LOSS OF THE STEAMER WAIRARAPA. (BY TELEGRAPH.)

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8122, 6 November 1894, Page 3

LOSS OF THE STEAMER WAIRARAPA. (BY TELEGRAPH.)

Received November 6, at 1 40 a.m. Sydnky, November 5, Mr Chick, drowned in the Wairarapa, searched for and discovered Warry, whoso whereabouts has been unknown to liio relatives in Now Zealand for a long time. Ho induced Warry to accompany him on tho ill*fatod voyage.

Wellington, November 5. To-night's Wairarapa roliof fund mooting was largely attonded, and was thoroughly roprosontative of all classes of fcho community. The Mayor presided, and the proceedings wero of a most enthusiastic character. Tho following resolutions wore carried ; Moved by his Worship tho Mayor, and socondod by Mr John Jack, Chairman of tho Harbor Board, " That a fund bo raised by public eubscription for the purpose of rolioving, as far as possible, tho distress consequent upon tho recent disastrous accident to tho 8.8. Wairarapa, to bo called • Tho s.s. Waitarapa relief fund.'" Moved by Mr H. D. 8011, M.H.R., and eoconded by Mr J. Duthie, M.H.R., "That a committee, consisting of members of the City Council, momborfi of tho Harbor Bo >rd, members representing tho city of Wellington in tho House of Representatives, and Messrs Aitken, M'JLollan, Richardson, Miles ard Maxwell, with powor to add to their number, bo appointod to undertake tho collection, management and distribution of tho fund." Movod by tho Roy. T. H. Sprott— "That inasmuch n& there i« no specific information as to tho amount required, it is hereby resolved that if tho funds will permit part may bo dovoted by tho comnnttoo to tho reward of those who by bravo and meritorious behaviour woro instrumental in saving life from tho wreck of tho Wairarapa." When tho last resolution was put all prosont roso to their foot in honor to tho bravo. Upwards of LlOO was collected in tho room, whilo promises to tho amouno of another LlOO were given. A largely-attended mooting of ladies was held in tho aftornoon, when a strong committee was formed to canvas for subBcrintions in aid of tho fund.

Cniasi'uiiuiicu, November 5. At a public mooting held this afternoon, the Mayor presiding, it was decided to fltarb a rolief fund in connection with the Walrarnpa disaator, and a rtpresontntivo committee was appointed to mako nil neccaaaiy arrangements. Tho Mayor reported thut up to tho proaent suma amounting to LIB 2a had been handed to him. Offers of aeaislanoo woro accepted bh follovva : Monster concert by tho combined musical socloties of Christchurob, outdoor feto at Sydmiham, bouefit performance by tho iVlard Juvenile Opera Company, and collection boxes at tho raceoouM 1 , and tho ohow ground. It was resolved that special collectors should be cent round tho district of Canterbury. The Jookey Club decided to alter the name of the selling fcwo-yoar-old raoe, to bo decided at Ricoarton on Thursday to that of •' The Wairarapa Two«year.old Plato." Tho Club has determined to give tho whole of tho surplus and all profits, nomination foeo, totaliiator percentage, etc., to the fund which is being raised in aid of the Buffurers by tho Watrarapu disaster.

Nbw Plymouth, October 5. A public meeting, presided over by tho Mayor, was hold to-night, when it was decided to raise Bubscriptions for tho relief of tho sufferers by tho Wairavapa disaster. Subscriptions aro to bo sont to tho general fund for distribution.

Auckland, November 5. Additional bodies identified aro : Mark Dicksort (pasoonger), a throe-year-old child named Baldwin, and Oharloa M'Kinnon (passenger, belonging to Vie' tori*). Tho bodioa of Koborb M'Goe (lamp trimmer), tho youngest Misa Scoular (Dunedin), and Bi ay (oon of Mr Bray, of Enfield, Sydney), have been identified. Whalley'a body h fco bo carried Homo. Those of Misa Rowbottom and White go to Sydnoy ; Baldwin (child), to Wellington ; and Murray, to Dunedin. A number more bodios were recovored. A meeting of citizsna was hold to-day. The Mayor presided, and a committeo was appointed to administer tho relief fund, and deal with urgent cases. Tho evidence of Mr Moyos, chief officer, wft3 continued this afternoon, Ho deposed as to his action on tho B'oamer, and in saving life. lie o<tw a life raft with 20 people on it floab bodily to sea, »nd drift in the direction of . At 8 o'clock at night ho asked tho captain when he was going to moderate tho epood, and did not epeak to him again till she struck. During the day he caw tho cap lain repeatedly. Ho would swear ho tvau sobor. Ho novor saw him tho worse for liqoor, In crote-examination by Mr Jackson Pulmer tho drift tvas to ehovr if the fog horn had boon uaed tho echoes from the Barrier cliffo would havo shown tho proximity of land. So far 62 bodiea havo been recoverod from the w rook. MlBB Colo, of Wellington, one of tho eurvivore, had a vory narrow eocapo of drowning. After boing washed ovorboard aho floated aahore on tho rocks on planks, and was helped ap tho rooka by a French ex»man.o'»war'B man, who wag instru- - roontal in saving her life. She was then in great danger of being washed away by the surf, for tho Maoris' boat could not venture near her owing to the daugeroun Bca, so a Maori named Kino »warn ashore end took her off on liia back to tho boats.

Dunjswn, Novomber {5. | At a meeting of t\\e> commit too of the tJnion Steamship Company Uonefib So* piety ft resolution was passed placing on record their deep sorrow and regrefc for the terrible cotaetrophe in the wreck of the Wairarapa and deplorable loss of life, end extending heartfelt sympathy to the relatives and frioncto of memboro and others lost, It vtob aleo unanimously rei> Bolyed to vote L3QO from the bonevolent fund for dietribbtton amongst the twenty* eight roerabero of tho Society eavod to ftsßißt them in obtaining outfits. Allowance to the widows of tho members drowned, and also to tho next of kin, amounting to L 14,0 more, alao pa&sod for P»7tt»«»fc « .

r Nawkb, November 1. yeelftig reference V*3 made in all the $harohes yesterday fo the "yyttirarapa dlsanter. At the ploao of fchq evening »errice in Trinity Wealeyan Ohuroh fcho foHowlog resolution was proposed by the fas, W?H, ?ec^ i ♦• Tbat thi« flopgwgft-

tlon, now assembled in Trinity Church, through the Press Association* tender to tha bereaved friends and families of thoso loaf, in the W^irarap* disaster, thoir hoAitfolfc etrmpathy with them in their severe trial." On the motion being put, the wholo congregation roso to join in acco/d

THE INQUEST. The inquest into oiroumatauoos attending tho disastrous wreck of tho stoamor Wairarapa at Miner's Head, Groat Barrier, on Sunday nighf, was hold at Maori Bay (<>r Catherine B»y), near thi northwest ex' ramify of tho Groat Barrier Island. Ninotoon bodies of men and women reo >vered along tho beaches tmd on the rock< wore taken round to ono spot in Maori Bay known asKawa, whore 12 bodiou had alroidy beor« buried by tho Maoris. About 3 o'olook in tho aU' moon tho coroner (Mr Henry Palmor) went ushoro from tho s.s. Aruylo at Maori Bay, accompanied by Soigoanfc Garablo and^six polioo oonstablos, tho Roy. Mr llftHeldon, Mr Johnston (third oflloor of tho Wairarapa), and onmo frionda and rolativtB of tho decoded. Th.> following eot'lors and Mnoiia wero tho jury : Edwird Puddi«on (foreman), J<»h» Flynn, P. Palmer, Thonirtß William E'llingtin, T. King, John Baptist, Tamo Kiogi, ami N. Ngawaka. Mr Palmor, coroner, conducted the enquiry, which was hold in the open air. Tho jurymen sat on a rook, while tho witooeses' statements were taken an thoy stood near a stump under tho sh^ido of umbrageous nativo trees, Tho inquost waa hold on tho wholo of tho 31 bodies discovered, tho ovidenoo of nil concerned beiog taken at ono swing soa< to aimplify misttors. Tho jury and witnosflos again vinwo 1 tho boJioe, excepting 15 interrod by Maoris, which wore to bo exhumed. Tho following evidence w*»h taken :

THIKD OFFICER S STATEMENT. William Herbert Johnston, third officer of tho ill-fated Wair.iropa, deposed : The Wftirarapa left Sydney on Wodiwday, 24th ulr., bound for Auokland. Wo lud, I should my, about 140 or 150 passengers and 03 of a crew. Oo Stturdiy evening last wo ran Into foggy woathor. It oWed ofl sufficient Jy on the morning of the 28th to allow us to pick up tho Throe Kings, continuing oloar until wo wore abreast of Cape Maria Van Diomon. Then the weather camo down thick again. The last and only land wo'oaw after this was Spirits Bay, to tho west of tho North C*po. The woathor continuod thick all tho day, and during nil my watch on deck that night. Captain M'lntosh wan on tho bridge all tho time. This wa« Sunday, tho 28th. I was relieved at midnight by ■.ho second officer, and was standing on tho lonor deok when the Bhip went ashore. Ordora wore given at onco by the captain to clear away the boats. It was a very dark, thick foggy night, and wo could not oee tho ship's length ahead. Wo did all that wo could to got tho bo its out. Wo carriod n>x boats and four literuffa, but owing to the ship heeling over so much it w<ih utterly Impossible to launch tho starboard boats, Tho start board hand was inshore, the port sido facing tho sea. Tho oteamor was listing seaward with a very heavy aoa rolling in on to her, tho list being at an anglo of about 45 degrets, she being on her beam ends. The two port life boats were smashed as soon as they wore launohod, owing to tho awful inroad of the eoa right on to our dock. My boat, which whs tho starboard aft lifoboat, was full of passongors, and two of tho crew, who took charge, boing unablo to hunch her, I out away tho falls and nrcdo all tho pcoplo lie down in tho bottom of the boat, The first sea washed her on the top of tho engine-room skylight, and tho next oarried her right ovor tho wreck. Tho boat, nm, however, otovo ,ln, tho bottom boing knocked out of hor. Wo managed to koop nor afloat till tho fourth officot's boat pickod us up. I do not know how the othor boats got away, but I know that only two boats did got away, the other ono being tho one known as tho mail boat, whioh is the one told off to i save the maih in oaso of an accident. | This wae tho ono that camo to tho relief of my boat. When she camo alongside j wo wore just sinking. I transferred to her all my people except two of the crew, j two of tho passengers, and myself, Wo stayed in our boat till wo found It impossible to keep her off tho shoro in hor sinking condition. Tho seas wore wash- I ing right over the (op of her. Wo all got into tho fourth officer's boat. There were finally about 12 in our party, as when tho boat struck on tho ongino room skylight some of thorn jumped over from hor and others fell out. Aft or we shifted to the other boat, wo kept to seaward of the wreok nil nighr, keoping our boat's head towaido tho sea. The boat boing overcrowded, wo woro in fear that she would to fev/amped. Wo oouid not see what was occurring on the bo ich m it waa such dirty weather. At daylight wo pulled round the coast to try and find a placu to land, but owing to the heavy sea that was running ub tho time it» was impossible to beach tho boat anywhere, so wo had to pull right round tho coabt till wo came to Whangaroa Bay, whero we benched tho boat and immediately sot oft across tho inland to bring assistance for tho wreck. Wo wore helped by a young man named Edlington, and wont across to Maori Bay. The Maoris at once placed thomselvos and thoir boats at our disposal, and wo pulled round to tho sceno of the wreck. Here wo found a considerable nutnbor of aurvivora on tho free of tho ledge at the bottom of the cliff close boeido tho wreck. Wo renchod tho wreck at 2.20 p.m. or thereabouts on Monday. We had a groat deal of difficulty In gotting tho aurvivors off owing to tho heavy sea that was running, but before dark all tho paBBcngora were got oft, and with tho exception of teu men landed at Coppermine B»y, eomodistanoa away. When wo were at tho wreck on that day thero wero a lot of corpses floating around with lifebelts on, but of course wo could do nothing for tho do id, wo had to save the living. Wo could do nothing moro that nigh) owing to tho darkness setting in, Ne*t morning tho Maoris succeeded in gotting off the rcmaintng 10 survivors. All tho survivors wero distributed about the plucoa on tho western side of tho Barrier. After tho passengers were all placed and billetod I went) to Fitssroy, whore I mot tho steamer Argy'o, and informed Captain Johnston of the disaster. The steamer gathered tho survivors and took thorn on to Auckland, while I remained on the island to look after everything for tho company, and do all X could in tho recovering of bodies. Qf the bodies already recovered we have burled ono (a lady Salvationist, Captain Laura Fl<*vell) at Kino's place, and another lady (Mies William*) at Moore's place, besides which thero are 31 dead at Maori and Catherine Bays, j waa collecting tho bodice this morning that were placed in shells and numbered. ■ 1 recognised the bodies of the two Misses Scoular, Mr Whalloy, John M'Qeo (a trimmor), and Mr Warry. I recognised the whole of tho dead pioked up as boing either passengers or orew of the Waira* rapa, fhore are many missing yet whom we have failed to §ns. I think they must have boon carried out to sea with tho tide.

WAVING <$VENTION«. Tbo Coroner : Was there any difforonco of opinion botwpon tho offjoera as to the stearaor'a position on Sunday night

Mr Johnston replied, " 1 don b want to answer that quostlou."— -Being pressed, ho said : I myeolf did not fool easy übout the ship's position on account of tho thick, fogey woathor, and I did not (urn in or go below after my watch on deck. Tho Coroner : Do you know if any of tho officers epoke to tho cap'ntn about altering tho ship's course or reducing tho speed of tho vosßel?— Witness : I do not" wish to answer if it o,n bo holpod till aftoft tho nuutical enquiry. — Being prossod, witness suid " XW to tho question. Who spoko, and wl 'j did he my ?—lf? — If I must ansv/or, I spoko to tho captain. Sorgoant Gimblo : What did you nay ? -—I asked him to slow the ship down. Ho told mo tho ship was ull right, and going on her usu>»l course. What time boforo tho ship struck was it you asked him to slow down ? —About an hour. Was tho captuin then sober ?— Ho was perfectly sober during tho wholo of tho voyage, and after tho accident ho did a'l that a captain and seaman could and should do. During all tho time of the voyage tho oapttin was const uit'y at his duty. About wh«t speed was tho vessel go ; ng ' nttho time you »skod tlio onpt^iu to slow down ?— About 12 or 13 knots— her uauil I spe^d. Did ho give any reason for travelling nt suoh a speod on such n night 'I— Tho captain whs confident. Ho said ho hud perfect conGdenco in his course. Tho Coroner : Was it hia endeavor to got in boforo any other ship that) mudo him keep up that speed— whs it racing ? — No ; it was nut racing or auy rivalry.

A PASSENOBII'B EVIDENCE. Frank Loighton, a passenger, who was travelling with his cousin, Frank 0. White, of Ballarat, was thon examined, n nd gavo particulars of tiio wrcok. The Coroner : Did you hoar tho passengers say anything about slowing down on Sunday night ?— -Witness : Mr Chick said wo ought to lay-to and not attempt to roach Auckland that night, as ho had been on a wreck once that was caused by not following this course. Did olhors make any similar remark ?~ Not until after the vessel had struck, tltat I romombor ; thon tho general opinion was that she should havo iay-to. I fool sure that on Sunday night tho officers were not oasy in their minds about tho ship, as thoy wero frequently consulting each with each other, and seemed anxious. Tho Foreman of tho Jury : Did you or anyone else, to your knowledge, soo land after passing the North Capo i— No. Dr L*wt*7T'Did tho chief officer direct or superintend the attompted landing on tho rocka after tho death of the \ ciptain I—Ho1 — Ho endeavored to do so in tho early parb of tho morning, about an hour or so boforo the lino was aotu- j ally got on ahoro, when ho retired to the rigging, because ho said ho had become I cramped. Dr L:wry : After the people gob on to tho rocks did thu first mato tako a leading part in tho providing for their comfoit and safety ? — No, ho did hot ; all acted for themselves. You spoke just now about tho goar not running smoothly I—Lt did not run at all on ono of tho starboard boats amidships although an effort was mude boforo the vessel listed.

a btewakd's evidence. Charles Williim Cutler deposed : I am one of tho stewards of iho wrecked otettmor. I rotnombop on Sunday passIng tho North Capo, and from thoro rijjht djvrn. tho coast thexo was a fog which was very thick and hoavy. Wo wero going at tho usual spoed till wo struck. I did not hear anyono speak of altering tho ship's course or of slowing down. I was iv bed whou wo struck. I went on dock immediately and assisted all X could. All tho ladies had thoir lifo-bolie immediately tied on thorn by tho stewards and stewardesses, assisted by gentlemen passengers. Everyone I saw had a life-bolt on except some of tho crow, who gave their life-belts to the passengers. When the vessol took a lurch „ aw many of them swept off the decks. At this time I was on tho poop with aomo lady p™aengorp. These wero swept off till the poop got under water. Whon the shoep pens at last gob adrift I had to jump overboard to savo myself. I swam out seawards, and vias pic -cod up by tho fourth officer's boat. Wo then stayed to the seaward of tho ship all night, and picked up those wo oould. In the morning we sot out and reached Whangapoun. I suw horsos swimming about among tho pooplo in the water and endangering their lives, and killing a good many lhat mi3ht have got ashore or beon picked up by tho boaH. I wont with Johnston to Maori Bay, and wont thonco to tho wreck with tho chief engineer. The Foreman of the Jury : Wero those horsoa in boxes ?— No. Wero they out adrift I—Yes. By whose orders ?— -Tliero wore nono given to do so. Who then cut them adrift ?—Tho man In charge of them. Were they cut adrift before tho veßE el lurched ?— Yes ; Immediately when eho was lurching. Do you think it was a very wrong thing to do \ —I certainly do, Do you think tho horsos killed anyono befoio they woro cub adrift ?— -No, they did not ; but I think tho man in charge did what ho did for tho best, thinking that if any of tho passongors clung to tho horsos they might bo saved.