley, Mr and Mrs D. Staev, Master D. Stacy, Miss J. Stacy, Mrs B. Thomas, Miss B. Thomas, Mrs J. Topliss, Mrs B. Weeks. Melbourne (round trip)—Mr and Mrs E. Morgan, Mr and Mrs J. Pfieffer. THE SHIP'S OFFICERS. The master and officers of the Manuka, as at December 2nd, were as follows: Master, Captain R. .Ross-Clark. Chief officer, Mr A. T. Adam. Second officer, Mr E. P. Meatyard. Third officer, Mr C. R. Carlyon. Fourth officer, Mr A. S. Smith. Chief engineer, Mr E. A. Griffiths. Second engineer, Mr K. J. McLeod. Third engineer, Mr L. V. Jellymnn. Fourth engineer, Mr J. Chambers. Fifth engineer, Mr D. Gibbs. Sixth engineer, Mr A. H. Amos. Seventh engineer, Mr D. J. McKenzie. Chief steward, Mr R. 11. Burns. Purser, Mr F. S. Hamlin. Second steward, Mr G. Grant. Fore cabin steward, Mr W. Craigic. Saloon stewardesses, Mesdames Hardcastle and Seorringi. Second-class stewardess, Mrs Westbury. The total ofiicers and crew number 110. Captain Ross-Clark took up the command of the Manuka from Captain Morgan about a year ago. He is well known on the New Zealand coast and for some time commanded the Kurow and the \Yaipiata. For four years he served in the Indian Water Transport in Mesopotamia and earned a number of decorations. He was the last to leave the ship, it is stated, and-jumped overboard at the last moment, returning to Dunedin on the rescue tug. THE CHRISTCHURCH PASSENGERS. Passengers by the Manuka for Christehurch were due at Dunedin at 5 p.m. yesterday. They are expected to arrive' here at 7 a.m. to-day. Those whose destination is the North Island will arrive by to-day's express from the south, and go on to Wellington in the evening. WRECK OF THE SURAT. Less than a mile north of the mouth of the Catlins river, the Surat was wrecked on December 31st, 1573. She j was a new iron ship of a thousand tons, carrying 370 passengers, and a valuable cargo of machinery and railway rails. All of the passengers and crew were landed safely. In thi<= ease the Marine Court of Enquiry found that the mas- j for was fo blame, together with both of the mates. ! The charts were not of the best, the coast was unknown, and through steering too close to the shore the ship was run against submerged rocks south of Chaslaiid's Mistake Point. Leaking badly, she sailed 30 mi':es to the north, , and was beached on New Year's Day, J 1574. The passengers and crew landed safely. On arrival at Dunedin the J Burnt'b passengers were housed in the j Caversham military barracks, and a | subscription was raised for their bene- j fit. The personal losses of the immigrants amounted to over £2-500, and the vessel and cargo were valued at £25,000. Part .of tbe cargo was later salyaged.