THE STORY OF THE SURVIVORS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 24

THE STORY OF THE SURVIVORS,

AUCKLAND, June 5.

Mr Hardy, the second mate of the Hinemoa, who was in the : boat capsized at East Cape, gives the following account of the sad accident : — " Up to the very moment of the disaster the boat seemed to be going all right. She then seemed .to get into a current, and we could not get her end on. At that moment every man in the boat knew there was no hope." After relating how the mate shouted words of encouragement to his men, and how the swamping of the boat followed on the loss of Osterman, Hardy states : " Weymark and I came up underneath the boat. We both got clear from underneath the boat. At the same time I saw two seamen, Buchanan and Sjoboloni, on the bottom of the upturned boat, and just as I put my hand on the side of the boat a sea came and swept us away. I never saw any more of the two seamen. That sea must have swept Weymark and me into the same current, because we were -away from the others. I saw the mate a little ahead of me. He evidently had not been on the bottom of the boat. He was swimming powerfully for the shore, but it was impossible to keep swimming. I struggled to keep afloat till I could struggle no longer. I gave up all hopes of reaching the shore, as I was being thrown here and there by the waves, and kept rolling over and over. It was impossible to keep afloat. After struggling all I could I lost consciousness, and came round after dark on the island." Hardy spoke highly of the kindness of all the men on the island. They lighted fires and gave up their bunks to the rescued men, covered them with blankets, and provided them with dry clothes. Several sat up all night watching the patients, and all the others searched the .shore all nighfc with torches for the bodies of the drowned. Hardy had no idea how long he was in the water, as he was unconscious for a considerable time.

The seaman Weymark gave a similar account of the fatality. Like Hardy, he was below the boat when lie first realised his position. He .saw Hardy when, he came from below the bo;)t, but when a wave came they separated, getting towards the shore. He heard someone shouting " Help ! help!" and shouted back "Keep on." When he reached the shore he was barely conscious, but realised that one man grasped him in the water, and both would have gone into the surf together but for another workman, who came and assisted both to dry land.

Hardy had to be carried up a winding

patli to the houses which have been erected! ; near the site of the- lighthouse, and are now, occupied by workmen engaged in the erec« tion of the lighthouse. Weymark managed to walk up with thd assistance of some of the rescue party. He' states that they were some 20 minutes ia' the house before Hardy came round. Hef believes that he was about three-quarters of an hour in the water. He was a witness to the rescue of Hardy. He states that but; for being clutched by the men on shore ths second officer would undoubtedly have gone back into the surf. [Mr Hardy, who is the son of Mr H. F. Hardy, of this city, left the Mokoia, of which.' he was third mate, the other day to join the Hmeinoa, and would have been making hia first trip on her.]

WELLINGTON, June 5. The Marine department has received telegraphic advice that two bodies from tha Hinemoa have been picked up off East; Island, but are not yet identified. The collector of customs has not yet been able to arrange a day on which to hold a magisterial inquiry into the accident to the Hinemoa boat. The magistrate isr unable to take the case to-morrow, being engaged on the licensing committee, but; the collector hopes to have -the inquiry, commenced on Wednesday "at the latest., All the vessels in port flew their, flags at; half-mast to-day out of respect to the memory of the- deceased- sailors." - The flags on the Harbour Board's office and customs buildings were also lowered, as were those of many of the buildings in the city.