THE PENGUIN WRECK

Taranaki Herald, Volume 18, Issue 13892, 18 February 1909, Page 5

THE PENGUIN WRECK

DEATH ROLL REDUCED TO 74. SALVAGE OPERATIONS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. The Union Company's tug Terawhiti returned this afternoon from the scene of the wreck of the Penguin, bringing a quantity of wreckage, including the two rafts to which nearly all the survivors owe their lives, and one of the Penguin's lifeboats. Two had been secured, but salvage operations were cut hhort by a southerly gale springing up suddenly. The Terawhiti was, therefore, forced to steam away without stopping to take one of the lifeboats on board, and it was towed behind. When two miles had been covered it broke adrift, and will probably go ashore. The calm sea during the early part of the day enabled a close search to I>e mado of the outlying rocks, an oil launch being u«ed for this purpose, but no bodies were recovered. Arrangements have been made with the Justice Department to provide a patrol, consisting of a sergeant and four constables, at the scene of the disaster for ten or twelve days, until all chances of further bodies coming ashore have disappeared. The tug Terawhiti will be kept in readiness, and if any bodies are recovered an undertaker with -coffins will be immediately despatched to the beach. J