WRECK OF THE TASMANIA.

Evening Star, Issue 10391, 12 August 1897, Page 2

WRECK OF THE TASMANIA.

The 'Hawke'a Bay Herald' reports that the diver, Mr Lloyd, started work as soon as Table Cape was reached on Tuesday. Coming to the surface after his first dive, blood was found to be Sowing from his ears. Subsequently several attempts were made to gain access to the hatchway near the mail room, but coils of rope, tarpaulins, etc., barred the way. With the removal of the gear one box came to the surface marked "Mrs Brown, Dunedin." A ! portmanteau was next sent up, which, from books it contained, was found to I belong to "Tilly Smith." Oa Wednesday fair progress was made up to noon, when another portmanteau was secured addressed " H. D. Driver," and also a tiu box. The diver went down three times on Tuesday and twice on Wednesday, staying down an hour and ten minutes during the last dive at a depth of 90ft. The strain on the diver was very great, and as soon as the Weka reached port Mr Lloyd, who felt very giddy, was placed under medical treatment. The diver 13 of opinion that there will not be much difficulty in getting to the mail room, and it is hoped that all the mails will ere long be recovered. The second stewardess of the Tasmania, Miss M'Leod, was to be married at the conclusion of the Tasmania's ill-fated trip, and had on board a number of wedding presents that had been given her, which were, of course, all lost. Mrs M'Neillie, whose husband was among the drowned, has been peculiarly unfortunate, her first husband having been killed on board one of the boats in Lyttelton harbor. It is a curious coincidence that the Tararua, the Wairarapa, and the Tasmania were wrecked on the same day of the month. The Tararua disaster occurred on the 29th April, the Wairarapa struck the Great Barrier on the 29 th October, and the Tasmania was lost on the 29th July.