ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE CASUALTY

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XX, 15 November 1902, Page 1239

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE CASUALTY

The s.s. Elingamite struck on one of the Three Kings, off the North Cape, on Sunday morning about 10 a.m., on her way from Sydney to Auckland, during a dense fog, and was totally wrecked. The steamer was going dead slow at the time. The boats were launched and most of the passengers and crew safely embarked.

The captain stuck to his ship until .washed off the bridge. The Elingamite had aboard about 120 passengers and 58 of a crew. One boat, in charge of Mr. Burkett, chief officer, had also on board Mr. Renaut (the second mate), Mr. Morrison (fourth engineer), the chief cook and second cook, the boatswain, two A.B.’s, one ordinary seaman, several stewards and 37 passengers, including four ladies and two children; total, 52 souls. One of the ladies died immediately on being lifted out of the water. This boat fortunately reached Kowhai, Hohoura, about mid-day on Monday, and the occupants were most hospitably received by the natives, who certainly deserve great praise for the splendid manner in which they treated the poor sufferers.

Immediately on receipt of intelligence Constable J. R. Bowman, accompanied by J. E. Thomas, J.P., proceeded to Kowhai, and found that under the circumstances the unfortunate shipwrecked people were as comfortable as possible. The passengers are loud in their praises of the behaviour of the officers and crew of the ill-fated vessel.

Although she struck without any warning there was not the slightest sign of confusion. The men behaved as became true British seamen, looking first to the comfort of the ladies and children, Who acted splendidly.

At daylight on Tuesday morning a whaleboat, in charge of John Mclntosh, and also the ship’s boat that came ashore, manned by a native crew, left to thoroughly search the coastline from Hohoura to the North Cape, and numbers of horsemen have also started on the same mission.

The schooner Greyhound hag also been instructed to search. There is every probability of the remaining four boats and two rafts, with their occupants, landing safely somewhere on the coast. At any rate, every possible endeavour is being made to discover their whereabouts and ensure their safety.