Sergeant Grant's Evidence

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 151, 24 April 1886, Page 5

Sergeant Grant's Evidence

Sergeant Gordon Grant, Torpedo Corps, A.C. Depot, "Wellington, deposed : —I was a passenger by the Taiaroa, which left on Sunday. I was in my bunk when the ship struck, and was talking to rvJcQuaiteis He remarked that the ship had grounded. We rushed out and went aft, where we saw passengers putting on life-belts. I met Ward, our instructor, on the poop and helped him to tie his life-belt on. 1 then went after one for myself, took one from the steward and put it on. It was then between seven and eight, and tho crew were getting tho boats out. I went to see if I could be of any assistance. They had just lowered the starboard life-boat. I believe the captain sang out, "All passengers in the boat." Some one in tho boat said " Go and fetch the ladies." Half-a-dozen of us went aft again, but found that the ladies had left the saloon and were in the beat. Got in it myself, sitting next to Ward. McQuartera wa3 right afi . Four lady passengers, the stewardess, and three of the crew were also in the boat. She had tarpaulins and life belte, but no rudder, sails, nor ma3t. We remained fast by the painter to the gangway for some time. I assisted in keeping her off, as the ship was working every time she struck. The other boat3 got out, and the captain sent the second officer in the gig with a email line to see if he could get ashore. He burnt a blue light and rocket to show the position of the land. After a little while the second officer came back, and said there was a steep bank ashore, and he could get no landing. The gig was made fast astern by a rope. I think tho second officer went aboard again. The port life-boat was then lowered full of people, and a pinnace also got out. Finding our boat filling with water, we got them to make it fast by a painter astern, where we lay some little time. Afterwards we cut the painter, and took out the hold line to which the gig was fastened. I saw the port life-boat and pinnace leave the ship, and as our boat had no officer we hailed the pinnace, and the first officer got out of it into our boat. Before we left the ship'3 side any nuniber of blankets were given u?, in which we wrapped tho ladies. The people in the gig told us the other two boats had got adrift. We had to bale our boat, and the heovy eeas snapped the line, sending us adrift. We got out oars and pulled up again. The people in the gig giving ug the end of a line we made fast again and up came another life-boat, wbieh made fast ahead. A sea shortly afterwards struck the life-boat and upset her, and we picked up some of her people. Another big sea capsized our boat, throwing us all into the water. I got jammed under the keel when she righted, and got clear with some difficulty. Saw no one when I came to the surface. I swam for the land, which t loomed ahead and got on tho beach. I threw away my life belt and started walking "along 'the beach. Losing the track I turned back and fetched Woodbank,' where I was very kindly received and treated by Mr Trolove. 1 sept a telegram to Captain Coleman informing him that the Taiaroa was lost, and that to the best of my knowledge I was tho only surviWr, AboutG 30anothersurvivor, Gilbert Hutt^n, another of the steerage paesengors, turned up. Keeping to the question Grant eaid^he could not say where the Captain was when he came up on deck. Heard him giving orders to get the boats out. At first there was a sort of panic, but the arrangements afterwards were carried out without confueion. I believe everybody left tho vessel. It was pitch dark, and I could not eee if the passengers took their luggage away with them. The Taiaroa is supposed to have Bhifted Bjuce she stiuck. The foreman of the jury said that when he first saw the wreck on Monday morning there was a steep bank of boulders, a! described by the second mate. Evidence continued : I could eee the loom of the land when the vessel struck, and hear the back waeh of the surf. A terrific sea was running in a gale of wind, but cannot eay which way the current eets,. I was carried to leeward by the wind whilst swimming. I was pretty lucky, and found little difiicnlty. I have no idea how far I swam, or how far the steamer was from the shore. Others could have swam ashore as well as I did. The port life-boat capsized half an hour before ours did. To the best of my belief everybody but the chief officer in our boat had life belts on. Replying to Sergeant White, the witness said the steamer had u fair wind when she left Wellington. They set all sails except the foretopeail. It was blowing half-a-gale of wiud, and the sails

were taken in about 3.30. A S.W. h8ad wind gradually came up aftor that, txnd the weather came on thick and rainy. I went into the forecastle, and took no notice of the land or lighthouse I did nob soe tho captain after he took the steamer out of the harbour. The second mate relieved the captain on deck at four o'clock. Saw the chief officer on the forocastle only when just leaving the wharf, All the officers were perfectly sober. When she struck no one appeared to know the locality she was in. Heard people in the boat ask the chief officer, Avho replied "About four miles from Kaikoura." I have been lieutenant in the navy, 1 should say that the Taiaroa was going 8 knots from four o'clock till sho struck. I identify ono of the three bodiaa at bank as that of the second mate, named Power. No gun was fired when the vessel struck, nor did she whistle. I believe ovorybody on board was sober. Replying to further questions, the w^tnos? said the boats seemed in a seaworthy condition, and he heard no romarks from any of the cre.v as to their outfit. The captain's pinnace got stove in, and the whole was filled with blankets I cannot say if the engines were reversed, but heard the telegraph go once, just as she struck. I believe it was the captain giving orders, bute it may have been soino other officr. I am certain thero was no rudde.x or steer oar in our boat. I cannot say about the other boats. I ascertained by enquiry that ib was the carpenter who was relieved by the second officer. I could not seo tho whole deck. The captain may have- been aft beyond the bridge, Ono rocket was no good as a signal of distress ; eovoral should have been tired at short intervals. Had I been on shore and seen a blue light and rocket I should have- taken them as a signal of distress. I think rockets could have been fired and the passengers safoty attended to at the same time. Blue lights and rockets should have been lighted when tho Taiaroa struck, if intended as a signal cf distiess. Tho man who I think was tho carpenter had no uniform but a peaked cap, and long beaid. Saw him leuiove the gangway at Wellington. Cannot say if soundings wore taken after she struck. 1 have bean aboard and got my luggage from the steerage. Thero docs not seem to bo deep water anywhere near her. Tho life belt I wore was good anci serviceable, and I should never have got ashore without it. I believe everything was done to save the passengers and crew, and that everything Mas in fair order. The capttin and chief oiiiceis \\ ere the list to leave the ship, and I believe the engineer al=o. There were fifteen in our boat before the mate came