The Last of the Waikare

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 12 January 1910, Page 6

The Last of the Waikare

ON AN UNCHARTED ROCK—WHILE AT FULL SPEED.

BLUFF, Thursday. An official report upon the wreck in Dusky Sound of the Union Company’s fine passenger steamer Waikare, at noon on Tuesday, is unobtainable, the officer declining to give ary information upon the subject. What can be gleaned from passengers and members of the crew, however, shows that the vessel struck an unchartered pinnacle rock about half a mile from Indian Island In Dusky Sound at 12.25 o’clock midday. The Waikare, with 270 passengers, had. completed her Sounds excursion, and was making for the open sea, when the disastrous occurrence arrested her progress, and eventually left her a wreck upon (Stop Island, a couple of miles distant from the spot of contact. In the afternoon the oil launch, under Mr. Appleyard (second mate) set out on a long and venturesome voyage to I’uysegur lighthouse, to telephone for assistance. They succeeded in reaching their destination, and the publie were acquainted of the fact that the Waikare had been wrecked, and that the whole of her passengers and crew were safe. Dispatch of H.C.S. Pioneer. ■Word reached the Premier (Sir Joseph Ward) at Bluff shortly after 10 p.m, and, with the' promptitude of a war scare, 11.M.5. Pioneer left at daybreak for tliri scend of the Wreck. At 6 a.m.' Commander Blunt signalled the collier Rosamond from Westport, but this vessel had no ' tidings. The war- vessel, despite heavy seas, and the fact that she had not been overhauled since June, kept a uniform speed of about 16 to 17 knots, and, but for a strong contrary current in the Straits, would have made better time. Tl'ie Pioneer unsuccessfully signalled Puysdgur Point at 11.30 a.m, and reached Dusky- Sound shortly before two o’clock. The Waikare was seen, hull down, beached on Stop Island—an unexpected eight—because all on board had been led to believe that the steamer had sunk totally in deep water. Delay was occasioned on account of a party of eighteen ladies being stationed in the caretaker’s cottage on Resolution Island, but? the Pioneer was enabled to start with passengers and baggage on the return journey to Bluff at 5 p.m., arriving there under easy steam at 5.45 this morning. Scene of the Wreck. The island upon which the Waikare was beached is known by two names, •• Stotty ” or “ Stop Island,” and is situate about a mile from Anchor Island. The island has nn area of, roughly, a couple of square miles, and an altitude of up to 200 feet. It is bush-covered'to the edge of eliffs or water, arid is about 2}’ miles from Indian Island, near which the uncharted rock was encountered. A ri. inspect ion of the wreck revealed nothing new beyond an impression that the steamer would turn turtle and disappear into deep water at no very distant hour. The eoVe where the caitnp ■was made comprises a shelving rock, ■which was literally strewn with dunnage removed from the wreck. Tents, ehairs, tables, Booms, baggage, and provision, raises, tarpaulins, etc., were all over the place and up the side of the hill. It was a. coast landing. Other Particular*. A testimonial testifying to the excellent care of Captain Newton lias been unanimously signed by the passengers. Tlje wrecked passengers have subscribed 5/, to be divided among the cook and his helpers, the carpenter and the boatswain. , Captain Newton and the first and sec-

ond officers remained with the vessel, but will probably return by the s.s. Moura, which reached Dusky Sound today. An excellent house boat was erected by the crew with the aid of oars and tarpaulins, and was used by them. A wireless telegraphic plant on the Waikare would have resulted in the Pioneer reaching the spot on Tuesday evening, instead of Wednesday afternoon, thus showing that the proposed installation on various vessels of the Union Company’s fleet will have its advantages, though there should be no land stations. The officers, shortly after the wreck, ■made a search for the mysterious rock, but were unable to find it. Another uncharted one in the proximity to the supposed pinnacle rock was, however-, sounded at 7 fathoms, and a buoy was affixed to facilitate further search. Every credit is due to the commander, officers and crew of the Pioneer for their great promptitude in reaching the scene. Had there been anything seriously wrong with the passengers, as those on the Pioneer had been led to expect, the expedition with which Commander Blunt got under way would have resulted in untold relief to those standing by the wreck. A Medico's Story. Dr. Crawford, of Kaiapoi, gave a very interesting account of his experience. He, his wife, and Mr. Barber (fourth officer) were chatting away on deck at 12.15 p.m., while the steamer was proceeding down the sound at full speed towards sea. .They had just passed Indian Island when they were startled by a sudden severe shock to the vessel, which sensibly reduced her speed. This was followed almost immediately by a second shock, and a third (less severe). There was naturally considerable alarm amongst the passengers, but absolutely no panic ensued. In about three minutes the ship took a considerable list to starboard, and the order came from Capt. Newton to stand by the boats. Life belts were handed out, and, in ten minutes, a boat of ladies, in charge of two sailors and the doctor himself (who was the only male passenger on that boat), got away and landed on a small island half a mile from where the steamer struck, two of the ladies having taken an oar during the journey. Another boat landed, but in the meantime the Waikare had sailed on a couple of miles, and had been grounded on Stoney Island. The passengers were quickly transferred, together with a large quantity- of stores, etc. The coast thereabout was very rocky, and the water deep close in shore. Only the bow of the steamer was grounded, the stern being in very deep water, and, as there was considerable danger of the ship slipping off into the deep water, wire hawsers and ropes from stem and stern were made fast ashore. Fortunately, the weather, which during the whole trip had been very wet, had cleared during the morning, and the work of landing stores and baggage was proceeded with under favourable conditions. The best of humour prevailed throughout, and all took the discomfiture of their position very lightheartedly. One wit played “We won't go home till morning” on the dinner bugle, and no one really got much sleep. It was with a sigh of relief that dawn was welcomed. At 7 a.m. the cooks, with praiseworthy success, and in the face of many drawbacks in the way of cooking utensils, produced an excellent repast of eggs and bacon, which was partaken of by all hands with great gusto. A motor launch

had been despatched during the previous afternoon to Puysegur Point lighthouse, and it was with great pleasure that its successful return was greeted. The boat was in charge of Mr. Appleyard (second officer), and ringing cheers greeted the excellent work of that officer and his men. They brought the welcome news that the s.s. Moura was being dispatched from Dunedin, and that the. imprisonment on “shipwreck island” would not be prolonged more than another night. They were all very excited when word -was passed that H.M.s. Pioneer had unexpectedly appeared to take off the passengers and baggage. The stay of the passengers was shorter than was anticipated, as they had resigned themeelves to wait for the relief ship. They were all intensely grateful for the attention and care bestowed on them by all the members of the ship's company, A Strange Premonition. Mr. Wm. E. Peck, of New York, who is a traveller of very varied experience, and who has suffered shipwreck in South America previously, took a keen interest in the Waikare’s end. Three ominous bumps, he said, indicated an inglorious termination to the vessel’s excursion. Passengers who had previous experiences of this sort of thing did not have to be told what those tearing grating sounds meant, and immediately prepared to disembark. The quivering and subsequent listing of the vessel satisfied everyone, and as the whistle sounded, crews rushed to their respective boats, and within fifteen minutes all the passengers had disembarked and w-ere safely landed on shore. Some of the ladies who landed first handled large trunks as easily as experienced porters and when later on the men arrived they found that the ladies had accomplished a large part of the work. None of the ladies lost their heads, and they acted like veteran soldiers. Mr. Peck referred to the dripping rain that fell to their lot, and which soaked through the tarpaulin on to the sleepers underneath. The Waikare, which had been beachet on Stop Island, slowly sank, and by morning the engines and lower cabins were awash. Much dunnage was removed from the vessel, including the upper dedk piano, while the'Kodak fiend whs everywhere. ‘ ’ Mr. Peck added that Mrs Peck, who had been a passenger, had such a strong premonition that something was going to'happen to the Waikare that she left the vessel at Milford and returned overland. She did not know why it was, but she was determined not to go in the ship again, “and, by Jove, she was right!” added Mr. Peek, in conclusion. Another Passenger's Experience. Mr. M. Chapman, K.C., of Wellington, said that he felt a bump as though a big sea had hit the vessel, and presently there was another bump, and a grating sound. In a few minutes he could see that the steamer was settling down by the stern and getting a heavy list to starboard, on which side she had been struck. The fact that the screw was churning up the water showed that' the vessel was settling down by the head as well. The skipper reversed his engines, and blew the boat station signal. Everything was carried out without the slightest hiteh or the least delay. Within 15 minutes all the passengers were clear of the vessel which steamed another couple of miles and beached on Stop Island. She could not have gone any further, as all t'he fires were out, and the stokers, he understood, had worked up to their necks in water. As it was, she finished her effort with the last of her “way.” There was no suspicion of a panic or anything like that while the stewards and crew could not do too much for the passengers, and were nothing but politeness. It seemed to him that the people did not realise that there had been a shipwreck at all, and the good humour of all concerned was a treat. “I was having a little nap before lunch,” said Mr. F. W. Freeman, surveyor, of Christchurch, “when I was wakened up by a bump. I looked out of the port hole, and, as I could see nothing unusual, turned over to sleep again. My cabin mate rushed down and told me to hurry up as the ship had struck. We hurried up on deck, and learned that the vessel had struck on an uncharted rock. There was no panic, and one could scarcely imagine, that so serious a thing as a wreck had taken place. . , Professor Benham's Impressions. Professor Benham, of Otago University, said he would like Co impress the point regarding what the officers and crew

had done for the passengers. There had been no shortage of food, tents or anything. One thing that had struck him.’ in particular was the great promptitude with which life-belt’s were distributed and 1 fixed, and the boats run down to the water. Two or three ladies reduced their clothing to scanty proportions, and had' to be refitted out on shore, and that! was the only unorthodox occurrence. The landing-place was a good one, and the surroundings comfortable, including a fine ereek. It would have been hard t'o find' a more suitable landing place. Homeward Bound. Passengers left the Bluff for the NoCtt by special train at 7.30 this morning, and! gave hearty cheers on leaving for the New Zealand Government, Sir Joseph. Ward, Commander Blunt, and the officers of H.M.s. Pioneer, Captain Newton, and the officers and crew and the stewards of the ill-fated Waikare. H.M. Pioneer's Smart Work. Upon arrival of H.M.S. Pioneer at Bluff! this morning; Sir Joseph Ward personally thanked Captain Blunt for his promptitude in proceeding so expeditiously to the wreck of the Waikare, and for the kindness and attention of himself, his officers and crew to those whom they brought back from the scene of the wreck in Dusky Sound, within the short space of 24 hours from leaving the Bluff. Sir Joseph also sent the following cable to Admiral Poore, Sydney:— “On behalf of the Government, I wish, through you, to thank Commander Blunt, iris officers and crew, for the splendid services, at short notice, rendered by them in proceeding to Dusky Sound and bringing safely to Bluff harbour, within twenty-four hours, two hundred and ten passengers and crew of the wrecked steamer Waikare, all of whom were made most comfortable aboard the Pioneer, and received the greatest attention and kindness from the Commander and his officers and men.—(Signea) Ward, Prime Minister.” Uncharted Dangers. CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Mr. H. F. Skey, officer in charge of the magnetic observatory in Ohristc-hureh, was a member of the scientific expedition’ which went' to Dusky Sound fast year 1 , aqd which spent some time in the locality where the wreck took place. Mt.' Skey says that the coast of the Sound is' heavily timbered, apparently in all directions, the forests being very dense, and! he -thinks that the passengers must have had a rough time. The district is a very rainy one, and if rain has fallen during the last few days.- as it did dur- _ ing the party’s visit, the unfortunate people who have been put ashore must have been wet through. Mr Skey landed aft Pickersgill Harbour, and could see Indian Island. As to the Sound itself he stated! that it has not been at all l completely examined, that it abounds in sunken rocks, many of which have never been charted, and that it is a very dangerous locality. “ As a matter of faet,” he adds, “ the whole place seems to be full of little rocky islets.” Chatting with a reporter, Mr. Wilson, of the local staff of the Union Company, gave some very interesting particulars of Dusky Sound, to which he has made several trips on different vessels including soome on the ill-fated Waikare. Mr. Wilson said that there was always » good depth of water in the main channel, there being generally about 200 fathome. Where the streams ran into the sound! the water shoaled, but charts showed such places clearly. Across the entrance there was a chain of small islands, many of which had not been named, and he was of the opinion that Stop Island was one of them. Sandy beaches were frequently met with, and it would be easy enough to find a spot for beaching. The water was always smoooth inside, the island chain breaking the force of the sea, and as the Sound was narrow, it was usual to run up the centre, giving passengers a view of both sides. There were many arms into which excursion steamers ran, and had to “ back and fill ” to get out, but he had never heard of uncharted rocks being a source of danger. Questioned as to the probable causa of the vessel's striking, Mr. Wilson said that the surveys of the sounds were sometimes considered imperfect, and he could account for the accident only by, the presence of a pinnacle rock that had been overlooked, and which had probably been passed dozens of times previously. Navigation in the Sounds WM

considered very safe, and vessels often at full speed all the time. The (Water was deep, and the skippers dodged about to obtain different views for the passengers with perfect safety. In many places the Sound was not more than a mile wide. In one of the other sounds, Mr. Wilson added, the Tarawera was supposed to have once grazed a rock, but a later search had failed to discover it. The Sounds generally were looked upon as being perfectly safe. Brave Engineers and Firemen, DUNEDIN, Friday. In the course of conversation with a reporter, -Mr. Enos Bacon, of England, one of the passengers, said the Waikare ■was in a very bad way when they left Dusky Sound. Continuing, he said: “One" of the pluckiest things I know of ,was the action of one of the stokers, who was at the fires, working with the water up to his waist. The engineers, too, were in the engineroom until they also were up to their waists in water. But, perhaps, the bravest thing of all was the plucky journey of the second officer, who, in a motor boat, towing another boat wdth six or seven of the crew in it, went out in the rough sea, and successfully reached Puysegur Point lighthouse. I cannot speak too highly of Capt. Newton. He •was on the bridge all the time, and at the moment we struck he had the chart in his hand. The women behaved very bravely. If anyone was excited it was the men. not the women.” Anotlier passenger said that when the second engineer and the last of the firemen left their posts to come on deck, the water was up to their armpits. As the vessel approached shore she struck another rock and slewed round parallel to the shore, where she now lies, one rail being awash. How the Eadies Fared. INVERCARGILL, Thursday. Miss Duckworth, England, in the course of an interview, said that there was not the slightest eign of excitement or hysteria. Th„ officers and crew were “just trumps o.nd it was their aim to study the. comrort of passengers. “Every possible thougnt and consideration was,” said Miss Duckworth, “extended towards us all. The islands are overgrown with vegetation, and we .had to scramble over the rocks. Luckily,, it was low tide, and so the lauding was not so difficult as it would have jeen if it had been high water. There was a steep bank, nearly down to the water’s edge, and we had to climb up it. The officers and crew, assisted by the men, and even by the ladies, set to work to cut a roadway up the bush, and then an extensive clearing was made, and a camp was prepared. By means of boats, luggage, baggage, and bedding was conveyed from the Waikare to the shore, and then ".I was passed from hand to hand up to where our camp was pitched. The ladies again helped in passing up the luggage, and not one complained, although we had to walk through mud, which came right over our boots, and our skirts were all bedraggled. Meanwhile the sun was shining. We had experienced shocking weather previously, and its was hard luck that our first fine day was signalised by the accident. But we were all thankful that we had fine weather for our enforced inspection of Stop Island. The cooks soon got fires going at the camp, and our hearts throbbed with pleasure when we saw the billy boiling. Within half an hour of the completion of the transfer of baggage and other things from the boat, tea was awaiting us, in itself a testimony to the way our comfort was studied. The ladies were first provided for, and then the men paid attention to their encampment. Not a grumbling .voice to be heard, and although it rained hard in the night, we ladies had a most comfortable rest. In the morning tea was brought to us at five a.m., and then the fun began in the performance of our toilet, for all we could muster for hairdressing purposes was two hand mirrors and a couple of combs. Having dressed under difficulties, we partook of breakfast at seven o’clock, and we had a substantia! meal of ham and eggs. Indeed, all thought that we had never tasted such nice ham, but possibly our appetites were keen and we relished it all the more. About 9.30 a.m. the captain suggested that all the unmarried ladies should go to Pigeon Island, where he had been informed thare was a house, which could be utilised for living in until a relief boat arrived. So an hour later,” said Miss Duckworth, 1 and 15 other ladies got into a launch

and the captain took charge of it. A cook and four stewards and a stewardess went with us. and we took food and provisions. It took about an hour to get to Pigeon Island; there we discovered the house of which the captain had received information. It was a lovely spot, and the house was situated on the top of a hill not far from the shore. As we approached the shore we found a beautiful sandy cove and a boathouse in it. We landed and proceeded to the house, of which the captain forced the door. We were told that the house belonged to the ranger of Resolution Island, and around it was a picturesque garden. Soon after entering the house we swept out the rooms and prepared for an enjoyable time. Within the house there were tables and chairs, so with the bedding and other things we had brought with us we should have wanted for nothing. The launch went away to fetch some more ladies (some 25 of whom were to have been brought to us; we were expecting their arrival when the launch reappeared about four o’clock with the news that the Pioneer had come to our assistance. We all joyfully re-embarked on the launch and our hearts were indeed glad when we trod the deck of the Pioneer. As we steamed away from the ill-fated Waikare and saw her precarious condition we for the first time realised how near we had been to a fatal disaster, and the sight of the ship and the thought of what might have been affected many of us, and some tears were even shed. On board the Pioneer we again wanted for nothing, and the arrangements were admirable in the extreme." Compulsory Militarism. HOW THE NEW ACT APPLIES. Within three months every man in the Dominion eligible for compulsory military training must apply for registration. All male inhabitants between the ages of 14 and 55 come within the scope of the Act, which is to be brought into active operation before the end of the year. The Defence Bill did not receive as much consideration when before Parliament as it might have done, and the result is that the majority of those people whom -it vitally affects are not aware of what is really in store for them. There are no exemptions; rich man and poor man, employer and employee, al! must fulfil their obligations according to the conditions of the Act. There is no waiting for an officer to come round and ask your name and age. The onus lies with the recruit himself to register for service, and to register within a prescribed time, or take the consequences. Under the Act there are four divisions of military- service. For the effective defence of New Zealand, not less than 30,000 thoroughly trained men are required. There will be coastal and mobile defence forces, and once the new Act is in operation, a great scheme of internal defence will be perfected. The law just placed on the Statute Book provides for a strong permanent force, a territorial force, a militia force, and a force on which falls universal obligation to be trained. WHERE COMPULSION APPLIES. Those subject to compulsory training are all male inhabitants between the ages of twelve and thirty years. This part of the Act provides for the training of those between 12 and 14 years of age in the junior cadets; 14 and IS iln the senior cadets; 18 to 21 in the general training Section, and from 21 to 30 in the reserve force. The junior cadets must put in not less than 52 hours’ training. The senior cadets shall in each year spend six whole days, twelve half-days in training and 24 nights in drilling. The general training section is the one in which most interest centres. It applies to all males between tho ages of 18 and 21, the prescribed training for whom is 14 days per year in the training camp, and 12 half days, except in the case of the Artillery and Engineer branches, in which the training shall be 14 days in training camp, and 20 half days. All persons so trained are under control of the Council of Defence, which means strict military Jaw. While three years' compulsory training is nominally stated as sufficient, those undergoing tho course must each year pass an “efficiency” standard, otherwise they will be liable for an additional for each year that they are non-cfficient. The reserve force, consisting of men Itetween 21 and 30 years of age, must put in two muster parades in each year.

MILITIA AND TERRITORIAL FORCES. All the male inhabitants of New Zealand between the ages of 17 and 55, with a few specified exceptions, are liable to be trained and serve in the militia. The militia is divided into the following classes: — Class I: Unmarried men between 17 and 30 years of age. Class IL: Married men between 17 and 30 years of age, and unmarried men between 30 and 40 years of age. Class III.: Married men between 30 and 55 years of age, and unmarried men 40 and 55 years of age. In time of war it shall be lawful for the Governor to call upon persons liable to serve in the militia to enrol in the militia. The persons so liable shall be enrolled only after the persons specified in each preceding class arc called out. Under the scheme for a Territorial Force, it is lawful for the Governor to raise and maintain a body of men, and to transfer from the General Training Section any number of men necessary to make up that establishment. On a day to be notified by Proclamation, all volunteer corps at present in existence will cease to exist, and any member of such corps shall be entitled to be enrolled in the Territorial Force in t'he same rank as that which he held in the volunteer force. Prescribed training is laid down for each year, and here, also, if a member of the Territorial Force fails to be classified as “efficient” his training will be prolonged. Every person under the age of 30 years who has been classified as “efficient” for three years, shall be drafted into the Reserve Force, unless he prefers to remain in the Territorial ranks. 150,000 TRAINED MEN. Any employer attempting to prevent any person in his employ from serving in the senior cadets, General Training Section, or Territorial Force, as required by the Act, or attempt's to penalise him, ■reduce his wages, or dismiss him from employment, will be liable to a fine of £lO. Those. compelled to spend 14 days in camp will receive free rations and ammunition, and 3/ per day. Employers will not be called upon to pay the men for the time they are away from work. The population the bill will affect’ will be 87,G00, of whom 38,142 are between 14 and 18 years of age, and 31,022 between 18 and 21. Within ten years it is expected that the Reserve Force, of num oyer 21 years of age, will be built up to 60,000. In a few years’ time it is anticipated that there will be between 100,000 and 150,000 in the Dominion with some military training, and a knowledge of how to use a rifle.