LAST OF THE MOA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 29, 4 February 1914, Page 3

LAST OF THE MOA

SENSATIONAL FINALE OFF WANGANUI THE CAPTAIN'S STORY (BT TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WANGANUI, 3rd February. When the Arapawa reached here with the crew of the burning steamer Moa, Captain Sawyer's first care was to get the injured man seen to by the doctor, and Dr. Wilson, who was awaiting the steamer's arrival, at once went on board. The man in question, Robert Nelson, one of the Moa's firemen, was found to be rather severely burned on the left arm and hand, and on the shoulders', besides being slightly cut about the head. First aid had already been rendered on the Arapawa, and Dr. Wilson, after examination, ordered him to the hospital. Members of the crew, when asked about the occurrence, were not inclined to talk at first, partly, perhaps, in view of the official enquiry, but probably chiefly because the events moved so rapidly as to leave little to tell. From what they did say, however, it is evident that the disaster must have happened with startling suddenness. When Captain Sawyer waa asked for details, he said : — • " Well, she just blew up. We left Wellington at 7 o'clock last night with a cargo of benzine. At about 10 o'clock this morning, when coming up to the Wanganui entrance and about six miles off it, the after-hatch suddenly blew up, and in a minute or two half the ship was in flames." " I suppose it was then a case of every man for himself," said the reporter. " Well, we didn't lose our heads," replied the captain, " but there was no time for anything but to get overboard. We could not launch the boats because of the heat, and because they were taking fire, so I got the men overboard one by one, on pieces of timber and lifebuoys, and we were in the water for about half an hour when the Arapawa's boat picked us up. There was no time lo bring off the body of the man who was killed, whoso name was William Kennedy, a native of Ireland, aged about thirty, and who was killed outright." - - NELSON'S INJURY. Robert Nelson, of Wellington, fireman, who was injured, was seen by a reporter in the Arapawa's cabin. He appeared to be taking his hurts very philosophically, but when asked to give an account of the affair, said the whole matter happened so suddenly that there was very little to say. " Something hit me and nearly stunned me, but I was' able to climb up on deck and jump overboard.' The fire spread like lightning, and the heat was terrific. We were afraid it would spread to the fore hatch, and all had to jump for it." BUNK BLOWN UP. Another fireman, Wm. Higgins, of Wanganui, who has served on the Moa for twenty-three- years, only, as he said, "to leave her like that," also gave his account. "I was asleep in my berth, when I was awakened by it being blown to pieces. I went up on deck, but was .unable to get for'ard to where they were trying to launch the boat. Thinking I might as well be blown up as drowned I went below again and got a lifebuoy from our quarters Down there a second small explosion occurred, and I got back to tho deck again and jumped over. ' ' Both officers and, crew lost everything but what they stood up in, which, in some cases, amounted to nothing but a pair of pants and a jersey. What makes their- loss still more severe is that they were paid their wages and bonuses yesterday, and these too have gone with other belongings. Wm. Kennedy, the member of the crew who was killed, was sitting on the after-hatch when the explosion blew the deck up under him, killing him 'instantA preliminary enquiry into the disaster will be 'held at the Customs Office to-morrow morning. VESSEL'S CREW. The crew of the Moa comprised :—: — W. A. Sawyers, captain ; R. Read, mate; E. Greenwood, first engineer; Vv. Higgins and R. Nelson, fiiemen; W. Kennedy (killed), A.8. ; W. Bannatyne, 0.5. ; J. Giffney and C. M'Alinder. seamen ; Lavin, cuok ; and A. Alexander, cabin boy. At 2.45 the vessel was still blazing, the flames reaching above the funnel. The masts were still standing. The vessel is drifting in shore, and is now j about half a mile from the beach, two miles south of the breakwater. 4 The unfortunate man Kennedy, who was killed, only signed on the steamer's articles in Wellington on Friday last. MAGNIFICBNT~SPEOTACLE LAST NIGHT. WANGANUI. 3rd February. So far as can be ascertained, the hull of the Moa is still floating off the beach to the south of the entrance. During the whole day large volumes of smoke were emitted, together with flames, which leaped mast-high. There was a magnificent spectacle about 8 o'clock, when a terrific explosion took place, apparently amidship. This was followed by a, wonderfully brilliant crimson light, •which lit up the sea and land for miles arouna. This was apparently thr crand finale, for the flames seemed to <iip out shortly afh-i wards, and absoluiuv disappear at fO o'clock.