MISHAPS TO STEAMERS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17080, 1 February 1916, Page 7

MISHAPS TO STEAMERS

VESSELS STRANDED IN FOG. THE KAITOA REFLOATED. EXPERIENCES OF THE PASSENGERS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 31. The Kaitoa, which went ashore near Terawhiti last night, was refloated an hour and a half later. She stood by til! the morning, when the passengers were taken on board- again, and the vessel came on to Wellington. Details of the Kaitoa’s experience were told at -Makar* by Mr B. Trathen (of Trathen and Co., Nelson), who was a passenger. The passage, he said, was over a millpond sea. No fog was encountered until about half an hour after passing Jackson’s Head, when the vessel ran into a heavy bank which obscured everything. Captain Stevens kept the foghorn blowing coiitinuousAbout a quarter to seven the narrator, while sitting at tea, felt the Kaitoa. give a slight bump, and then followed two heavier bumps, and the vessel then came to a- stop. Mr Trathen with others rushed on dpek. The vessel seemed to be about fifty yards from the shore. The fog still was heavy around them, and objects even a little distance away were indistinct, but they could see rocks on either side, and ahead loomed up inhospitable rocky cliffs. Then suddenly, and the sight, impressed them all, out of the bank or fog above them there appeared the sunlit' top of Terawhiti Mountain. A wafting aside of the fog blanket had shown it them, and it told them wnere they were. . Meanwhile there' was no excitement aboard. The ship lay balancing on a sandspit upon which she had run- me soldiers aboard had been put under military discipline by LieutenantColonel Andrews, N.Z.M.C., and they stood ready to help. The boats were swung out, and no time was lost getting the passengers ashore, the women, of whom there were nine aboard, going first. A landing was effected without any accident, and virtually without any wettings, -bankets and a tarpaulin were sent ashore, and preparations were made to settle down for the night, the tarpaulin being rigged up as a shelter for the ladies. The evening was warm and only a very slight breeze came up from the Sony' as the sun went down. In a little while coffee, cocoa, biscuits and fruit were being served out. . The second officer and six men,, wno volunteered for this work, pulled off in 'one of the. boats along the coast to seek assistance. The passengers, settling clown for the night, watched them go, hugging the rocky coast. Soon they were lost in the fog. lne boat’s party was successful in locating Terawhiti station, and from there news of the mishap was telephoned to the city. The tide when the Kaitoa. struck was at its lowest. This, as the weather was perfectly calm and no damaging sea was running, was fortunate, for with the return cf the tide the little vessel was quietlv lifted off the rocks, and at about 9.30 o’clock the passengers ashore saw her float from her temporary vesting place and hack out to seaTwo boats put off to her to ascertain whether the passengers were to go aboard again'or remain- on shore, hut the fog came bn heavily and the boats returned. "A. - a. The Kaitoa remained off' shore during the night, arid once’ of twice her signals were seen. Soon after daybreak Mr Trathen and two other'Nelson gentlemen, Messrs Currow and F. Sparrow, having urgent' business to' transact in Wellington, decided to endeavour to find on shore a route to the city. Accordingly they tramped six miles to Terawhiti sheep station. After being hospitably treated there they made for the Mafeara Road, where they were fortunate to find a motor-car, one of four which Messrs Bannatyne and Co. had sent out. In this they were brought to town. i

One other passenger, a soldier, hqcl set out to find a route to town,, blit was less fortunate. He tramped about the hills for five hours, and eventually brought up at Te Kamara homestead late this morning. From there, after refreshments, he was sent on his way and was picked up by a motor-car. With these exceptions all the passengers were taken off by- the Kaitoa this morning at 7.30 o’clock. Re-embarßa-tion was carried out without the slightest mishap and with dispatch. Tlie vessel then made for Wellington, arriving at the wharf at eleven o’clock.