THE WRECKED MAITAI

Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 10287, 8 January 1917, Page 4

THE WRECKED MAITAI

ARRIVAL OF PASSENGERS. THE SHIP ABANDONED. ■■ ' >: tPy? to "'SawO " >, AUCKLAND, January.B. '-' Early • this morning passengers,and" some of'tkvcrew from the Maitai arrived in Auoklarid from Raafotanga. -They report that the fide Vbg cvi- * ; dently .iairly;: high: , the Maitai sea akoUfc the vessel ia studded with dangerous rooks^^Captain-McLean and' bis officers are reticent ash to,-; particulars of but are of opinion that , the' refloating of the ship ie absolu-" tely impossible. Tlie reefs ?©n which J she lies aro very treacherous, j Captain Suteliffe was- unable to give» • j tbe Maitai passengers ordinary acf .eommodaidOW, Taut took them on a» •distressed thaiT they,pi^y^ : e4:tbeir;oiwn bedding, etc.. /The .'Maiki;' ashore: at *p.m.-oh Christmas'/.Day. Ifr was noticed that the vessel was drifting. All on '•■'board v felt ,-a tremor run through the : " "-' Almost immediately three .or .four shocks were |elt. The mate ran to; the bridge and the . 'ship's 'tele^apli'and "sent out a message I s. Alb effortfi>to were how'eyer' of no avail. "She Had evidently r r drifted: : &t a'good speed, ahd pax r faatr ! oaugfct, amidships Ori,' |he; inoreased in .forcejv.and. V ;beayy made the steamer roll, hampering; ; tbe work of the men. . > -. •;-.( .f AH men worked ■ 'until abotrt"''!' a.m. 'Next- day 'tbe rising water in the hold forced the firemen to quit,. ,' -: : -were then used ftp parry the ship's stores' ashore. : . Attempts,- at.refloa ! tang''i*lie !; «tcaineiv were abandoned, as she had gradually worked her 'way,', further on 10 the reef.