THE WRECK OF THE SURPRISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13501, 27 July 1907, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE SURPRISE.

FRUITLESS.SEARCH FOR THE BODIES. [by telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] Tairua. Friday. The sailor, Harry Jackson, solo survivor of the Surprise, is getting on all right, but he lost everything in the wreck and has no money. The people of Tairua are raising a subscription for him. There is a possibility of some of the bodies coming ashore, and Jackson will stay here for a, week so as to identify them. The steamer Onslow, from Tairua, visited the scene of the wreck of the scow Surprise on Thursday. Constable Brown and party searched the beaches, but could find no bodies. They secured a flag, some broken lifebuoys, and a name board. The steamer called at Ohui and took the sailor Harry Jackson to Tairua. He walked op crutches, and is still weak. As showing the fury of tho storm, dozens of crayfish and dead fish were thrown up on the beach, also tops of seaweed. Mr. McGregor, of Ohui, at whose place Jackson was very kindly treated, states that he saw the scow anchored off the Slipper. She was anchored in a bad place. When he came to the house Jackson was in a very weak and dazed condition, and quite black, and his hands and arms were benumber and rigid from exposure. His limbs were scratched, swollen, and bruised. "We brought him in, dried and clothed him," says Mr. McGregor. " I rubbed ._ his limbs, and he collapsed altogether in a chair and was unable to move. We put him to bed, and after circulation had returned, his wounds started to bleed. He has now considerably improved, and will be able to get about in a day or two. Immediately after Jackson was cared for I went out with a search party, but owing to the rough sea I was unable to get to the wreck. I accordingly went out at daylight next morning with nine men, but could only discover the shattered remains of the scow, and the search failed to reveal any bodies."