WRECK OF THE MURITAI.

North Otago Times, 29 May 1908, Page 1

WRECK OF THE MURITAI.

1 Per Pros 3 Associntion.

'/ ' Auckland, May 23. 'l Porlictilnre of tho wreck of tho steamer Muiittii klic.Sv that tho ves.--| 1 run into a cluster of rooks at tho Big Chickens Island during a heavy fog. The utmost calmness prevailed, and all Imnds wero saved, alihough the vessel was a hopeless'wrec'<, with iwo- largo boles in her bottom, [hi passengers nnd crew wero Innded on the island, and wire taken off n;rain last evening, arriving in Auckland by the steamer Knnicri to-day. Tho foeond officer (Mr Wullen) who was' cu watch at the time of the accident, -ays he relieved (he captain at midnight. .Shortly nfterwaiVls tho weather became very (hick. At 4.10 a.m. a grinding sound .followed |,y ft series of bumps announced that the vesiel had struck somo submerged objiwl. All hands were (quickly on deck. There was no tindiio excitement, but a ladder was run out from the; bow to the shore, which loomed up in thp shape of a headland a few feet, away from the vessel. All the passengers w.'nt nshoro by means of tho ladder. When daylight appeared it was found that the passengers and crew were isolated on a spot w th a rocky nnd exposed sea front. Seoreh was made for a moro suitable place to cam)), and ono was found a little distance away, wlicro there was a nice sandy beach. The passengers, were iplaccd in theboats and token to this placo, ft nd tho crew, nssistrd by the pne-engcrs, who worked dike fTrojnns, proceeded to erect a, tent, utilising'the.hatch covers and sails. The chief officer's boat was despatched for tho mainland at about 9 o'clock-, and conveyed the news which led to the rescue of the shipwrecked paroy. The, chief steward (Mr W. Egginlon, gives tho following intcVesliiw account oi tho wreck of the Muiitai: '' The passengers all assembled in the en'.in, but to make sure that all were present I made a round of the cabins. Uifo. ibclts wero served rotindi and then PYiTybndy wenti on deck, and were nil on shore in double quick time. After the passengers had been got clear 1 had provisions, rugs and firewood (the. latter was torn from the;bunks) passed down to them, nnd willing hands assisted mn in imiking things comfortable. When I reached the deck I was 'aware that tho vessel was aground, but it was sonic minute* before I could make out anything in the mist. The. impact, was hardly severe enough to be felt, and it was hard to conceive, nt Hint moment our ship was a total wreck. It was like going on a sand Vnnlc, a\ wo have often done on the west const. IVo wero not long at the landing place before it was nppnrcnt that n change was desirable, for a big se« was making up, which led the captain to express the fear that if we were to remain there and tho weather canio on heavy it might be days before our rescue c,v.(i> be effected. A safe phro wn 1 ; found, p-.id just ns wo were settling down for the night, bavinseivt. fd a Ini-po "tent from material tak'o.i from the vessel, the Coromaiulel hove in siefit. The camp was- abandona-l. and we went to the steamer with all nossible speed."