"SAVE OUR SOULS"

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13661, 1 September 1916, Page 2

"SAVE OUR SOULS"

TONGARIRO'S CALL FOR HELP. VESSEL HARD ASIIOIiE. VALUABLE CARGO ABOAlil). (Per Press Association.) N'AIMI'IK. August 31. The Westralia, which mslicd lu the scene of the wreck from Gisborne, arrived nt Napier at 7 a.m., to-day, bringing the Tongariro's third ollicer and all (">) of the crew, including the stewardess, the only woman on hoard.'

The Westralia left the Tongariro at lathis morning, and the wrecked vessel's decks were I hen above water. The crew got away in only what thcy stood up in.' .No one was drowned. Captain Makepeace, the lirst ollicer (l>, ,1, Ballard) and the second ollicer (J! B. Davis) are standing by the vet-, scl.

The S.O.S. call was responded to by. the AYestralia at Gisborne. and the Avalum at Napier. Both vessels left imnndiately for the scene, and the lirst vessel found all members of the crew on the Kokilinii, a Richardson Company coaster, The. Westralia carried to-day 78 of the crew on board for Napier, including the captain, lirst and second officers, the first and second and third engineers. The crew were slnnding by for an examination by daylight. When the AVestralia left the vessel the Tongariro was still afloat, her bow being supported by Bell Hock. Water was in all holds and the engine-room. ~ The vessel had a heavy list, to port, with two falhoms of water under her stem. Seas were breaking over her bows, and it is expected that (he vessel will slip oil" and sink, There was no panic, though the port boats only could be used. One was smashed and five men were thrown into the sea, Another capsized through Hie davits breaking, but the occupants were all rescued. Theshock was very severe and brought the vessel to a dcadstop with a terrific noise. The scene of the wreck is five and ahalf miles N,N.E, of Portland Island, Some of Hie men received minor injuries, but there were no serious cases, E, A, Matthews, a member of the crew, said that the captain was on the bridge at the lime. The crew were in the boats for three hours and returned to the doomed vessel three times in case anyone was left behind. it is stated that the cargo totals ■SOOfI tons, and includes £IOO,OOO in bullion. Salvage operations can be successfully conducted even if the vessel sinks.

' THE TONGARIRO'S CARGO. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 80. The Tongariro was bringing 3SOO ton of cargo for Wellington, 2-100 tons fo Lyttelton, and 1.100 tons for Dunedii; No other details regarding the vesse are available here to-night. DUNJiDIN. August 111.

The Tongariro's Duiiediii. cargo includes 8000 bags of salt, a large shipment of toys and fancy goods for Wliitcombe and Tombs, and new seasou's drapery and. millinery for Sargoods, But'torworth Bros.. Brown, Ewing, D.S.A.. Ross and Glendinning, UI.C.. and Ifallenstein Bros. The Tongariro also had £II,OOO worth of silver and bronze coin for Dnnedin banks.

The secretary of the Shipwreck lie lief Society telegraphed to the .Mayo of Napier to-night, asking if relief wai required for" the crew of the Tonga riro.

VESSEL A TOTAL WRECK. NARROW ESCAPE OF CREW.''" (Per l'rcss Association.) NAPIER, August 111. The crew of the wrecked Tongariro arrived in Napier to-day, en route to Wellington, per Westralia. Seventy eight arrived. Nine are stopping at the scene of the disaster. Many were in th'iir night clothes and had no time to get their effects, 'owing to the suddenness of the alarm. A few men were slightly injured; bill none seriously. Some American negroes "lost x/their heads," and one had to be stunned to keep him quiet, Some of the crew were immersed a long time in the water owing to boats upsetting. In Napier the crew were supplied with boots, clothing and comforts. There is no news, at a late hour tonight. ' If the sea had been heavy all the lives of the crew would have been lost. The vessel is almost certain to become a total loss.

BULLION SALVED. VESSEL UNLIKELY TO BREAK UP. (Per Press Association.) NAPIER, August 31. The Koutohui arrived at Napier at about .10,30 p.m. with £25,000 worth of bullion in boxes, and the effects of the passengers and crew from the wreck. The Tuatu got right alongside as the weather was calm and salvaged the effects. There is a lot of valuable cargo on board, and some may be salvaged if the fine weather keeps up. The vessel is unlikely to break up unless there is an easterly or northeasterly gale. The Tc Aroha is leaving Wairoa to be on the scene, and extra efforts are to be made,

DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL. The Tongariro is a twin-screw steamer of SlM!'tons gross, and was biiilt in 1001- by Hawthorn, Leslie and Co., Ltd., Ncwcastlc-on-Tyne, for.the Now Zealand Shipping Company, Ltd., Her principal dimensions are: Length -157 feet, breadth 5S feet, depth 8(1.5 feet, She is lilted with refrigerating niachiiiery ami wirclcs.-.. The Vessel's Itinerary.

The Tongariro arrived at Auckland last Friday morning from London via Ihe I'anaiiia Canal. After putting out 25H0 tons of general cargo, she left there on Tuesday afternoon for Wellington direct. After discharging there she was jo have gone on to Lyttelton and Dnnedin. to put out the balance of her cargo from Homo. She was line at Lyttelton next Wednesday. The Officers,

Captain Makepeace is in command of the Tonprariro. ami associated with him as ollicors hit: Chief. .Mr P. ,T. Billlaid; second, Mi'.l. I'». l-'avis: lliir.l. Mr .1. SchoflcM; fourth, Mr A. J. Angcll; silicon, Mr. O'Callaglian; chief ongilU'i'r, Mr P. "Woodall; second, Mr I', I'asfjati'; Ihinl, Mjr I*. Kitchen; fourth, Mr'j. Aniloivon: fifth, Mr J. Suoll ; sixth, Mr S. Morrison; chief refrigerating ojii*inopr. Mr ('. 11. llolford;. sccoinl, Mr 1!. Brown; cliiof steward, Air R. 11. Whilnker, Scene of the Disaster.

Mahia'Peninsula is about sixty miles in a direct line liy sea north-oast of Napier. The nearest town to flic peninsula is Wairoa.

The .Mahia or Tarakuko Peninsula, is twelve miles long, running in :i north and south direction, and nearly nine miles north-east ami south-oast in its widest part, forms tho norlhern head nf lfawkc's Bay. It is connecled with the mainland liy a sandv nerk two miles long urnl three-quarters of :i mile broad.

A river flows through this neck, ana runs into the sea on it* eastern side, which, when it is swollen, gives- Mahia the appearance of an island, The lighthouse on Portland Island is on its southern extremity. The tower, ■lift high, is painted white, whence at, an elevation of .".00 feet above the sea is exhibited a revolving white light of the second order, attaining its greatest brilliancy every thirty seconds, which shoiih! be seen'in clear weather for a distance'of twenty-four'miles. When the Tasmania was wrecked off Mahia Peninsula, on July.29th, 1897, the passengers and crew saved were accommodated at Mr G. station. /