WRECK OF THE PROGRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1931, Page 5

WRECK OF THE PROGRESS

STORY OF THE DISASTER. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, May I. Daylight revealed that the vessel’s position had not altered very much during the night. Her anchor was standing up to the terrific strain imposed by the heavy, confused sea. She was then something less than a mile (iff the Red Rocks and was plunging heavily without intermission. Developments were anxiously watched from the shore by a party of Harbour 'Board officials, and men from the “Diomede,” under Captain P. S. Peterson. Ac ting. Deputy Harbourmaster, who had rocket apparatus ready for immediate use, if necessary. The hours dragged on, but there* was no material improvement in the vessel’s plight. Men could be sec*n running round her decks and at 10.55 a.in. the fuiy trysail was hoisted on the main mast, and then, the cable either having slipped or carried away, the* vessel began to drift along the coast. Soon she was clear of dangerous rocks off Red Rocks, and. fcq- a time, there appeared to be a faint chance that she would weather the jagged rocks running out from the vicinity of “The Run Around.” Meantime the tug Toiu had been approaching her. and about half way between Reel Rocks and the “Run Around,” the tug appeared to be within a short distance* of the Progress. The latter vessel, however, was then dangerously close in, and any attempt at a rescue was attended by tlie utmost danger , for the- rescuers. Those on board the* Progress were making a gallant fight against terrible odds, hut when the Toia failed to achieve* her object, a disaster became inevitable. At 12 o’clock, a series of short whistles from the Progress announced that she had struck, hut the end was still a little way off. Rising and plunging heavily, the vessel made her way another 700 yards along tin* coast before the end came when a huge sea caught her broadside on, and she struck with teniffic force. Within a few minutes, the after part of the ship broke off, and it swept round ou to the forepart. At about that time, the sea increased, and at times the wreck was almost completely obscured from sight. The men could be seen clinging to various parts of the deck and rigging, but the heavy seas wc.*r ( . too much for them. Soon the broiling water,- were dotted with the heads of men taking a, forlorn chance to reach "safety. Words tall to describe the uncanny impression created when the whistle sounded as the Progress struck. A cry “she’s gone!” went up from the horrified onlookers. Then. a,s sea after ,„ea swept over the vessel, it become only too evident that the Progress had lost her struggle, A graphic evidence of the might of tlu> seas was afforded by the rapidity with which the vessel broke up. It was actually only a few minutes before film broke in two. Two men

remained huddled on the sloping forepart of the vessel. Two others managed to reach comparative safety on some rocks tlrat were only a few yards from the wreck. Here they were exposed to considerable risk. At times they were completely submerged by big waves. The two who had remained on the wreck finally jumped into the water, just r,, the rocket apparatus was being prepared for action. They were ultimately picked up, both of them bleeding, ami one unconscious. The rocket apparatus failed to reach the two men who were clinging to the rocks about 150 yards from the shore. In a small boat, three men battled gallantly for over an hour in an endeavour to rescue these men, whose position, with the tide coming in last, was becoming more hazardous every minute. Heavy seas were continually breaking over them. Another man took a big risk in attempting to swim out with a line. He did not get very lar. and his safety was also imperilled. A longer boat, manned by Italian fishermen then attempted to reach the two men, amidst cheers from the crowd. They picked up the man who had endeavoured to swim out with the line, and also picked up one of the seamen on the rocks. The other seaman, however, when, the boat was half way between Lhe shore and the rocks, decided to strike out for the shore. Tie was quickly swept round towards the bay beyond the reach of the men in the boat, but he "'as rescued by a lifeline from bis plight. The men who were brought ashore presented a pitiable sight. They were bleeding copiously. Their clothes in some eases were almost completely torn off them, and they were blue with the cold. They were assisted into nearby houses, where restoratives were available.

Wreckage began to come ashore soon after the vessel -broke up. It must have been from the drifting spars and other parts of the vessel as much as from the rocks that the crew, almost without exception, received their injuries.

SECOND MATE’S STORY. Kcfitaa Kanerva. the second mate of flic steamer, who was seen at the Hospital, «aid that the Progress's propeliur dropped off at 7 o’clock last night-, and then a course was shaped for the Wellington Heads, sail being used during the night, as the vessel was startinn: t.o set in towards the shore. The wind then increased and the anchor, w hich had been put out. began to diag. At daylight the ship wa ft about a mile from land. The tug Tojn arrived somewhere shortly after midnight, but they could not get a rope from the tug or one to the tug for a considerable time. “At last, the tug picked up a light

line from the Progress,” said the second mate, ‘‘nut. ic broke, and the Progress gradually drifted towards th e shore. .Repeated efforts were made inter to get. a line from the tug, but without success, Before the Progress struck the rocks, we all gathered on the poop. Heavy waves uere now In caking over the ship. We were all washed off one alter another, i managed to scramble on to a rock, but 1 aas washed oif, and the next 1 knew aas that a man irom the shoi'e was assisting me to land.

POLJUEMEN 'JO I’UK RESCUE. \wuie a rescue boat, in charge of Constable if. jjaker, of tsiaiiu jju* , was leLu ruing to tu e shore ai,er i, u »-

nig picked np a member of the crew °* me Progress, a large wave capsk.-J it. It was with great tiiliiculty that

*>aiier was rescueu. tie was sent home in an exhausted condition.

Constable Hammond, of Taranaki Street tried to reach some of the crew with a life line, but the heavy <sea lorcetl him hack on to the rocks, where he was rescued by some fishermen, who went around to the scene in a lurry carrying a dinghy with them. Hammond, also in an exhausted condition, was taken home. WHY TERAWHTTi; TURNED BACK.

At 5 o’clock this morning the assistance of the Union Steam Ship Coy’s tug Terawhiti was sought. She left the wharf at 6.45. Captain Wilson the master, told a reporter that lie went no further than just outside the heads, where lie received a report from the To in that the coikUAions were tod had for anything to be done, Captain Wilsop could see for himself that it was hopeless to proceed, and hi? returned. The Progress had two anchors down. They were holding fast. When he found that lie could not do anything, Captain Wilson communicated with 'lsland Bay, and asked if it would be possible to get a line out to the Progress by means of a launch but a launch could not be sent out.

TOIA’S SECOND TRY. Captain Wilson then received word that the Toia was going to have another try. After taking on hoard a, 'ring length of rope, the Toia left the Queen’s Wharf at 9.10 a.in. with the Harbourmaster, Captain J. Spence, and Captain Holm, of the Holm Shipping Company, on board, in addition to Captain Campbell. As the morning wore on, the chances of the weather moderating did not improve, and the ninety fathoms of cable attached to, the anchors wpre severely strained.

When the Toia arrived it was seen that the Progress had drifted too far inshore for the tug to be of any assistance, even had the weather permitted. The Toia returned to port at 1.20 p.m. WHY ANCHORS WERE LET GO.

Captain Holm gave his personal opinion as to what had lyipp-ned just before the vessel went on the rock s About noon, he surmised. Captain Copland, when he found his ship drifting upbore, decided to let go hi* anchors ami to endeavour to beach the ship under sail. Tile attempt, was umsuts cossful. and thy ship finished up on the rock s about SOO yards Off the shore,

LIST OF THE DROWNED. WELLINGTON. May 1. The revised list of those drowned in the wreck of the Progress is as follows : W. Wintoti, aged 48, fireman, °t Dunedin. W. Finch, aged 40, single, cook of Wellington. F. Lawton, aged -Id, married, Chief Officer, of Fairview Terrace, Kelburn, Wellington. T. Simpson aged 46, manned, chief engineer of Dunedin. SURVIVORS. The survivors are:— Captain A. Copland, aged 4d, married, master, of Opawa, Christchurch. Ivustaa Katienvu, aged 33, single, second mate, of Wellington. Fritz Degerholm, aged 26, married, able seaman, of Wellington. •John Metcalf, aged 43, married, fireman. of Wellington.

Felix Krtiisik. aged 27. single, tthlt seaman, of Wellington. Jack Horgan. aged 25, single, able •seaman, of Wellington. William Evans, aged 25, single, able seaman, of Wellington. .1. A. Collins, aged 17, .single, ordinary seaman, No. 38, Palßser Rd., Wellington. CONDITION OF SURVIVORS. WELLINGTON, May 1. AH of the survivors of the Progress wreck are in hospital, save Captain Copland, who is at a friend s home. The survivors are all suffering from shock and exposure. Some have abrasions and broken ribs.