Liner Wrecked

Grey River Argus, 2 June 1922, Page 5

Liner Wrecked

DISASTER ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF THE WILTSHIRE BROKEN IN HALVES. One Hundred Ife Await Rescue Ts-day. A FEARFUL ORDEAL FGR THIRTY HOURS. A LINE GOT ASHORE LAST HIGHT. (Press Extraordinary.) During a storm or Wednesday the Home liner Wiltshire ran ashore at 11 o’clock on the rocks of Great Barrier Reef (where the Wairarapa was lost in 1894) in trying to make Auckland Harbour lights. She broke her back, and her crew of 103 men gathered on the forepart, as the after part sank below the level of the mountainous seas. Till last evening, there was scant hope of a rescue, but a lifeline was then drifted, from the wreck, ashore to the precipitous reef only a ship’s leigth away, and four men were rescued. Several ships, that yesterday con'd not approach the wreck Li the storm, are now on the scene ready for rescue work this morning. Fearful seas have beaten on the wreck, but last night the 99 men on the wreck were reported well sheltered and provisioned; and it is hoped all will be saved to-day.

Al < KLANI). June 1. The Federal Shire Navigation Company's 12.160-ton liner Wiltshire hist night ran ashore at the south enJ of Croat Barrier Island while trying to make 1 he port of Auckland, on her voyage from Liverpool She i; eommanded by Captain B Hayward, the companv s commodore, and carries over 100 officers and men, but no passengers It was a dirty black night, when the vessel struck. She ran ashore in Rosalie Bay, about three' miles north of the extreme southern end of the Barrier, which at this point is one of the' rockiest and wildest of 1 lie Gulf islands. The opinion of shipping men is that the W iltshire was looking for the 1 ight on ( 'tivier Island, which lies 21 miles east of ( ape I olville, and about a similar distance from the south end of the Great Barrier Island (where- the ship struck). This southern entrance' between Great Barrier and Cape ('olville is the erne 1 usually taken by vessels coming 1 rom Panama. The' light mi Cuvier Islanel is a powerful revolving light, showing every half minute 1 , and is visible' 26 miles. In the weather that the inward-bound ships experienced, however, the range' would be nothing like- that, and last night it was particularly black at the time the Wiltshire' went ashore.

THE WILTSHIRE’S FIRST “5.0.5.” MESSAGES

WELLINGTON. June 1. The following is a scries of message's received by the Secretary of the 1 If »st and Telegraph Department here, beginning last night shortly after 11 o'clock, and continuing for over an hour. The messages were' from the' radii station at Aiwkland. The 1 first radio. at 11.11 p.m.. stateel:—“A message received from the s.s. \\ iltshire begins: “Heavy list to starboard. 15 feet of water in No. I hold. Danger' imminent and serious; she is listing more and more.” 11.12 pm.—s.s. Willshire hound from Panama to Auckland sends out S.O.S. as follows: “Gone ashore on Barrier Reef.” 11.35 p.m.: Send assistance at once; in grave' danger. 12.10 a.m.: The Wiltshire advises that its captain says he is not sure*, as it is too dark to knot., but he thinks he is on the south end of Barrier Island. 12.26 a.m.: Brom Ihe Wiltshire—Nos. 1 and 2 holds are full of water. The ship is very exposed to the gale. SHIPS PROCEED TO THE RESCUE. WELLINGTON, June' 1. About three-quarters of an hour after the first warning, the steamers Katoa and Arahura started at midnight to assist the Wiltshire The former was then 25 miles and the latter 90 miles distani. At 12.22 a.m. the following Auckland radio message came: "From s.s. Tasmania: We are proceeding to*the wreck of the Wiltshire on Barrier Island, distant 300 miles from here.” Another message came at 12.30 as follows: “s.s. Dundala advises that she is proceeding to the south of Barrier Island, a distance of 80 miles.”

THE ARRIVAL OF THE RELIEF STEAMERS. THE CREW FORCED TO REMAIN ABOARD SEA TOO ROUGH FOB RESCUE WORK. AUCKLAND. June 1. The Katoa and Arahura arrived alongside the Wiltshire just before daylight, but were unable to communicate with the Wiltshire up to 8 a.m., owing to the heavy sea. The lug Awhina left this port at ;> a.m. and will reach rhe Wiltshire about 2 o'clock this afternoon. NO LOSS OF LIFE AT DAYLIGHT. WELI.INGTON. June 1 Latest advice is that there is no loss of life, 1 ie officers and crew remain aboard, and cannot leave until 'lie sea mode rates. So tar as is known 1 here are no passengers aboard. THE ARAHURA POWERLESS. WELLINGTON, June 1. Further radio messages this morning from Auckland station were: — 7.31 a.m.: “'The Arahura advises she is in a position off the wreck: too much sea to attempt any rescue work.” 9.20 a.m.: The Katoa reports. —“In port at Tryphena. and have sent a party overland. Later this morning the Secretary to the General Post Office received the following from the Aiwkland radio station regarding the Wiltshire: “At 10.10 a.m.. in communication with Arahura and Katoa; the Wiltshire’s holds are full of water and in a pretty Lad way.” The Position Gets Worse. A further message at 10.15 a.m. reported that the position was worse and desperate. THE FIRST AFTERNOON REPORT.

THE VESSEL BROKEN IN HALVES. STERN PART DISAPPEARS FROM SIGHT. I WELL!NGTOX, J line 1. The Secretary, Post and Tiegraph Office, has received the following from Auckland: “Tin? Katoa reports at 1.3 p.m. that the Wiltshire has broken in halves.” A later message states that the I\ iltshire is cast of Rosalie Bay, in a very wild spot, with inaccessible cliffs. The steamer has broken in two and the stern has disappeared. The crew appear to lie on the forward half, which is still on the rocks. There is no chance of rescue except by the line. A heavy sea is running. FEARS THAT MAY PERISH. ‘ (Press Extraordinary.) WELLINGTON, June 1, 3 p.m. The Postmaster at Coromandel reports that the | tug from Auckland has arrived at the scene of the wreck, 'out it is not thought to be possible to save the lives of the crew, who number 109 men. A fearfuLly”heartrendjng scene. HELPLESS GREW URIES TO THE WATCHERS' WELLINGTON. June 1. 5.12 p.m. j This evening the Secretary to the Post Office I received a further message about the \\ iltshire, stat- I ing that it has been considered useless for a seaplane ; I to attempt to render any assistance. The message relates that cries of the men cm the I ! wreck can now be heard by the watchers who are on I : the high cliffs above the vessel. '1 he eye witnesses I I say that the scene is a fearfully heartrending one. One man attempted to swim ashore from the ’ wreck with a line, hut there were enormous seas running. and the attempt had to be abandoned. The Postmaster at Coromandel reports the tug j from Auckland has arrived, but it is not thought I possible to save any Lives. ;CREW STICK TO THE FOREPART OF THE WRECK. AN ATTEMPT TO USE ROCKET APPARATUS. i WELLINGTON, June 1. 5.12 p.m. V message sent from the scene this afternoon at i 3.40 p.m. states:— “The Wiltshire is a total wreck, I but the crew are still on the fore part. The sea is ; very rough. It is now hoped to get. a rocket apparatus overland bv to-morrow morning. The Katoa’s party are now on the shore opposite the wreck. The steamer Moeraki left at 1 p.m. to-day tor the scene of the wreck, with rocket apparatus, to try and give assistance. MOERAKI TAKES NAVAL MEN TO REEF. APCKLAND, June 1. The steamer Moeraki took an officer and .16 men from the warship .Philomel, with two lots of rocket I apparatus. These were landed at Tryphena about I 5.30 p.m. to-day. PROSPECTS CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. LINE GOT ASHORE FROM THE WRECK. WELLINGTON, June 1. 8.52 p.m. The outlook at the scene of the \\ iltshire wreck has now brightened. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following message from the Postmaster al Coromandel: — At 8 p.m. Tryphena reports: “A line has now been got ashore from the wreck. “Foui’ men have been landed from Lie ! wreck. “There are still 100 on board. “The prospects of rescue are now considered to be good.”

ALL HANDS ABOARD STILL SAFE. ivESCUE OPERAXiUiiib IcESuIvIING Tc-DAY. V\ Fid. i NGTO.X, June I. 9.35 p.m. 1 he Seerotary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following further message: — At 3.49 p.m. the s.s. Katoa reports: “Wiltshire—ail hands safe on board. Four men landed at present. Resuming operations in the morning with a naval party.” THE AUCKLAND TUG PARTY’S REPORT. AUCKLAND. dime 1. Captain Stott, ilic Marine Superintendent <.f the Union Co., who went with the Auckland trig this morning Io the wreck, lias telegraphed news from the Barrier. He states: “Nothing van he done until the iornimr. Nothing is Known here about the Willshire's crew, except ( aplaiu Hayward, ami The eliict officer, Mr Goddard, who formerly was chief officer of the I’iako. The Cargo. Out of 4000 tons of cargo on the Wiltshire, there arc 10JJ0 tons for Auckland, consisting of galvanised iron, tinplate, basic slag, and a locomotive for the New Zealand Government As to the general cargo, the only manifests at present are from Bristol and the Bort of Glasgow. The Terrible Seas on the Barrier. The Auckland “Herald.” lias a reporter on the Auckland tug. lie states that when the tug passed Cape ('olville at 9.30 a.m. to-day, there were motuitainous waves and driving tierce squalls encountered. The tug reached the Wiltshire at noon, and, despite the danger, she stood close in. How the Vessel Lies. The Wiltshire (he says) struck bow on. at a distance of about her own length from a cliff. Along this cliff foaming breakers are dashing. The forepart of the W dtshire is now evidently stuck on the reef hard, with a list to starboard. The back of the liner is broken clean in two. The after part of her, from just aft of the bridge, is swinging with the wash of the seas, and it is at an agle from the rest of the ship. Several men are seen clustered on the forecastle head look-out bridge, and more men were below it. Mo signals were made by the wreck. There were two lifeboats visible m the davits on the starboard side, and a third boat was smashed against the sides when il was lowered,. The stern of the vessel is under water. Forepart Believed to be Secure. - there was no possibility o?giving any assistance, and as the forepart of the "vessel appeared to be secure, the .Auckland tug proceeded, to Tryphena to organise rescue parties. The First Ships on the Scene. The Katoa, passing by. missed the wreck on ■Wednesday night in I lie storm, but 1.1.? steamer Arahura, with .100 passengers aboard, stood by the wreck. She was tossed on Wednesday night in huge seas a quarter of a mile from the bleak coast, where the Wiltshire lies ashore. The Wireless Breaks Down. The wrecked ship's wireless apparatus broke down. This was through the Hooding of lite engineroom, and through her masts carrying away. I he Arahura. iiowe-. er. read her semaphore flags, and she transmitted her messages by wireless. The Latest News. The Katoa landed live men, who went overland a disiaiiei' of ti\i' miles, to the wreck with ropes, Imrricane lamps, bandages, food, and rockets. The Araiiiira left the scene for Gisborne at 2 p.m. 'i hen a second party landed from the Katoa. The Auckland rug left at 5 p.m.. and she met the steamer Moeraki taking the naval mem with appar:>is aboard. All medical gear, lines, etc., have been prepared to-night, re.'idv to proceed overland at daylight to rescue lhe crew. . It. is expected the survivors will return by the Katoa to Auckland to-morrow. LAST NIGHT’S FINAL REPORT. The Willshire’s Men Well Sheltered and Provisioned. HOW THE LINE WAS GOT ASHORE. THE BOW WELL SETTLED ON THE BOOK.

A UUKIAND. June 1. midnight. The Auckland “Herald'.'” reporter sends a wireless message from the s.s. Katoa, statin?;: — The KaJoa’s boatswain, who has returned overland from the wreck, reports that the crew of the Wiltshire have drifted a line ashore, and by its means landed four men before darkness to-night. There are 99 men left on board the wreck, all in the forepart. The men on the wreck are well sheltered, and they are fully provisioned for the night. Tl:e bow of the Wiltshire is apparently settled firmly on the reck. Despite the breaking of the waves, there have been no casualties aboard. We are waiting for daylight and for the Fliilomel’s breeches buoy to land the remainder. Some of the party will proceed in ths tug to the wreck at dawn, while the renmm . '"’ will assist in the landing of the crew of the WiLokire. PERSONNEL OF ’SHIP’S” CREW UNKNOWN. WELLINGTON, dime 1. The Wcllinglon agents fof the Willshire stalo that the master of the -cl is Captain B. (I. Hayward. ’l’li" rest of the personnel are unknown, but the total of I hem is belt red to lie 1(19. ROCKET APPARATUS TO SCENE WELLINGTON. Juno I. 5.12 o.m. The AVellington Harbour Bwird’.s special rocket auparatns w? - sent to Auckland inis altort'ioon l>y special train for use, if possiide, in saving the \\ illshire’s crew. The train arrives at Auckland on the heels of the express to-morrow morning.

(THE WILTSHIRE WRECK, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5.) LIGHTS BAD ON NIGHT CF THE WRECK. THS DUNDALA COMES ON TO AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND. June 1. Tin 1 steamer Dundala has come on here. Th ■ Dundala had. raced to the rescue of the Wiltshire, but she was advised that the Aralmra and the Katoa were standing by. and that they could d> n 'tiling. Therefore the Dundala came mi to Auckland. Iler officers state that the weather was very thick', and the visibility was hiw. when their vessel passed Cape Brett at 9 p.m. mi Wednesday. The Cape .Breit light was not then visible, although the Dundala was only eight miles distant from it. After passing the Cape lhe light was picked up. 'file Dundala reports also that the lights at Aloko-I Linau and at the Hen and Chickens were not picked up by her until she. was within six miles of them, 'file weather cleared shortly after, but the wind abated little. A SEAPLANE ON THE SCENE. YV EL LI NG 4’o N, June 1. The Secretary to the General Dost Offi e this morning rc-cived the following from the Chief Postmaster, Auckland: —• ‘•'riii 1 postmaster at Tryphena states that the ’Wiltshire is ashore about four miles from there. The sea is still rough and the weather extremely boisterous. I have just spoken to Mr Walslieud, and if the wind moderates lie will send a seaplane to see if there is any possibility of getting a line to the steamer. The distance of the vessel from the shore, however, may be too far to enable this to be done.’’

NO DETAILS OF INSURANCE OR MAILS. WELLINGTON, .lime 1. There is so far no information regarding the insurances on the Wiltshire available. Those on the cargo were arranged cliieily in England. It may be some time before the amounts arc known. Probably every marine insurance company in New Zealand will be affected. It is understood that the 'Wiltshire carried 4GO postal packages, but their composition is not known. [The Wiltshire is a steel ship, with twin screws ; nd five masts, electric 1-ght and everything up-to-date. Il< , r gross tonnage is 12,160, and net 7801. She was built in 1912 Lv J. Brown ami C’o., Clvdebank, Glasgow, to the order of the Federal Steam Navigation Company. The vessel’s length is 526.’ft, breadth Cl. 4ft, depth 33.3 ft, and port of register London. The engines are of eight cylinders (2.~in, 3.">J.in, 51in and 72iii- -alin); pressure allowed 2151 b; norm: ] h.p., 126-1; moulded depth 36ft Gin. The Wiltshire is exceeded in size as far as regular trading vessels running to the Dominion are concerned, only by the three vessels of Fie Shaw, Shivill line, the lonic, Athenie ami Corinthic, which boats arc approximately 200 ions larger. It was on April 17 that she left London, having coma dov n from Liverpool, and she w: s duo at Auckland yesterday. After unloading part of her cargo there, she was to proceed to Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin. The Great Barrier is about 56 miles from Auckland, and has always been a source of danger to vessels go’ng in to Auckland. Among vessels lost there have been the Waircrapa in 1894 when 150 lives were lost and the Lalla Rookh in 1587. J SHIP’S FURTHER - “ 5.0.5.” APPEALS. ~ AVIN JJ NG TON. June 1. This morning early the following further wireless messages were received by the (1.P.0. here: — 1.2 S a.m.: Following from Wiltshire —“Very badly mi shore. Nos. I and 2 holds full <b water. Vessel knocking about heavily. Immediate assisium .■ required to save life. Very thick weather. The ship is on the southern etui of the Great Barrier Ishtn !. Several steamers art 1 coming, but too far off for a reply. W’hat are you doing C' 5.5 a.m.: '•Fear ship will now be a total wreck. ONSLAUGHT UPON INDUSTRIAL ARBITRATION SYDNEY. June 1. in connection with the employers’ agitation in Australia against compulsory industrial arbitration, a New Smith Wales section of the Commonwealth Single Purpose League for the abolition of the compulsory clauses of the Federal and State Arbitration Acts, will he launched. A manifesto issued to the public by the promoters of the agitation claims that industrial arbitration has broken down. Overlapping awards, eont'i< ting decisions, farcical inquiries into the cost of living, and open defiance of the Gouri s decisions had created a maze of industrial chaos. The League does not propose the abolition of the Arbitration Court, which will remain in the event, of both parties agreeing to approach it.