THE KANAHOOKA'S CREW

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6898, 9 February 1894, Page 2

THE KANAHOOKA'S CREW

THE MISSING BOAT. ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. Brisbane, February 8. — The missing boat belonging to the Kanahooka has tamed up safely at Batavia river. The details of the disaster show that the crew of the vessel had a terrible time. A terrific sea struck the steamer on Thursday, and carried away the deck-house and skylight. Men were lashed to the rail endeavoring to batten the hole caused by the loss of the deck-house, and were frequently washed overboard and hauled back again to the deck of the vessel. The pumps were kept going till Friday, but the fires were then extinguished and tfie vessel was abandoned. She sunk soon after the crew left her. After the capsize of the captain's boat the occupants swam nine miles, taking the boat with them, and they subsequently succeeded m righting her. Thursday Island, Feb. 9.— The Kanahooka survivors suffered terrible privations. The chief officer's boat capsized about a milo from shore. Two of the occupants were unable to swim, but their comrades assisted them to reach the shore.

As the second engineer and second officer were the strongest swimmers they were despatched to Batavia for assistance. They had great hardship on the journey, having to swim rivers swarming with alligators.

Relief was sent by the Batavia mission station, and the remainder of the men were brought m. The men were on the verge of starvation for eighteen days.