VIVID STORIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 May 1927, Page 8

VIVID STORIES.

RIVERINA'S PASSAGES

PETITION TO HELP CAPTAIN AT INQUIRY.

SYDNEY, April 32. Haggard and worn, the first- batch of the passengers from the stranded R-iverma, reached Sydney on the Cooma train before 5 -a.m. to-day. Many told vivid stories of the stranding and the wearying tramp to Mallacoota. Others were too tired to talk. They wanted to sleep. A petition is being circulated among the passengers, asking that some of their number be permitted to give evidence in Captain Parry’s favour at the inquiry into the stranding. Only IS Eivcrna passengers, including a number. of ladies, were on the train. All those who were interviewed were loud in their praises of Captain Parry. The weary travellers were not anxious to talk. They were cheerful, but quite obviously sick and tired of their adventure. “All I’m going to open my mouth for is food,” said the first man off the train.

“I quite enjoyed the experience really,” one of the ladies began. But a big man who had been waiting a long time for her, anxiously pacing the platform, sezied her with a “Darling —at last!’!’ and she enjoyed another experience—that of being kissed in_front of a cheering crowd. They arrived with what they stood up in for the most part, though a few carried suitcases, coats and rugs.

WOMAN LIFE OF PARTY

The passengers were at dinner when the crash came. All felt the bump, but there was no panic, and many went on with their meal unconcernedly. Others went out to make an investigation, only to find the rain pelting dow;n in such blinding torrents .that it was possible to see only a few yards from the ship’s side. The position of the Riverina, combined with the terrific storm, resulted in a curious churning motion in the steamer as she was buffeted by the waves and few, even of the experienced travellers aboard, escaped seasickness of the most violent type.

“We danced until the moment we left for the shore,” said one of the passengers. ‘‘Complaints were few, and surely the few were excusable? Everybody was determined to keep smiling, whatever happened. It was easy enough—the captain was a real pal.” There were rocks on either side of the vessel and she was on an even keel. “It was marvellous the -Riverina went where she. did. through a small opening in the sand,” said the same passenger. ,“A terrible tragedy would, have been the inevitable result had she not done so. As it is, there was; not one serious casualty.”

Mrs. E. M. Metcalfe, of Sydney, is reported to have been the only woman on the vessel who was not _ -seasick. ‘.‘/There was no panic,” she said. “The ■Riverina settled down so gracefully, but even the captain thought we were on the rocks at first. Miss E. Tomlinson, of Newtown. Hobart, who was on a holiday trip to Sydney, and who, with Miss May Smith, of Zeehan, Tasmania, arrived with Mrs Metcalfe this morning, said that Mrs Metcalfe was the “life and soul of the ship. ” “ She was the most cheerful person among us, and kept everyone in -high spirits,” she remarked. Mrs -Metcalfe was on her way to Europe on the Osterlev, and a business wire brought her back on the Riverina. “It is the first time I have, not insured my luggage, ” she said, with a wiry smile —‘and they were such beautiful frocks.’ ”

LONG, BAREFOOTED TRUDGE- IN TRAIN.

Beautiful or not, frocks—or any other luggage—were out of the question when at last, with an opening in the weather., the captain decided Lo land the passengers. Members of the crew went ashore, drove a stake in the sand, and made a fast line. Following this with his hands, the steersman of each boat was able to take the passengers ashore without- the use of oars. Then came the long march.

“Oh, it was terrible,” said Mrs. Metcalfe. “Eight miles over the wet sand, carrying our bundles, and most of us barefooted! The rain was pouring down and we arrived in the darkness. “Twer, horses were borrowed from a teamster, and an elderly man and woman rode on these most of the way, the man exchanging his h-orse later with a number of children, who ‘double-banked’ into Mallacoota in great glee. Mi's. Knight, though suffering severl.v from her scalding, declined to ride, but walked with the rest. ’ ’

“And now,” said Mrs. Metcalfe “I'm going to sleep for two days.”

All the travellers but one, a woman, had left the platform at the Central Station, when the rumour went round that she was stranded without sufficient money to see her to her home in the suburbs. A hurried “whip round” was made and the result handed to the astonished woman. She returned it—though not indignantly—she was quite well provided for, and merely waiting for a conveyance. “I have just had my first shave for nearly a week,” said Mr. Ivan G. Phillips, one of the JS passengers of the Riverina to reach Sydney to-day, some time after his arrival. “Very few, if any, of the passengers,” lie-said, “left the women and children to struggle as best they could after they landed. I helped to carry a woman part of the way to Mu 11 a - coota entrance, and I was only one of many who helped in one way or the other. ’ ’

"The passengers spent a. comfortable night on the train, on their way from Bombala to Sydney. Those who required sleeping berths were provided with them, but some preferred fa sit up. Allegations that there was mismanagement. at the Bombala railway station, which increased the discomfort of the party were vigorously denied by Mr. G. Williamson, of Ilobart, who was one of the IS.