THE CHIEF OFFICER'S ACCOUNT OF THE WRECK.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 119, 15 November 1902, Page 5

THE CHIEF OFFICER'S ACCOUNT OF THE WRECK.

THE TRIP TO HOHOURA. AUCKLAND, 14th November. The chief officer of the Elingamite '(Mr. Burkett) was the centre of an intere&ied group on the Clansman's bridge on Tuesday night, when he gave Cuptuin Farquhar and his companions an account. of the wreck. Mr. Buikett came on board the Clansman at Hohoura, and, going on to the bridge, introduced himself as the male of the lost steamer. "Good sights," he said, "were got the day befoie the wreck. Sunday morning broke vith a thick fog, and ihe steamer's speed was reduced to dead blow." "Thick as a ditch" was the chief officer's of the morning. They couldn't see more than a few yaids in fiont of them. When the crash came he could see a great cliff bLeer up in front of the ship, v bich had run on to a sort of ledge, Awih the rocks clean through her bottom. The steamer canted over on one side, and gradually settled do-nii. Then came the launching of the boats. There was no rushing, but (he wreck occurred with such terrible suddenness that very soou the ship's people were swimming for their lives. " Baat after boat got away somehow, but when the boat into which he afterwards got came to be launched, it was found that the falls had bec-a cut by some excited nmu in his unthinking flurry. The consequence was that the boat could not be lowered. However, said Mr. Burkett, this was the best thing j that could have happened, for the stcamsr took such a list that the boat floated out. She was then gradually filled by twos and threes. V.'hile tjis was going on the ship was rapidly going to pieces, and wreckage was floating all round, many of the pieces of wieckage supporting passengers and sailors. The rafts were cut adrift, and Mr. Burkatt saw two ot these floa! : ing away with a number of persons on them. The mare himself had a nairow escape. He was thrown or washed out off the flying bridge, the lee side of which had become submerged, so great was the hapless .ship's list. When he was washed from the bridge he &uw Captain Atwood and the second matt clinging to the funnel gujs. Wreckage w;is at this time floating "all round, ?orne of the liirger pieces endangering the boats. Bags of niaifcj, too, were floating about, having been released horn the msil-room by the bursting up of the decks through the gieat air-pressure below, caused by the inflow- of water. Mr. Burkell's vo;, ygo in an open boat to hohoura was ova that v, ill never be forgotten by him or the fifty-two passengers and crew who iilled the boat almost to sinking. There was no compass in tho boat, and it was not till some time on Sunday night that Mr.. Burkett

caught a glimp&e of the Southern Cross through the fog and clouds, and thereby got an idea of his whereabouts. He set sail eastwards, and then southwards, and, uoth by good fortune and good management, landed his people safely. The night was terribly cold and trying to the passengers and crew, who were only half-clad, but frequent "nips" of sclfnapps cheered the hearts of all, and probably saved a life or two. Most of the people were fully clothed when the vessel struck, but many of them threw off their coats, boots, and other garments in order to have a better chance in the struggle for life. The stewardesses got as many women as they could to take off their skirts and other superfluous clothing. THE MISSING BOAT. AUCKLAND, This Day. It is possible that the missing boat went east in the fog, and then stood south. The lighiuouse-keeper at Cape Maria reports that passing vessels keep a good look-out. The Stirling has returned to Russell. She reports that she saw nothing of the missing boat. The two unidentified men who died on the raft are believed to be Henricksen, a .young Aucklander, and P. Dunn, of Waihi. GISBORNE, This Day. Captain Smith, of the Mararoa, is of opinion that the Elingamite's missing boat may have drifted into the Bay of Plenty, and on the voyage north will keep a sharp look-out.