THE ELINGAMITE DISASTER.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1902, Page 5

THE ELINGAMITE DISASTER.

THE SURVIVORS OF THE RAFT. ARRIVAL AT~AUCKLAND. THEIR GRATITUDE TO THE CREW OF THE PENGUIN. [BY TELEGRAPK — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, loth November. Nine o'clock this morning was the hour fixed for transferring the survivors found on the raft from the warship Penguin to the hospital. Just a little before that hour the steamer Eagle went alongside and the men were transferred to her. Six of the eight were able to walk with assistance to the ferry steamer, and, swathed in blankets, they sat in the cabin till the wharf was reached and until the ambulances and cabs provided were made ready for their reception. Prior to the survivors leaving the vessel the crew of the Penguin were called aft, and fcrmed up four deep. Here Mr. Wetherilt, who had been captain of the raft, briefly thr.riked the captain and crew of the warship. He said : "Officers and men of the Penguin — We feel it our duty, before leaving this ship, to tender you our heartfelt thanks for the kindness you have shown, towards us. It is out of the power of words to express our gratefulness, and from the bottom of our hearts we thank you in the heartiest manner our condition will allow us to do. I feel proud that we fell into the hands we did fall into. You are men whom we always look upon as fighting men, but you have treated us as guardian angels. The kindliness and consideration exhibited were beyond comparison with anything that I have ever known, and the least I can say is that we thank you again most sincerely. At a future time when the Penguin enters port we shall look upon it as our right to come aboard and express our feelings when we are better able to do so. Once more I thank you for your kindness." Mr. S. Neill also briefly returned thanks. Replying on behalf of the, crew, Captain 13awson said it was Providence whom they had to thank, and whom he himself had to thank for guiding tnem to the -spot. He was- proud and thankful at bei ing the instrument of Providence in their rescue. Mr. Neill then called for three cheers for the captain and officers of the Penguin. These were given with the utmost heartiness by visitors and the crew. As the Eagle drew near to the shore vociferous cheering was commenced by the large crowd which lined the end of Queen-street Wharf, and when it was seen that the Eagle was carrying on her decks the raft on which the party made their eventful voyage further cheering was indulged in. After a little delay vehicles were driven through the crowd and on to the Ferry Company's tee, and the work of landing the survivors was carried out. Great enthusiasm was displayed by the onlookers, who skouteu and cheered again and again, similar enthusiasm being manifested by the crews on the various vessels in port. The sailors all clambered up the rigging of their respective boats and cheered loudly. With the exception of Mr. Wetherilt, the men so providentiallj' picked up by the Penguin were convoyed to the hospital.