WRECKED STEAMER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 210, 29 May 1908, Page 7

WRECKED STEAMER.

• loss OF THE MURITAI. FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE ACCIDENT. STATEMENTS BY SECOND OFFICER AND A PASSENGER. (BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) ■ -■ ! Auckland, May 28. Nows regarding tho meek of the Northern Company's steamer Muritai on the -Hen and ■ Chickens Islands has been very slow in filtering through. The first detailed accounts available were supplied to a "Star", repre-' sontativo on the arrival in Auckland this morning of tho iKaniori with the rescued passengers and crew. Tho wreck presents' a set of circumstancca peculiarly free from tho customary hardships that go hand in hand with such casualties. The steamer appears to havo run ashore just before daylight, and without fuss or fatality all on board stepped on to tho rocks. Luggage, rugs, provisions, and all necessaries, besides tho mails, were got off tile sinking vessel, and tho castaways safely made for a sandy bcach, remaining there' until rescued. Tho chief officer (Mr. T. Leatlierby), with a crew of six men, left tho wreck at 9.15 a.m., and, rowing four oars, arrived at Marsden Point at 1 p.m. The distance is about sixteen miles, and tho, time occupied was three hours and three-quarters, which may bo considered. a very creditable performance, considering that there was a heavy roll during the . passage. • Captain Hopkins told an interviewer 'that ho was on deck up till midnight. The night was thoii clear,, hut shortly afterwards the weather came on thick. It was exceptionally thick immediately after the wreck. SECOND OFFICER'S STORY. The second officer (Mr. W. E. Alfen) was' on watcli at the timo of tho accident. The latter's. statement is to tho effect that he the captain at midnight. "Shortly - afterwards,"- lie says, "tho weather camo on very thick, and it was impossible to: sec any appreciable distance. At 4.10 a.m. a grind- ' ing sound, followed by a scries of bumps, announced that the vessel had struck some submerged object. Tho lookout states he did; not , seo ! anything beforo tho vessel struck. . There was no shock. It was for all the world as though she were running up on a sandy beach. All hands were quickly, on deck, but there was no undue excitement. A ladder was run out from tho boat to the shore, which loomed up in the shape of a headland a few feet away , from the vessel. " All the.passengers went ashore by means of the ladder. The boats wore launched without delay, but, as a safer means had been found of getting tho passengers ashore,, they were not required for immediate use. ~ "When daylight appeared it was found that, in tho event of the weather coming on bad t-h'e passengers might be several days on tho island beforo their rescue was effected, as they were on an isolated spot with, a rocky and oxposed sea-front. A search was: accordingly mado for a more suitable place to pitch camp, and this was found a little distance away, where there was a nice sandy beach. ~ The passengers - were placed in tho boats and taken to this place, and the crew, assisted by tho passengers, who worked - like Trojans, proceeded to erect a tent, .utilising tho hatch covers and sails. . '• ..V >" "The chief oliioer's boat was; dispatched for tho mainland about 9 o'clock, and as, they did not know how long it would bo be- , foro ,assistanoo arrived, wo- took every pre--I .caution to makoour stay oil the island as Icohifortablo as possible, r . )t ■ "Tho Coromandel arrived at tho island about 4.30 p.m., and ,Ve all' went on board ; the; steamer, which returned ,to\ Whaiigarei. A 'little l outside . the Whangarei' Heads wo camo up with, tho Kanieri, and 'transferring to the latter steamer came on to Auckland. The Coromandel was to return £o the wreck. , . "I would'like to givo a word of praise to the passengers, who behaved remarkably well. Messrs. Lewis and Wallace wore indefatigable in seeing to tho comfort of their fellow passengers." • Mr. Allen thinks that it was a fortunate circumstanco tho steamer went ashore at the bluff. ' There she had good holding ground, but at any other spot in the, local- ' ity tho chancos are that after striking the rocks' she would have slipped back' into deep water, and it is awful to think what might' have happened in that caso. THE DAMAGE. '■■In speaking of the extent of the damage to tho vessel, Mr.' Allen said that a big holo was rent,in the hull under the fore hold at tho first impact. The engine room floor was then pierced,. and before the crow, left the vessel both the fore hold and . tho engino room were" full-of water. Thero was no water in tho cabin, but it was thought! that it was a matter |of only a few hours when this too would, bo filled. ;...■' A PASSENGER'S ACCOUNT. i Mr. Blundcll, who was a passenger on tho Muritai, gives an interesting description of tho'Week (irid its environment. He states: — " " Thero'was ; no violent shock, but some of the passengers felt it for all that.- A presentiment of peril seemed to have dawned upon all, for tho cabin was soon full. All . went on: deck, where we were informed by tho ; officers that the vessel had run ashore, and that wo were \in no immediate danger. It was quite dark when I arrived on deck, and I could see nothing beyond tho deck of tho vessel for a little while. Then I mado out • the outline of a bluff, and wo wero all soon after making our way forward to go ashoro by means of a wooden ladder, which had been run out from tho bows. One end of this ladder was resting near the.stem, and the other': on a huge boulder, some 3ft. or 4ft; away, two ■ sailors being stationed at either • end as a safeguard'against accident. •' "As soon as wo landed, the chief steward and staff,, who had 'brought' provisions, aboard, prepared break-fast, 'and we all sat' down to a hearty meal, thankful that we \ had/been so fortunate in getting on shore, for when' wo wero enabled to look about us it . was apparent that we might easily have fared very badly. The vessel ran oil to a field l of big boulders, and tho bluff right on our b,ows_ reminded me vividly of tho wreck of the Wairarapa at the Barrier some years ago. Only, fortunately, in our case no lives wero lost. • ' • "Tho steamer has two or three'big holes in her bottom, or, at all events, tho hull,is piorced in more than one place, for the forward hold amT engine-room aro full of water. Tho. steamer is wedged between two- largo rocks,: which' rise,just a little bit out of tho water. This was fortunate for us, as it prevented. her. slipping back into the water, and tho nearness of the bluff made landing sasy. We shifted camp during the morning) ind rigged up a tent, as wo did not know liow long wo would l)o there. " Captain Hopkins did all in his power to make tho lot of 'tho passengers as happy as lossihlc, and despite the heavy blow' tho loss of his'vossel must havo been to him, 10 wont about among the passengers with a iheery word and a smile for all, to all ap>earances tho most light-hearted present."