The Wreck of the Tasmania.

Hastings Standard, Issue 391, 5 August 1897, Page 3

The Wreck of the Tasmania.

ANOTHER BODY FOUND. [By Telegraph.] (Per Press Association.) Gisborne, This day. Another body has been wrshed ashore at Mahunga with no clothes on except boots and socks. INCIDENTS OF THE WRECK. Frt^Platu-issues of the Poverty Bay Herald we make the following extracts : When Captain MrGee in answer to the persuasions of his officer?, did leave the ship and took charge of his lifeboat, the relief of the others and their admiration for his conduct found vent in three hearty cheers, a demonstration at such a time almost unprecedented, but spontaneous and involuntary. Officeis and men were all deeply afflicted with grief at the loss of their popular chief steward, " Charlie " Henderson. Walter Crysell, who on Saturday was unaccounted for, has since turned op. He was in the boat cast ashore at the Mahia, and tramped the hills, eventually alighting on a Maori whare, where he lit a fire. Another passenger not previously mentioned was Mr James Tyson, a well-known footballer, who landed here from the captain's boat. He was ship-wrecked one day and next in the football field. This passenger rendered good service at the time of the wreck by fetching rugs, &c., for the people in the boats. The second stewardess, MissMc-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. and were, of course, all lost. Whilst the officers speak generally in teims of high pnuse of the conduct of the passengers, both at the time of the wreck, in the boats, and on shore, they state that there were a few cases of chicken-heartedness, if not worse, amoßgst several men—in sad contrast to the noble behavior of most of the women. Strange to say, and yet it is not strange, those who showed the most fear in the hour of peril, and the least desire to help, are the very ones who are now bragging of what they did aud what others ought to have done. The steward Ross, who was in the carpenter's boat, was so exhausted, and in the last gasp, that a fire had to be built around him where he was found before animation could be restored. In the locket of one poor fellow was an ace of clubs. As it was opened in the morgue, a bystander remarked, " Poor fellow, clubs was not trumps this time." Another had amongst his possessions a ticket in an art union, and it was remarked that he had drawn a blank in life's lottery. The net proceeds of the concert held on Saturday night in aid of the sufferers by the wreck was £3l 9s 6d. Yesterday afternoon three female passengers who had lost everything they possessed in the wreck were given £3 each, and a male passenger who is destitute and unfit to work was given £2. The balance will probably be divided amongst the widows of the crew who lost their lives. There is one little incident which mast not be allowed to pass by unnoticed. One of the passengers who landed at Mahia, Mr Ayden (from Colombo), got into the boat clad only in a shirt, an overcoat, and a hat, all of the best and the latest cut, material and finish. Despite this somewhat scanty attire, he exhibited a cheerfulness and courage which were simply remarkable, and he not only managed to be cheerful himself, but to cheer up the other men and women in the boat to an astonishing extent. On landing he refused to walk up to Mr Ormond's homestead until he had been supplied with an extra garment, but the only pair of trousers available were of moleskin, and old and shabby withal. The boots with which he was furnished were fitting companions for the moleskins, but he donned both boots and pants with as much cheerfulness as he had exhibited under the trying circumstances of the wreck, and merrily set out to walk to the homestead. His appearance, clad in old boots and moleskins, covered by a swell hat and overcoat, created roars of laughter, in which he himself bad perforce to join. The second steward, Mr C. Betts, is having a rather rough experience. He was landed at the Mahia, and when the crew left on Sunday was detached off to remain behind and identify any bodies that might be found. A body was found on Sunday morning, and placed under a tree at Mahunga. The Wairoa constable was present when it was put there, and one would surely have expected more prompt steps to have been taken to hold an inquest. Betts clearly identified the body and left a sworn declaration to that effect, as well as full descriptions of all the other missing people. Having thus done as much as he could, he came into town on horseback over the very rough country between here and Paritu. The Magistrate held that his attendance would be necessary at an inquest, which he instructed Mr Bayly, J.P., to so poor Betts, whose first experienfekbis was of roughing it and riding ou horseback, had perforce to make another trip to Mahunga and back. He certainly deserves credit for the cheerful way in which he obeyed orders, but it does seem hard ou him that there should have been so much delay over the inquest and that the formalities should have to be so rigidly adhered to.