Wreck of the Maori.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 6, 11 August 1909, Page 7

Wreck of the Maori.

Thirty-two Lives Lost.

LONDON, August 6. The Shaw Savill and Albion Company’s well - known liner Maori struck a roek at Duyker Point, 40 minutes after leaving Capetown, and sank in four minutes. The discipline of the crew was magnificent. Captain Nieoll ordered the 55 men aboard to man three boats. These lost sight of each other in the darkness. That of Chief-Officer Reid, with 15 of the crew, rowed in the open sea until daybreak. The boat struck a rock, and capsized while attempting to land. Eight of the men struggled through the surf, but the rest were drowned. The shattered remains of another boat have been picked up, and hope for the other 47 officers and men is now abandoned, tugs reporting that it is impossible for them to have survived in the mountainous seas. The saved include Reed (the engineer), Keenan (the boatswain), Stewart (helmsman), Stillwell, and a fireman. Stewart displayed magnificent gallantry. He swam 80 yards through the boiling surf, though already exhausted, and saved Stillwell, and then returned and rescued the fireman. Finally, he sought to bring in the refrigerating engineer (Hutchinson), but the latter sank. Stewart reached the shore with great difficulty. The Maori was valued at £40,000. Her cargo, largely comprising steel rails, was valued at £120,000. Those saved from the Maori included Yates (a steward), Munns (a seaman), Brown (a greaser), and Holmes and Milton (firemen). The number of survivors is thus increased from' eight to nine. The cabled report states that only eight were saved, but nine names are given in the lists of the survivors. Duiker Point nearly claimed the Everton Grange early last year, the liner running on the roeks and damaging her fore peak. She got clear, however, and was repaired ip Capetown. The Point forms the end of the Cape peninsula, and the chief danger consists of a ledge of rocks running off-shore for half-a-mile. A strong current and thick sea fogs add to the difficulties of navigators. The Point is within 10 miles of Capetown.

A number of fishermen, viewing the wreck of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s steamer Maori at Duyker Point, on August 6, detected 12 men clinging to the wrecked steamer’s mast tops. The fishermen succeeded in establishing communication with the survivors, and, despite the enormous waves breaking over the wreck, they saved two and got them safely ashore. Two others were drowned while endeavouring to reach the shore. Communication with the wreck was established by rocket in the evening, and food and brandy sent to the eight men still clinging to the mast. The fishermen displayed great heroism in their efforts to get the men ashore. The “Daily Mail” correspondent wires later:— The Maori was wrecked three yard*

from a rock-bound coast, in an inaccess, ble position. “When the boats left the ship, 12 men were still asleep below, not aware of the disaster. When they got on deck they succeeded in throwing a line ashore, and Middleton (engineer) and O’Brien (fireman) crawled to land with great difficulty. “Other two were drowned in attempting to get to land. “The remaining eight took refuge in the rigging, and remained there for 48 hours. They were frequently drenched with heavy seas. “The rocket apparatus threw a rope over the ship on Saturday morning, and the eight survivors were dragged ashore through a tremendous sea.” The boatswain (George Stewart), * native of Lyttelton, states that he cut free two boat*, which were both well fill-

ed with members of the crew, and he thought himself the last to leave with the third boat, those on the boat not knowing or the 12 who were below. The men in his boat pulled desperately, and they occasionally sighted the other two boats. Dawn revealed to them a jagged coast, and they steered for a patch of sand, but struck a rock, and overturned. He started to swin ashore, and rescued Stillwell and Melon. The latter weighed 18 stone. Twenty-one of the 53 men who constituted the crew have been saved. Pitiful scenes have been witnessed at the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s office in Leadenhall-street, where mothers, wives and sweethearts of the members of the crew have been anxiously awaiting news. The majority of the crew belong to London. The Maori is lying in deep water, with her back broken. k Following are the names of the 10 who were saved after clinging to tho mast:—■ S. K. Brewer, chief Maywood, engineer. Bowler, engineer. Thomson, engineer. Barr, storekeeper. Evans, seaman. Hutchings, fireman. Hatch, cook. Clarke, ship's boy t . Mills, ship’s boy.