MANAIA WRECK

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 9

MANAIA WRECK

BADLY HOLED FORWARD LITTLE HOPE OF SALVAGE NGAPUHI’S RUSH TO RESCUE. [Per United Press Association. ) AUCKLAND, Juno 32. When the Ngapuhi was signalled from Tiritiri, and instructed to proceed to the scene of the wreck, si course was set for Capo"'Colville. Although every effort was made by the engine room staff to develop the utmost speed, there was always a feeling on board that they might not bo in time to avert serious loss of life. For seven hours the Ngar puhi forged on her southward journey, the forbidding nature of tho night and the heavy swell running causing some apprehension as to the chances of getting near enough to the disabled vessel to render assistance. As Slipper Island loomed up all eyes were turned for a view of tho Mannia, but she was away to the south-east, and it was not until about half-past 9 o'clock yesterday morning that sho was seen. Tho rescuing steamer approached from the seaward side of the island, and Captain Dorling kept tho lead going, as ho had foul ground and a line of sunken reefs between his ship and the Manaia. It was then noted that tho Manaia was hard and fast on the point of tho island, with.hor hows high on tho rocks and her stern riding low in the deep water surrounding the reef. Although she had a slight list, sho was perfectly steady, tho falling tide having left her firmly aground, although her engines were being used to prevent her from slipping off into deep water. Captain Dorling brought his vessel up within a mile of the stranded steamer, and leprned that tho Manaia’s passengers were still aboard. It was then about 10 o’clock, with tho wind from the north-east. Under these conditions tho Manaia was in a comparatively sheltered position. The captain of tho Manaia had taken tho precaution to lower her boats into the water, (anti no time was last in transporting her passengers to tho Ngapuhi. This operation was carried out in a mast orderly manner, and approximately two hours were occupied in effecting tho transference. When, about 2 p m., it was seen that nothing more could be done, the Ngapuhi took her departure for Auckland, which she reached shortly before 11 o’clock last evening. But little hope is entertained of salvaging tho Manaia. Advice from Captain Norbury late last night was that the vessel was bady holed forward and tho water in the holds was rising rapidly. The vessel’s bow is so far on the roof that there is no immediate danger of her sinking. Tho sea is smooth, and a groat deal of the cargo in the after holds lias been transferred to tho scow Motu,

A message received at 11.5 p.m. stated that the Ilium had taken off the crow, with the exception of iivo, who are staying aboard. A wireless message was received at 2 o’clock this morning from the ‘Herald’s’ representative on the Ilium at the scene of the wreck. It stales: ‘‘ After heaving and straining, with her how pivoted on the jagged coast of Slipper Island for nearly twenty-four hours, the Manaia seems doomed. The majority of her crew were transferred to the relief ship llimu at 10 p m. The Rimu sighted the Manaia at 7.15 p.m. and approached, taking soundings until within half a mile. Only a few oil lamps were lit on the Manaia, as the water had risen to 15ft in the engine room at 7.30 p.m., and bad stopped the generators. The Rimu hovc-to at 9 p.m. in the long swell, and waited for a boat load of a dozen of the crew from the Manaia. By 10.30 p.m. three boat loads had been transferred, leaving only the captain and throe of the crow to be taken off at daylight, when an inspection of tho Manaia will be made. Tho work of .the Rimu’s crew was carried out expeditiously in spite of tho uncomfortable conditions.” ' JUST SUPPED OH IS fiEEF NO THRILLS ■■ STORIES Ob’ PASSENGERS. FIRST PANIC SOON OVER. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Juno 12 (11.36 a .in.). Graphic , do tails of tho wreck of tho Manaia wero given by passengers on the vessel, who were transhipped to tho Ngapuhi, which arrived at Auckland late last evening. As tho vessel drfpv alongside tho wharf one could seo many smiling faces and signs of evident relief after their anxious experiences. They had a warm welcome from the largo number of people who had gathered on the wharf. After talking with some of the Manaia’s passengers one gathered that tho mishap was not connected with tho blinding gales and the panic that go hand in hand with tho stories written about most wrecks. Indeed, it was a very prosaic sort of wreck, as one of the passengers said. The Manaia just slipped on to the reef and that was all there was to it. “ I was asleep, and was suddenly wakened by a grinding, biting sound,” said one woman passenger.- “ This was followed by a severe bumping. All the passengers . were startled, and- a mild panic ruled-for a while. I heard the women making desperate inquiries about their children. ' The crew soon informer] vis that the.ship had struck a reef and there was nothing to lie alarmed about'.- We (.all dressed -hurriedly. We wero supplied with lifebelts,' and many put them on. Wo found oat later that they wero not wanted, however. The passengers all hurried on dock to seo what had happened. It was misty and raining, but we could see the land quite plainly. Wo could also seo tho rocks on which tho Manaia was stranded. She appeared to bo held hard and fast, and her propellers were kept going to keep her in her position. The lifeboats were swung out on tho calm side in case of emergency. The whole thing appeared to be worse than it really was, for it was dark when all this preparation was going an. JThe Manaia struck at about

11.30 p.m. on Thursday night. None of us got any more sleep. This was my first experience of that kind, and it was not very terrible. The delay was tho most annoying part of it.” Another passenger paid a tribute to the general coolness of tho passengers as a whole. “ There was excitement at first,” ho said, “ but they soon became resigned to their position.” He also referred to the confidence inspired by the captain, officers, and crew. “ They wont about their work calmly and methodically. ' Fortunately no one was hurt. Tho vessel did not strike the reef with sufficient violence to throw tho passengers from their berths. Tho work of transferring the passengers from the Manaia to tho Ngapuhi in the Manaia’s lifeboats was also carried out without incident or mishap.” . Among tho passengers were twentyfour members of tho Stanley M'Kay Pantomime Company. One of them stated that the wreck was not half as good as some of tho stunts his company put across the footlights. Before the Manaia’s passengers disembarked from the Ngapuhi they gave tbreo rousing cheers for the officers and the crow of the vessel for what they had done.