THIRD OFFICER’S STORY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17262, 1 September 1916, Page 7

THIRD OFFICER’S STORY.

EVERYONE COOL- * DIFFICULTY IN LOWERING BOATS- , The third officer’s story was as follows “We struok at seven minutes to seven, and the captain was tliqn on tho bridge. From what I could make out the vessel seemed to have caught the rock at the rear, and this forced the bow into deep water. Some time later the lights went out, but I could discern that" tho vessel had tilted considerably.' There was no panic on deck and everyone appeared cool. Owing to the lean of the vessel considerable difficulty was experienced in lowering the boats from the port side, which was high in the air. Occasionally I noticed the swell sweep over the bow of tho vessel, which was in very deep water. Wo commenced to fire rockets, and I could distinctly hear the wireless operator going at top with the “ 5.0.5.” Two boats wore apparently broken and two were successfully launched. The Kontunui arrived about 10 p.m. and layoff about a quarter of a mile. The crew were picked up from tho boats and tlio remainder taken off tho Tongariro to the Kontunui. The captain, chief, second and fourth officers, chief and second stewards and chief and second engineers, as well ns five or six deck hands, were left on the Koutunui, while tho remainder of us were shifted to the Westralia. The Koutunui was going to lie alongside till daylight. T came on’ in charge of these men® All those who • are injured have only received minor injuries, and these , were received during launching operations. Tho men are going on to Wellington to-day by the Westralia. Considerable assistance was given me by the Napier office staff in completing arrangements. The ship was to he fitted up after discharge at Dunedin, for the purpose of taking away a reinforcement draft. Tt was lucky for the passengers that it was found necessary to drop them all at Auckland."