THE ACCIDENT TO THE WAIHORA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 55, 6 March 1886, Page 4

THE ACCIDENT TO THE WAIHORA.

NARRATIVE OP A PASSENGER,

THE FLOATING OP THE VESSEL,

Mr C. F. Western, of the Maryborough Advertise}', who was a passenger from NewZealand m the Waihora, gives the following account of the occurrence : — J< We had just finished dinner, at about 2 p.m., and were lounging, as usual, on the hurricane de.k, the weather at the time being beautifully fine, and all were enjoying themselves When we saw the rooks first they were s'raigtib ahead, and else t) the mainland. Some of the passengers remarked that we were steering very close to the reef, aud the possibilities m the way of swimming ashore were jestingly debated iv the event of the chip striking. One of the reofs, which appeared to be an agglomeration of loose boulders, was about half a mile long, and a quartsr of a mile broad, and lying something less than a mile from the mainlaud, with a small island midway. Just as the Waihora come abreast of the rock she struck, and came to a complete standstill. The shock was nob a severe one, and just sufnoienb to cause the passengers to lurch forwards, as m the case of a train stopping suddenly. There was a universal inquiry, ' What is it?' The male passengers knew that the vessel had struck the ground, but not wishing to alarm the ladies— of whom there was a large number on board — the matter was passed over lightly with the explanation that the piston rod or something of that kind had broken. The steward came on deck, and on being questioned, said the ship had struck a floating log. We saw the sailors forward, however, uncovering the lifeboats, and as they shortly afterwards brought up the lifebuoys and distributed them about the vessel, everyone knew that the accident was something more serious than a collision with a floating log. The captain was on the bridge giving directions, and appeared to be very cool and collected. The port hand pump was at once got into gear, but the starboard pump would not work. The steam-pumps were all m full work from the moment the vessel struck. Within . five minutes of the accident the Waihora was retracing her course, and after steaming back for about a mile, she turned into a sandy bay just below the Norgate rocks. It appeared as though the captain had decided to beach the vessel here, but within ten minutes she swung round and steamed down again towards where she had taken the ground, but this time keeping further out from the reef. Word was then passed along that Captain McGee had determined to run for Swan Island some two hours' steam ahead, and that he either expected to meet the Southern Cross on the way or wait for her at that point. The. pumps, with the exception of the starboard hand pump, were all going hard. The smoke from the funnel of the Southern Cross was soon sighted ahead, and shortly after half -past three o'clock that vessel was abreast of the Waihora. A boat was lowered, and Captain McGee, hailing the Captain of the Southern Cross, said • Will you escort us back to Swan Island ? There is a letter m the boat.' The fact of a letter being sent off, instead of the captain explaining matters through his speaking trumpet, showed that there was a desire to keep the passengers ignorant of the full extent of the accident. Some of the passengers reported that eight feet of the sheathing had been torn away from the vessel's bows, and was standing out from the hull. The Southern Cross dropped astern and altered her course to accompany us. 1 aftewards learned that the captain, fearing the Waihora would go down, was not inclined m the interests of his own vessel's safety to come too close to the damaged steamer. At five o'clock we were at the Swan Island anchorage, the Southern Cross lying between us and the shore The island on which the lighthouse is situated is low and uninviting, and apparently covered with scrub. On one side there is a stretch of sandy beach. Everyone was then expected tojbe landed, and as the bay is well sheltered, 'the prospect was not altogether disagreeable. When Captain Capurn, of the Southern Cross, came on board, it was, however decided that the passengers should be transhipped to his vessel and taken to Melbourne. The word was passed round to prepare personal luggage only. The transhipment of passengers was quickly and quietly done, the sea being very calm. The children, of whom there were 53 on board, were sent off first with their parents. Indeed, there was so little bustle or hurry that the usual set dinner was served on the Waihora at six o'clock, the menu and attendance being as perfect as usual. Captain McGee's wife, with their child,- decided to remain on board-the Waihora. Just before leaving the vessel I looked over the bows, and saw that the register gave 22 feet of water, thus indicating that the vessel had sunk 7 feet since she left; port. Up to this time the genera! opinion was that the Waihora had struck the Salamander Rock, but as the Southern Cross had passed this point before we hailed her this wag impossidle. It was stated that the Norgate rocks were not marked on the Waihora chart."