MAGNIFICENT WORK

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11226, 3 June 1922, Page 7

MAGNIFICENT WORK

HEROIC DEEDS ACCOMPLISHED. SURVIVORS WILL REACH AUCKLAND TO-NIGHT. PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, June 2. The “Herald’B” Coromandel correspondent reports: “All .safely landed from" the wreck. The rescued' numbered 103 persons, and there were no casualties. The weather is awful again, but the last lot from the wreck are under tarpaulins. All the others are on board the - Katoa, which will leave for Auckland on Saturday afternoon. The survivors have been well taken cane of by the settlers.” PHILOMEL’S PARTY ARRIVE. A special reporter at the scene states that file Philomel’s; party, with rescue gear, arrived at the seen© of the wreck early this morning. On arrival they found a tent and the Katoa’s landing party which had already landed twelve men, making sixteen in all with the four rescued the previous evening. The rescue was effected by means of A lifeline secured to a tree on the cliff. COURAGEOUS SEAMEN. TIRED AND FAMISHED. The Katoa’s party had worked courageously the previous evening' and had spent the night on the cliff in drenching rain. Tired and famished as they were they immediately started the work of rescue when the light permitted. On arrival of the Philomel’s party the work of rescue was enabled to proceed more .rapidly by ten men hauling on an endless rope and bringing tho men to shore. IMPRISONED MEN SUPPLIED WITH FOOD. At the same time food was sent out to the wreck, the crew being famished and thirsty. The': rescue party from the Philomel spent the night at Tryphena, and had a terrible journey across country to reach the Beene of the wreck. RESCUERS DRENCHED AND KNOCKED ABOUT. This morning they had to wade through flooded creeks, breast high, and scramble through dense bush, with the result that they all were badly knocked about and drenched through before they reached the wreck. AWFUL CONDITIONS RESCUE AT NIGHT IMPOSSIBLE. The Postmaster at Coromandel sent the following message to the Secretary of the General Post Office at 10.6 o’clock yesterday morninng:— “Darkness and _ awful conditions prevented further rescue last night. Operations commenced daylight, and crew being hauled ashore, one by one. Expected take all day complete rescue. No lives lost.” PREPARATION MADE. Further information was received in the two following messages, both sent at 10.30 a.m., to the Secretary of tbd» Post Office: “After rescuing four men from the Wiltshire by means of a life-lino from the hills to the wreck, darkness and awful weather conditions prevented further efforts’last? night; all tho settlers remained at the scene of the wreck preparing for daylight, when operations recommenced and several more of the crew landed; it is reported that the task of rescuing the remainder will take all day; so far, no lives lost. Very cold weather prevailing, and gale still raging. “As far as is known, what is left of the Wiltshire is still hung up on the rocks. The wreck is not visible from the Katoa.”

LINE FLOATED ASHORE

GREW. QUITE COMFORTABLE. A Press Association message received yesterday morning explained the early possible rescue of the crew. It stated: “The explanation of the unexpected, early rescue* of four men was that the VYiltshire’s crew succeeded in floating a lino ashore and gaining a connection with land. The latest’ messages last night stated that part of the Wiltshire was firmly fixed on the rocks, and, presumably owing to the wind changing from east to north and moderating, there.was every reason for hoping that the night would not be one of great danger for the sailors who were said to be quite comfortable in the forecastle. Why the rescue operations were suspended for the night was not explained, but the reason may be that the method used for bringing ashore the four men was dangerously primiThe skilled life-savers, of the Philomel will have up-to-date gear on the scene this morning. A message from Tryphena at 10.30 p.m. stated that although the wind had moderated, the weather was still boisterous, with scattered showers. In any caise the effect of the easterly gale would be felt for some days.” LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS BLUEJACKETS IN CONTROL. PEB PBES9 ASSOCIATION. . AUOKLAND, June 2. Bluejackets, working the life-saving apparatus this morning, landed several more men from the Wiltshire, and expect to rescue all the members of the orew before dark. The Katoa will then bring the shipwrecked people to'Auckland. SIXTY-THREE SAVED RESCUE OF BALANCE EXPECTED. \ The Secretary of the Post and Tele, graph Department received the following meeag9, timed 8.20 p.m., from steamer KatSa:—“At 2.30 total of sixty-three men landed. Fifty-eight men on hoard Katoa. Expected get balance ashore to-night, hut unable leave for overland journey before daylight.” HOW COMMUNICATION WAS EFFECTED. The Auckland “Star’s” reporter telegraphed from Tryphena- that a lino was floated ashore from the Wiltshire and secured by men on the Island. This was followed by getting aboard tha Wiltshire an endlesß rope, and after several hours work the first man reached the shore. He .was' followed by three others, hut owing to terrible stormy conditions and night setting in the work of rescue was interrupted. The Wiltshire has a considerable amount of cargo for Wellington and for transhipment to some of the coastal ports. There were consignments for Palmerston North.