LATER PARTICULARS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1367, 12 May 1898, Page 32

LATER PARTICULARS.

THE WRECK OF THE MAITLAND. SUFFERINGS. OF SURVIVORS. HEROISM OF THE SAILORS. A THRILLING Sydney, May 9. The first officer of the Maitland was washed off the after part and drowned when the ship parted. The remainder of those on the after part, with the exception of four, got safely ashore with the aid of the lines. The passengers and members of the crew who got ashore took shelter in a hut which they found on the beach. Some wandered off into the bush to look for houses. Other 3 stood by to render assistance to those on the wreck. Friday was spent on the beach by most of the shipwrecked people. At daylight on Saturday Mr McNicoll, chief engineer, went away for assistance, and reached Brisbane Water (at Broken Bay, some 20 miles north of Sydney), whence a party of settlers from B'aekwall and Woy Woy left for the scene of the wreck about midday with provisions and clothing. The shipwrecked people were supplied, and after the last of the company came ashore they proceeded to Blackwall. Captain Skinner and the members of the crew and the steerage passengers came to Sydney by the evening train. In the first few moments after the Maitland broke in two many of her unfortunate company lost their lives. Some were struck by falling spars or dashed to death on the rocks, while others were carried by the rollers on to a small sandy beach. Those on the fore end of the vessel were in the worst position. The seas washed clean over them. Most of the passengers and crev were here. Between 30 and 40 were swept off. Many were fortunate enough to be washed on to the sandy beach alive. Others clung to .different parts of the bow —among: them five. women, who were panic-stricken, and refused move. Finally they were washed off. When day broke not a soul was visible on the fore part. Those on the after part fared better, as the sea threw this section well up on the rocks.

Some of those saved went inland, and, obtaining the assistance of settlers, made their way on to the roads. Of these there is no definite record.

Those who remained on the beach were taken by a party of settlers to Blackwall. Mrs Howard was carried in a litter, and a number of others required assistance owing to the terrible battering and buffeting they had received. Two more bodies have been recovered, and the remains of others fearfully mutilated by sharks have been washed up. It is now stated that 28 persons are not accounted for, including several unknown steerage passengers. The corrected list of the drowned does not include the names of Carley, Owens, Peters and Richardson, but they are supposed to be amongst those missing. The after part of the Maitland is high and dry at low water. The beach is strewn with wreckage for miles. The third officer, when interviewed, said the people on board behaved as quietly as though they were safe on land. The ladies in the forward part of the ship never had a chance to save themselves, but those left on the ship after she broke in two were cool and collected. There was not the slightest panic. Everyone expected that the ship would go to piece? in a minute, but he never expected to see the people so cool. He did not even hear a shriek. The story of getting the line ashore from the Maitland is a sensational one of great heroism. William Williams, an able seaman, first volunteered to make the attempt. A thin flag-line was given him, and with the end made fast round his waist Williams was lowered overboard. He had not got halfway ashore when a breaker carried him off his feet, and he was hauled back exhausted. Another able seaman, named Anderson, next offered his services. He had nearly reached land with the line when he was nipped by a sea on the rocks. Fortunately the line broke, and the sea washed him ashore.

The next man to volunteer was John Russell, a saloon passenger. He said he would go if -he had assistance. The assistant cook (Gorgeson) immediately offered, and then Dotchin, the fore-cabin steward, said he would go as well. The three got safely on to the rocks. Russell made a wild run when near the shore and got the line safely to land. His two companions were not so fortunate. They were

helping to slack off the line over the rocks, and just when they were within reach of safety a sea rolled in and swept them off their feet, with the result that they were drowned. All those saved from the Maitland are badly cut and bruised. They suffered terribly from exposure, many of them having only their night clothes on. Later. Russell, the hero of the Maitland disaster, has arrived at Newcastle. He gives a thrilling account of his experience in getting the line ashore. When he reached the beach he found two passengers who had been washed there off the wreck. With their assistance he made the line fast, and landed two women and about 10 men, all almost in a drowned condition. Russell went out to sea some distance each time at the risk of his life to assist them off the line. Then the line snapped and Russell was washed into the breakers. He succeeded with great difficulty in bringing Norton, one of the stewards, on the broken line ashore. Next morning, with the assistance of others, he got the broken line ashore once more by walking across the reef, and rescued the remainder. He gives the greatest praise to Captain Skinner, who acted nobly throughout. In recounting his experience, Russell states that after the two unsuccessful attempts by two seamen to got a line ashore, no one else would volunteer, so he offered to go if two others joined him. The &(*a was running mountains high. His two colleagues were drowned long before they reached the beach. When he landud no one could assist him, and he had to walk some distance before he found the two passengers who assisted him to make the line fast. After he brought Norton ashore he could not do any more that night, and he camped, with 30 or 40 others, in a small hut. They had nothing to eat or drink. Next morning before Russell got the broken line ashore across the reef he made an unsuccessful attempt to get aboard again. Russell says that Captain Skinner was as cool as a cucumber throughout and instilled confidence into the bewildered women.

Another passenger, named William O'Donnell, is now known to have been drowned.