Further Particulars.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5024, 4 June 1889, Page 3

Further Particulars.

An Exciting Scene. AUCKLAND, June 4. Ihe following is Captain Dawson’s statement We left Oreli Point at halfipast fire on Saturday evening, gloomy weather and easterly sea. We .steered a course to clear Bed Mercury Island, and made it four points on the bow at 5 a m. steering W.N.W, from Oreti Point. I then stood direct for Red Mercury Island at half speed for forty minutes and then kept the island abeam. At this time it was just breaking day. It was very thick and a hard north-east gale was blowing with heavy sea. We struck on a rock at t».20 on Sunday morning, and at half past the ve-sel had sunk out of sight. She only struck on the rocks and then went clear. As soon as she was off I went full speed and steered in for the island. She must have gone for about eight minutes before she sank. W. Miller chief officer, gave the following graphic account of the affair. —Tie port life boat was mine. We launched her off the deck, the captain having previously brought the ship bard to the sea after the other boat was launched, as it would have been impossible to lower her on the weather aide. I took the painter and after the boat was swung off made it fast, the chief engineer standing by. While making it fast, the forecabin steward, George Archer, fireman and lamp trimmer, got into Lhe boat to stand by. The purser, unknown to mo, let go the fall, and the boat went down and on to the water and filled. The others held on, but the steward was knocked out of her and was never jeen again. The boat was then about ID or

20 yards from the ship, and as we could not heave her close in, she being full of water, the captain sang out, “Hurry up, jump for your lives, the ship is going down.” Then the captain disappeared along the deck in search of an old lady passenger. I jumped into the water and was followed by the captain and the old lady, who jumped by his order, this being the only chance. We managed to get into the boat. She was full of water and was knocked about considerably and very leaky. She had a hole in her, but being fitted with water-tight tanks could notsink.- The purser then appeared on the bridge and cried out for help and for us to come back to the ship, but she was then In the act of foundering, and it would have been madness to approach him. I said, “Now jump! jump for your life, we will save you!” He did not move but clung to the after davit with both arms.appearing quite dazed. By this time the vessel was nearly on end, bow down, and the seas were washing her funnels. This was the last I saw of him, for an instant after the steamer disappeared beneath the waves. I just caught a glimpse of his cap being lifted off his head by the sea as he went under. In baling the boat out and shipping her rowlocks some ten minntes were occupied, and cargo out of the hold came floating round us, but there was no sign of the purser or the steward. Then wo pulled after the other boat, and made for Great Mercury Is'and. There were nine of ns altogether in my boat, including the Captain. Mr Anaell, second officer, got away in his boat without any serious mishap. The Captain was very cool and with the exccplion of the engineer was tbo last to leave the doomed vessel. The latter held the painter of the boat till all were on board and then jumped himself pulling himself on board by the rope. There was not the least sign of cowardice anywhere. If there had been we would to a certainty have all been drowned. Accounts from other sources show that the scene was very exciting. The boats could not come close into the ship, and the Captain ordered the passengers to jump into the water and they would be picked up. The crew numbered 21, the passengers 7.