THE WAIRARAPA DISASTER. AN AUCKLAND LADY SURVIVOR-TWELVE HOUSES IN THE WATER,

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8121, 5 November 1894, Page 1

THE WAIRARAPA DISASTER. AN AUCKLAND LADY SURVIVOR- TWELVE HOUSES IN THE WATER,

Misa Jano Williams, oijo of tho survivors, had a moat thrilling experience, boing in the water for twelve hours. For park of tho timo she was clinging to a spar with her hair wound round it, and durthe remainder of tho timo she lay on two buoys. Misa Williams, accompanied by her sistor Sarah, twenty years of ago, loft Auckland for Sydney on tho last trip of tho Rotomahana. She gave a reporter the following account of what eho went through : At a quarter pa.st twelvo I heard a thud, and jumped out of my bunk. In tho samo apartment was my sister Sarah. I went to tho ladies cabin on tho way to tho saloon staircase, and ascertained that there was an accident of Bomo sort. I went back for my sistor, and wo both put our lifebelts on. We then ran on to tho hurricane deck, in timo to see tho sleamor list over. A number who were standing on that side of tho steamer were swept oil' by tho Buddon lurch and drowned. Tho screams at Luis time woro dreadful. My sister and I then climbed on a railing and woro noarly swept away several times by tho terrific fury of tho wavo^. Our situation may be imagined, for at this time it was pitch dark. Many thought about this time that tho steamer was breakijg up and would oink. I moved to the right and clung to a ropo which suspends tho saloon awning. In the meantime my sister climbod on to tho captain's bridge. Next thing, a hugo wave swopt over us, and tho ropo breaking, I was swopt into tho sea. Not being ablo to swim, I had to hold my.solf up by catching pieces of wreckago that were iloating about. I was swopt, with a great number of others, among the wreckage close to a cliff. By this time tho welcome dawn way just beginning to appear, and wo were ablo to recognise each other, The scone at this timo was terrible. I was holding on to ono of tho spir.s with my hair woven round it, and was in this position for some hours, while many woro drowned one after another in my sight through the force of tho waves and wreckage. Among theso 1 recognised being drowned at this time were Mrs M'Donald, ono of tho stewardesses in tho saloon. Miss Cole, who could swim, was about this time swept on to a small ledgo by the force of the waves, and was saved. Among^ tho great number who hero perished, I way the only one left alive in the water, and every miuuto I thought it was my turn. However, I managed to keep my prcsonco of mind. When all round me had boon drowned, I saw a lifebelt floating in tho water. 1 managed to get it and put my head through it. I lay in this position for perhaps a couplo of hours, I then saw another lifebelt iloating about. I caught it and pul my foot through it, thereby keeping myself afloat. I had only my nightdress on, and this helped mo greatly, for if I had boon dressed I felt sure ttut I would have boon drowned. At this timo a number woro boing taken from tho steamer on to a clill by means of a rope. Just imagino my feelings as I lay on tho two lifebuoys, with dozens of dead bodies, wreckage and horses iloating round mo, and inyholf the only survivor. Every minute I expected some help from those who lr\d t^ot on shoro, but none came for a long time. 1 could not say how many hour.:} I was on tho lifebuoys, but they told mo subsequently I was in tho water fully twelvo hours. I could see many lying, ovidontly exhausted, on tho dill's. At lust, I saw some of those on shore looking at me and waving their hands. I waved my hand back. At this timo I was probably 800 or 900 yards away from tho shoro, and my feelings of pleasuro at boing seen cannot bo doscribod. Thoso on shoro shouted and waved their hands to koop my spirits up and encourage mo until they could obtain a ropo to pull me ashore. Shortly afterwards 1 recognised tho fcico ol Mr Thorn is Roberts swi.mning towards mo. I could scarcely hold up my arms to let him put a rope around my bhouldcrs. I folt terribly woak. Mr Roberts then swam with me to tho ciill". jl leally do not know how he managed, for there was a strong current running at tho timo. However, wo got back in safety to tho elifl', and were both hauled up by those abovo us. 1 was so weak when 1 got on shoro that I could not htand. Mr M'Kondall, second .steward, carried mo on his back up a steep rock, and means woro taken to restore circulation of blood.