A PASSENGER'S STATEMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12122, 9 August 1895, Page 2

A PASSENGER'S STATEMENT.

Tbe following statement wa? obiaine 1 from Mr Crane:-" We cleared tho Head j at 5 30 last night, followed by a south weßt gile,.bigh briken sea and rain and squalls. All' went . well till 225 a.m, when Ih-) passengers were aroused by a severe Bhock, quickly followed by a second. Tho captain quitened the pas sengers, telling us that wo wero only Btruck by a sea. Shortly afcer we were roused out by order of the captain and told to g«nn deck. The ship had a strong list to Btarboard and heavy seis were breaking over her, fore and aft. The position was appalling, for the ship was evidently settling fait. The officeis .nd crew had already succeeded in getting out the lifeboats, but efforts to lower them ivero greatly impeded by the tremendous leiw, which constantly broke aboard, carrying the b.ats in again. The port lifeboat was swept eff tbe davits. A noticeable feature was the coolness and discipline of all on board The captain, chief and second mato and_ Captain Fawkos we-o swept over tho bridge, and the same sea smashed tho cutter to atoms. The sea was then level with the rails and breaking clean over the poop. The starboard lifeboat was successfully launched and a moment after the steamer gave a sudden lurch to starboard and disappeared. The crew of the starboard boat subsequently picaed up all the survivors."