KARU SURVIVORS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 March 1926, Page 5

KARU SURVIVORS

STORY OF THE WRECK. BATTLE WITH WIND AND WAVES. * (Per Press Association.) AWANUI, March 4The ten survivors of the crew of the Karu came on to Awanui last evening by motor car, after 75 miles run down the Beach. All are in good health and spirits, considering the harrowing experience through which they have passed. According to Captain Richmond and his three officers, shortly after they left, Whangape, the wind increased to a gale, and after having made a fair offing, the vessel was hove Soon after midnight, an unusual quantity of water was reported in the engine-room and hold. The sea was very heavy and a whole gale was blowing. The captain ordered th© steam pumps to be started. It was found that the water was gaining. The steamer was vainly endeavouring to round Cape Regina to the shelter of Spirits Bay, or Parengarenga Harbour, and was bearing roughtly south-south-west of Cape Maria Van Dieman. At 3 a.m., all efforts having failed in this -intention, Captain Richmond put his ship about, and made for land, with the object of beaching -her. He found, however, that the vessel was barely manageable. After seven hours running back on her course she developed a heavy LIST TO STARBOARD,

and was well down by the stern. To make matters worse, the engineroom became flooded and the boiler fires went out. The engineers, who had been working like Trojans, with water up to their waists, were then obliged to come on deck and lend a hand in preparation for abandoning the ship. All hope of saving the steamer was then dismissed. The captain gave orders for lifebelts to be donned, and as much clothing as possible removed. A sail was hoisted to help in the operation of beaching the vessel on Twilight Beach, but a powerful tide was running and the ship carried in a northerly direction to the point where she was. wrecked, when 2? miles from the shore and with breakers in sight. One of the ship’s lifeboats was launched, and all twelve members of the crew got into the boat, the captain being the last to enter. The falls were cut with axes, and the boat got away safely on top of a huge .wave. As the lifeboat left the abandoned steamer, it was floating helplessly and nearly awash. It wap 9.30 a.m. The men set to rowing in

PRECIPITOUS SEAS.

Everything went splendidly until the boat was half way through the surf. The rowers experienced great difficulty in keeping her head on to th© breakers, and without warning a tremendous wave caught the little craft and turned it completely over, precipitating the occupants into the water. All was then confusion. Some of the men were trapped for the moment beneath the upturned boat, and managed to free ■themselves only after a great struggle. It is surmised that Frank Saunders, who was drowned, was struck either by the boat or a' flying oar and rendered unconscious. R. Ravenswood is reported as having been seen swimming soon after the boat capsized, but ho never reached land, and the first to climb through the breakers to the shore was a Maori able seaman, Denis Cochrane, a youth of about 19 years of age, whose home is at Rawene. Others followed at intervals, but so severe was the buffeting they received in the breakers that it was some time before any of them was able to take much heed of the others. Several of the men were unconscious long before they reached dry land. Others dropped from exhaustion on touching the sand with their feet. Most of them were stripped of their clothing while'battling in the breakers, and lay on the sands naked. Upon recovering from their fatigue those who could administered restorative aid to the unconscious, and in an hour or so all were able to move about. While they were still on the beach, the body of Saunders was washed up by the' surf. The lifebelt was still round him. When it was realised that all hope of reviving him was useless, his remains were laid in a shallow grave in the sands. The mate’s party slept out in the open on Monday night and discovered Te Hapua next evening. They were accommodated at the residence of Mr Cheeseman, the local storekeeper. This party was escorted to-day to le Paki, and all ten men were brought soyth last night. OWNER’S LOHS. AUCKLAND, March 4. _ Captain Watchlin, owner of the Karu, estimates that his loss will be abbut £3OOO. He bought the steamer in Sydney for £l5OO and the fitting out of the vessel at Sydney and Auckland cost another £2OOO. In addition, the loss of the steamer will entail further heavy expenses.