LOSS OF THE TAIAROA

Evening Post, Issue 86, 11 April 1936, Page 17

LOSS OF THE TAIAROA

(By "Spunyarn.")

Today is the fiftieth anniversary of one of the most tragic maritime disasters in the history of New Zealand shipping. On the night of April 11, 1886, the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Taiaroa was wrecked on* the north bank of the Clarence River, about 60 miles from Blenheim, in stormy, thick weather. The wreck was accompanied by heavy loss of life, and it was afterwards thought that more would have escaped Tiad the passengers remained, on the vessel when struck instead of taking to the boats.

The Taiaroa, an iron" steamer of 438 tons gross and- 250 tons net - register, left Wellington shortly before noon on April 11 for kyttelton and other southern ports, having on board a number of passengers. After leaving Wellington the vessel experienced a 'strong north-west wind as far as Cape Campbell, and at .3 o'clock the wind chopped round suddenly and blew hard

from the south-east with thick, rainy weather and'heavy, fog. At about? o'clock the mate,' who was. on watch on the bridge, came and told the captain that he could see land on the port bow. The captain ran up immediately on to the !bridge, and; they were puV

ting the' helm hard a-starbb.ard when;,' he got there. The engines were put full' speed astern ,but the vessel struck, and the chief engineer almost immediately reported that it: was of ho use "going: further astern, as the vesselwas making water. The boats were immediately got out; and the passengers put into them.

HEAVY SEA RUNNING.

The boats were kept at the length of their lines, and consequently there was little danger of their being stove against the sides of the Taiaroa. A terrific sea was running, however, and great difficulty was experienced in keeping the boats free of water, the men being' kept continuously baling. Some of the women passengers began to feel faint from the cold and exposure. Just before midnight a heavy sea capsized one of the frail craft, and' several of the occupants were swept away.. Others were hauled aboard Sergeant Grant's boat, which was overloaded, and also capsized, the confusion becoming general., Grant was compelled to swim- for his life. According to his description of the subsequent happenings the captain's boat got away, and as it passed the occupants tried to throw a line to the capsized craft, but it missed, and the boat was lost in the darkness. The other lifeboat, Grant said, was borne down by the struggling people in the water, and stove in against the vessel's side. He himself struck out.for the shore, and h«(d a terrific fight for [his life. The waves were frightful in force, and he declared that he would have never reached the shore had it not been for his lifebelt. He was several times lifted to the top of a great wave and dashed on the beach, being taken out again by the backwash. It seemed impossible to gain a footing on the rolling shingle, owing to the strength of the backwash, which swept down the sloping beach with great force. At last, just as he was giving up hope, he thought he would try lying on his back and trusting to chance instead of trying to help himself. The stratagem was. successful, as upon being thrown up by the next wave he managed to cling, to a large boulder while the wave Receded. Then, summoning all his strength, he dragged himself with great effort out of reach of the waves.

SINGLE SURVIVOR.

Another survivor stated that when the second boat capsized they righted her, and 22 passengers found room in her, although they had to sit nearly up to the waist in water. The boat drifted away to the north, and was frequently upset, every time losing several passengers. As night wore on, and the boat's gunwale became lever with the water, necessitating passengers sitting in water, .they became exhausted and were unable, through fsheer fatigue, to do anything to improve the condition of things. By this time their number had been reduced to 11, and one by one these died through fatigue and exposure, and were thrown overboard to lighten the boat, until only two were left, himself and the chief officer. He did notremember the chief officer dying, and' could only recollect drifting ashore through the surf. . . The mdSt fortunate boat appears to have been that in charge of the captain,which was the last to leave the steamer. They intended dropping down astern of the other boats, the object being to lie there until the morning light should enable them to see their position. The men in the captain's boat, however,;, did not succeed in making fast to. the line astern, and drifted past the other boats. With the rising wind it was impossible to get back, so the ■ boat drifted on northwards and the captain made for the Wairau. It was a dreadful night; the wind increased in force, a heavy sea was running, and the night was cold and dark. There was neitherfood nor water in the little boat, and as there was no telling how long the castaways might be at sea before find- ■ ing a safe landing place or being rescued by some passing vessel, their position was a gloomy one indeed. It was a marvel that they reached shore alive. All through that dreadful night and until late in the afternoon of the next' day they pulled and drove before the wind, till after 17 hours of exposure and anxiety they reached the

ASHORE B T .CLABMCE RIVER

and brought their frail craft safely to land.

Many similar narratives ■ were re-* lated by survivors of the tragedy, which must go. down as .one of themost sudden and tragic events that ever broke into the ordered lives of the people of the colony. .