WRECK OF THE SIERRA NEVADA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 96, 11 May 1900, Page 3

WRECK OF THE SIERRA NEVADA.

STATEMENT BY A SURVIVOR. [PKB TKB ASSOCIATION.] (Received 10, 9.40 a.m.) Mxlbocbkk, May 10. McGuffin states that just before the 1 alarm was raised, which brought all on deck, he was conversing with ; oh of the apprentices in the forecastle. The apprentice said, "By George! something is wrong. The green light has changed to red. We are getting into danger." Soon after all hands wan aft. Seeing that two or three ssaa swept the deck he went to the bows, as the captain had come on deck and ordered the boats to be got out, and several other seamen went to dear the port lifeboat, which was soon out and alung ready for lowering. The ship in the meantime struck aft, heaving up on the rocks, and was tossed •boat like a cork. She quickly filled, and seas rushed over the ship's Bides and poured into the boat. Spedding was compelled to cut away the falls. The boat, however, pitched herself clear and settled down, but nine men were - .r%ashed out of her, and young Griffiths, a seaman, was the only one who survived out of those thrown into the sea. The boat, after leaving the ship, drifted inshore, passing between rocks, after ' which the water became smoother, and the four men left in the boat to search the beach. The vessel, before she •track, had been wore round several _ times, and it seemed as if the wind N changed while the vessel was trying to get of the land, thus making it more difficult still to get clear of the shore. It was the port anchor that was let go, bnt after the vessel swung to it kept dragging towards the Maskers, and in a few minutes the crash on the reef came. The chief ofi&cer, Crawley, said, " Get the sick imw oat of the forecastle, and put him into the boat." That was done at once. The »nn.n was McCoy, whose illbealth was due to injuries received through falling on the anchor. McGuffin considers the omission to Mrve out lifebelts fatal to the majority. McGoy testifies to the great care taken of him in getting ashore. One of the apprentices was a nephew of the late George Augustus Sal a. Griffiths states that he was thrown oat of the lifeboat when the falls were cat away. He had to swim for the shore. When he lost sight of the ship the officers were preparing to launch the starboard lifeboat. He believes the ship went to pieces under them.