THE ARAMAC CASUALTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12523, 16 March 1904, Page 5

THE ARAMAC CASUALTY.

ALL BOATS SAFE. STEAMER TOWED TO PORT. By Telegraph.—Press Association Copyright. Bttndaberg, March 15. The second boat from the Aramac reached shore , north of Barubra Island. She had a severe tossing about'and all of her occupants .were much exhausted. They camped for the night where they landed. The sea last night was still rough and stormy. • ' i'--■-The Aramao's third boat has landed at Baffle Creek, 20 miles north of Burnett Heads. The occupants are mostly women, and children. With reference ;to the finding of the Aramacs third 'boat, the dredge Ceratodus, which was despatched in search, arrived at Gladstone ,to-day. The master reports that yesterday afternoon he sighted a boat on the beach, and about twenty passengers camped ashoie four miles from the settlement. The Ceratodus ran short of. previsions and coal,, and was unable to proceed to their rescue, and the heavy surf precluded the possibility of immediate rescue, but the captain is 'of opinion that the survivors are comfortable. The . Ceratodus signalled to them that help was coming, and proceeded to Gladstone to arrange for their rescue. {Received March 15, 11.18 p.m.) Brisbane, March 15. The Aramac was towed safely into Tervey Bay* by the Tinana, one of the searching steamers, and the fourth boat, containing 26 men, was picked up by the Government steamer Fitzroy. This boat left the Aramac without an officer, and a saloon passenger named Triekett was placed in charge. She difted north till Monday night, when an attempt was made to land, but the heavy surf prevented this, and she continued drifting till she was picked up. A steerage passenger became slightly demented from exposure, and disappeared after getting on board of the Fitzroy. (Received March 15, 11.28 p.m.) Brisbane, March 15. • The second of the Aramac's boats to get ashore landed, five miles north of Burnett Heads. After eight hours' battling with the waves, and a terrible struggle getting through the breakers, she managed to run on a sandy beach, where the crew camped for the night. Four of the party, after being driven back more than once, relaunched the boat, with the purpose of going to Burnett Heads, and reporting the landing of the boat. After an exciting experience she reached the lighthouse, but it is stated that those in charge refused to forward a message, because they had no money to pay for it, ;\ " (Received March 16, 12.14 a.m.) ■ "■ ■■:': Brisbane, March 15. '•■.", The steamer Normanby picked up the fifth boat containing 18 men, all well. ■:■".• - ■ - The amended lists make the total aboard the Aramac 156, and, including those who remained aboard the steamer, the number rescued totals 138, so that, according to this, there are still some 18 missing.; ■: It would, therefore, '. seem that six boats left the : steamer, though the evidence on this point is not yet clear. [BT TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] < CHSiSToar/ncH, Tuesday. ■ The Premier has received the - following cablegram from the , Hon. A. Morgan, Premier of Queensland, in response to an inquiry as to the fate of the Aramac's boats-', ■ "Thanks for your kind inquiries. Four boats with their passengers have' arrived safely, and the Aramac has been towed to a safe anchorage, I have hopes that there has been no loss of life."

GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE CASUALTY. / > .::' Biiisbane/: March 15.

MacLennan, one of those who landed in the Aramac's first boat, gives an interesting account'of the disaster. He says:—-

"The Aramac struck at -past eight in the morning. The weather at the time was rough and squally, with a thick haze. The steamer appeared to bump and then move forward. After a third or fourth concussion she moved forward as if nothing had happened. There was no panic at all. Some slight excitement occurred when some of the stokers rushed on deck, but they returned to their duty again almost immediately, and everything' seemed to be right. The passengers were naturally alarmed at first, but everything being apparently the same as usual, they went to breakfast as if nothing had happened. '.-. "It transpired afterwards that instructions had been issued to the stewards to get all the passengers but of their bunks in case of emergency. It must have been quite two hours afterwards before any further alarm was raised, the vessel meanwhile continuing on her course. However, the captain had realised the danger, and endeavoured to reach a place of safety.. At a point somewhere about 20 or 25 miles from Burnett Heads the steamer came to a standstill. She had been slowing down for some time. This was caused by water gradually overtaking the fires until it put them all out. The time* had now arrived when the seriousness of the position could' no longer be concealed from the. passengers. Shortly before twelve o'clock the boats were got out. "Everything was done very quietly and methodically and without any excitement. The passengers, including the women, maintained splendid fortitude, and this helped materially towards safe embarkation. _ The captain supervised the work. The first step was to apportion the women and children as equally as possible among the several boats. They were placed on the seats before the boats were lowered. With a heavy sea running the task of embarking was difficult, but it was successfully managed. The boats were brought to the lee side of the steamer, and as she rose with the waves the men jumped in. "Before the boats were lowered a quantity of provisions and water were placed m each. When the first boat received her complement she cast oil and made room for vhe others, and, with a strong wind and heavy sea prevailing, she drifted a long way to leeward. The captain, however, had issued instructions that the boats should keep together and get away one at a time. In pursuance, of this order, the first boat managed to get back to the ship, and; saw that the captain, several of the crew, and the first officer had remained on board. The anchor had been let go, and the rafts were thrown out. The ship at that time appeared to be lying very low and heavy in the water. Mr. Parr, the second officer, ■ navigated the boat successfully, and without accident, until she got into smooth water, when her mast carried away. By that time, however, all danger, was past. A good deal of battling was done on the run, and some discomfort was suffered by the occupants of the •■ boat through exposure to the weather and salt water."