THE TONGARIRO WRECK

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17264, 4 September 1916, Page 9

THE TONGARIRO WRECK

SALVAGE PROSPECTS

[Per Press Association.] NAPIER, September 2

Ifc is stated that tho chances of salvage of that portion of tho cargo above tho water on the Tongariro are good, should the -weather remain calm and continue as at present at the scene of the wreck. The Te Aioha leaves tonight, taking winches and necessary equipment. Tho trouble is that *all tho cargo will havo to bo taken off in surf boats, as coastal vessels cannot be taken alongside with safet}'. RESCUED MEN'S STORIES. Members of the crew of the wrecked Tongariro arrived in Wellington by tho Westralia on Friday morning from Xapior. There were seventy-eight of them in all, nine having been left to stand by the stranded vessel. The rcscuod men appeared little the worse for their experience. A few wore bandages indicating injuries sustained when leaving tho vessel, but there were no accidents of a serious nature. Many ot* the men had escaped in a great hurry from tho vessel, and on their arrival in Wellington wore borrowed clothes, with which they had been supplied in Napier. WHEN* THE VESSEL STRUCK. The men wore not anxious to talk of their experiences, but from their individual statements a connected narrativo is obtainable. The grounding occurred shortly after 7 p.m., and tho first warning received by most members of the crew was a terrific crash. Tho wireless distress call was immediately sent out. with tho result, as already known, that tho Westralia, Arahura and Calm were soon rushing to tho rescue. Tho Tongariro listed to port almost immediately after_ she struck, and Captain Makepeace thereupon gave orders to take to tho boats. This the crew did, quietly and without excitement. The chief mishap that occurred was in connection with the launching of the "accident" boat, which is kept swung out on tho davits. Half a dozen men climbed into this boat, with tho result that when it was released it swung out and overturned. Tho men wero thrown into tho water, but were quickly rescued. They wero rather exhausted when picked up, but recovered in tho boats. The boats on the starboard side worn put out of commission by the heavy list of the vessel, but those on the port side were available. One is said to have been lost, being smashed against other boats which were being launched at the same time. Tho first boat launched was sent out to pick up tho men who had been precipitated into tho water. It returned and took on board more of the crew. EXCELLENT BEHAVIOUR OF THE CREW. Tho only member of the crew to display excitement was a negro, who became panicky and ended up by falling into the water. He clutched another man, but was made to loosen his hold, and was then taken into the boat in a quietened condition. The stewardess, the only woman on board, was quite calm. She was put into the firsthaat. The captain was tho last to loavo tho vessel. Several apprentices who were making their first voyage came splendidly through the experience. Down , below there was no panic. The plates in the engine-room and stokehold buckled when the crash came, and water commenced to come in. but the men. on receiving the word from the engineer, passed up on deck in an orderly manner. IN THE BOATS.

j Once in the boats, the men had little ! ito fenr. The sea was fairly calm. . I though there was a swell on. For ; I three hours the boats kept on the lee | [ side, returning to the stranded steamer j I several times to make certain that no j one- had been left on board. About j | 10.30 p.m. they were picked up by the ! Koutouni. j The Tougariro hod no passengers, but j there were a. number of carpenters at : ! work, making alterations in the in- i j teriSr of the vessel. When the mishap ! occurred they proved as calm and use- ! ful as the seamen. NAMES OF GREW. The members of the crew who havo been brought on to Wellington aro:— J. Schofield (third officer), J. Brogden, 11. V. Miller, T. J. Breen, T. Barron, \V. Lo Fenore, E. Carre, G. Butler, W. ; Holmes, 0. Monlton, G. W. White, W. Wiieadon, O. H. Lowo, C. Noice, L. Jackson, 0. Vasacau, H. Thomas, J. Gibl), T. V. Walsh, P. Kitchin, J. Andersor., J. Snell, S. Morrison, H. C. t Hnlforrl, R. W. Brown, J. T. Johnson, * J. Banning, H. Bateman, H. Brown, B. 0. Evans, F. C. Morrish, T. J. Higgins, F. Sullivan, M. I. Urttin, T. Ur- • win, 0. Turnev, J. Griffiths, A. 0. Smith, H, Clovcrley, J. Onckett, H. Brandon, J. Ganci, D. Pilaasuij J. ; Wright, Mrs Hitchmough, P. Dckkar, ,'). Robertson, J. Bait, W. Gcare, J. Turner, W. Joselvno, G. Saville, J. Sipplo, H. C. Hodson, M. M'Carthy, J. M'Carthv. J. Giilen, T. Reoney, J. ' Walsh, J. Ryan, G Fitzgerald, J. . Baker, G. Flatts. H. BattershiH. T. j Lo Fenore, C. Finch, J. Moore, W. | Groves, J. Lace, W. Darken. J. Love- I joy, H. Green, J. Allies, K. Harding, j Efforts are being mad* to salvage j their personal effects. In the mean- j time ■ they aro waiting in Wellington. I and may be transferred to another of , the New Zealand Shipping Company's i • vessels. Should berths not bo found | for them on other vessels, they will be j s&nt back to England, where they were j signed ou. : .

POSITION OF THE VESSEL. , ' The New Zealand Shipping Company ! reported on Saturday that 'there is, j if anything, a change for the worse in the Tongariro's position. There is not tho least chance of getting the vessel off the rock, as she is hard and fast from tho stem to amidships, and 1 is badly holed. The captain, chief of- < iicor, second officer, and tho chief and > second engineers, With four of the

crew, are still standing by in a small steamer. .On Friday the sea was too rough to permit of any cargo being got out of the vessel and it is now reported that the lower part of No. C hold is full of water.

It is still hoped that some of the cargo will be got out of the ship, though it will be a slow business, as it would have to be- taken out by manpower, no steam power being available on tho wrecked steamer. Even, then there is the difficulty that steamers are unable to get alongside, and it will bo necessary to place whatever cargo is got out of holds into surfboats, to be transferred to the Bteamers. The bullion landed in Napier from the vessel consists of fifty-one boxes, thirty-one of which aro for Dunedin and twenty for Invercargill.