The Surprise Wreck

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume VII, Issue 2002, 27 July 1907, Page 2

The Surprise Wreck

Search for the Bodies

By Telegraph.—Prosa Association, Auckland, this day. A Tama -message slates that the ' steamer Onslow visited the sceuo of the wcrd; of tho Surprise again, and that Constable Brown and party searched tin beaches, but could iind no bodies. I bey recovered a flag, some broken lifeoioys, and tho name-board. Tho steamer called at Oliui and brought Harry Jackson, the solo survivor, to Tairua. He is still weak. As showing the fury of the storm, dozens of crayfish and dead fish have been thrown up on the beach, mm also tons of seaweed. Tho ship's dog was found lying on the Pawauui Beach. Speoial to Daily Telegraph; The Star's Tairua correspondent wires us follows:—Mr. Jas. McGregor, of Ohm, at whose place Harry Jackson, the survivor of tho crew of tho scow Surprise found succour and shelter, says:-" 1 saw the scow anchored oh" the slipper on Saturday morning, and passel the remark that sho must be a stranger, because she anchored in a had place. Boats generally anchored in the southerly bay at the Slipper. Jackson was in a very weak and dazed condition. He was quite black, and his hands and arms were benumbed and rigid from his terrible oxposurc. His limbs wero all scratched, swollen and bruised. Somo of my family saw him first, and thov thought he was a demented man, wandermg.alwiit. We brought him in, dried and clothed him, and 1 got up at daylighl on Sunday morning but could see nn sign of the scow, and thought sho might have gone to Mercury Bay to shelter, 1 was at Wbarakawa'on Monday when ray son came over and stated tlmt a ship was wrecked.. Tho sailor was at my place on my arriving homo. I found that tho seaman Harry Jackson had come in with only a singlet on him. 1 rubbed his limbs, and he collapsed altogether'in a chair and was unable to move. We put him to bed, and after ciiculalion had returned his wounds started to bleed. He>has now considerably improved, and will be able to get about in a day or two. Immediately after Jackson was cared for I went out with a search party, but owing to the rough sea I was unablo to get to the wreck. I accordingly went out at daylight next morning with nine men, but •could only discover tho shattered remains of the scow, and the search failed to reveal anybodies. It seems incredible that any person could go through such an ordeal and still bo alive."