THE ARAMAC CASUALTY

Otago Witness, Issue 2610, 23 March 1904, Page 15

THE ARAMAC CASUALTY

'ALL THE PASSENGERS SAVED. A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER. BRISBANE, MarcTi 15. Maclennan, one of those landed from ifrhe first boat from, the Aramac trhich reached the shore, gives an interesting account of the disaster. The Aramac struck at 8.30 in the morning, the weather at the time being rough and squally, with a thick haze. She appeared to bump, then move forward. After the third or fourth concussion she again moved forward, as if nothing had happened. There was no panic at all. A trifling commotion took place when some stokers rushed on deck, but they leturned again almost immediately, and everything seemed all 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 was known afterwards that instructions had ibeen issued to the stewards to get all the passengers out of their bunks in case of emergency. • ! - It must have been quite two hours afterwards before there was any further alarm, the vessel meanwhile continuing ■her course. The captain had, however, realised the danger, and was endeavouring to run to a place of safety. When at a point somewhere about 20 or 25 miles from Burnett Heads the steamer came to a standstill. She had been slowly going down for some time. This caused the water to gradually overtake the fires, until it put them all out. The time had now arrived when the position could no longer be concealed from the passengers. Shortly before 12 o'clock the boats were got out, everything being done very quietly and methodically, without any excitement. The passengers, including the women, maintained a splendid fortitude. This helped materially towards their 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 in their 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, and as - they rose wifh the waves the men jumped in. Before they were lowered a quantity of provisions and water was placed in each. When the first boat had received her complement she cast off to make room for the others, and with the strong wind and heavy sea prevailing 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, they managed to get back to the ship, and saw that the captain and several of the crew and the first officer had remained on. board. The anchor was then let go^ and rafts were thrown out of the ship. At N that time she appeared to be lying very low and heavy in the water. Farr, the second officer, navigated the boat successfully without accident until they got to smooth water, when the mast was carried away. By that time, however, all danger had passed. A good deal of bailing was done on the ruu, and some discomfort was suffered through th&- seas and exposure. The Aramac's third boat landed' at Baffle Creek, 20 miles north, of Burnett Heads. ' The occupants are mostly women and children. In reference to the finding of the Aramac's third boat, the dredge Ceratodus, which was -despatched to search, arrived in Gladstone to-day. She reports that yesterday she sighted a boat on the beach, and about 20 passengers camped on shore, four miles from tho settlement. The Ceratodus, being short of provisions and coal, was unable to proceed to their aid, -and a heavy surf precluded the'possibility of an immediate a'escue. In the captain's opinion, how--ever, the survivors were comfortable. The Ceratodus signalled to the party that help was coming, and then went on to Gladstone and arranged! for their rescue. i The Aramac, with her captain and nine men, has been towed to port, and a fourth boat, containing 26 persons, has ibeen picked "up. The Aramac was towed safely into Hervey Bay by the Tinana, one of the searching steamers, and the fourth boat was picked up by the Government steamer Fitzroy. This boat left the Aramac without an officer. A saloon passenger named Trickett was placed in charge. She drifted north till Monday aiight, when an attempt was made to land, but the heavy surf prevented this, and the boat continued drifting till .picked up. A steerage passenger, slightly jdemented from exposure, disappeared after getting aboard the Fitzroy. The second of the Aramac's boats to get ashore landed five miles north of Burnett Heads, after eight hours' with the waves and a terrible struggle in getting through the breakers. Those on board managed to run the fcoat ashore on a sandy beach, where -they camped fof the night. Four of the •party, after being driven back more than oncej relaunched ihc boat for Jhe jjjir-

pose of going to Burnett Heads to report the lauding of the boat. After an exciting experience they reached the lighthouse, but state that those in charge refused to forward a message because they had no money to pay for the message. The steamer Xorruanby picked up the fifth boat, containing 18 men, all well. Amended lists make the total aboard the Araniac 156, and including those who remained aboard the steamer, the number rescued totals 138, so that according to this there are still some 18 mis=ing. It would therefore seem that six boats left the steamer, though the evidence on this point is not yet clear. March 16. The Tinana had a difficult task in rescuing the Aramac. A mountainous sea was running, and there was great trouble with the dingey, which, however, managed to get a hawser aboard. The boat was smashed against the side of the ship when returning, but the occupants were hauled aboard. The Aramac slipped her anchor, and the Tinana, against a head wind and Keavy sea, towed her into smooth water. Captain Butcher and the others aboard the Aramac had a bad time after the boats left. The seas increased in force, and they did not expect the steamer would last through the night, but expected to go to the bottom. The Tinana arrived just in time. The water was gradually gaining on her, and deck pumps only were available to keep it down. Host of the cargo is in good order, including two horses. ! The Aramac's Rockhampton cargo will be lightered, then probably the steamer will be beached and examined. If it is thought she will stand the strain she will be brctight to Bri&bane and docked. One of the occupants of the fifth boat, which was picked up off Gatcombe Head, states that their boat drifted north in company with the boatswain's boat. The two remained moored to a raft till Monday morning, when the fifth boat cast adrift, leaving the boatswain's. The latter is still missing. It contains 18 men only. The Barcoo has arrived at Cape Capricorn with the Aramac's sixth boat. All the Aramac's passengers are now saved. The inmates of the Aramac's boats, though they suffered severely owing to the rough sea and cramped condition, on the whole escaped without any serious consequences. Only one life was lost — that of an old man of 80 years w,ho, after his rescue, suffering from ' dementia from exposure, was missed. It is supposed he jumped, overboard. The rescuing steamer had much difficulty transferring those in the boats aboard in the heavy sea. One or two received slight injuries. March 17. The lightening of the Aramac is proceeding prior to repairs. The captain states that the weather at the time of the accident was thick and hazy. He steered a course which should have landed the steamer nine miles from where she struck. He can only account for her position through the prevalence of some phenomenal current. He was not on the bridge at the time the steamer struck. He was satisfied that he had cleared the fatal spit, and he ' went below for a few minutes, leaving ; the third officer in charge. The sixth boat had a trying time. Owing to the long drift, the supply of water and food ran short. Heavy seas washed over her, and she had to be kept constantly baled. The occupants were in an exhausted condition wl^-i the Baroo rescued them, but they soon recovered. The Aramac's passenger supposed to have jumped overboard from the Barcoo was found sleeping in a bunk; therefore no lives were lost. March 18. .High praise is given to Captain Butcher and the officers of the Aramac for their conduct throughout the trying time they experienced. Mr Trickett, the passenger in charge of the fourth boat, received an ovation on his arrival at Rockhampton. A lady embraced and kissed him, and the crowd persisted in shaking hands. A preliminary examination shows that the damage to the Aramac is less than was anticipated. There is considered to be no difficulty in bringing her to Brisbane for docking. BUNDABERG, March 15. The second boat reached shore to the north of Barubra Island. She had a severe tossing about, and all the occupants were much exhausted. They camped all night w r here they landed. The sea last night was still rough and stormy. It is not definitely known whether five or six boats left the Aramac. The return of the search steamer, which is making a systematic examination of the coast, is anxiously awaited. There are hopes that some of the boats Avill be picked up by passing steamers. The opinion among the officers who have landed is that the Aramac will float until aid reaches her. When last seen, the captain and others were left on board launching a raft and apparently providing means of escape in the event of the i worst happening.

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