DISASTROUS WRECK

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7, 18 February 1909, Page 264

DISASTROUS WRECK

SEVENTY LIVES LOST

One of the most serious wrecks that havo taken placo on the New Zealand ' coast for some years occurred near Terawhiti, about ten jmiles from Wellington, on Friday", night, when tho Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Penguin was wrecked on Tom's Rock, a partly submerged rock -about one mile and a half from tho coast. Tho vessel was on her usual trip from Nelson and Pieton to" Wellington. The Penguin left Pieton shortly after 6 o'clock on Friday evening, and got into Cook. Strait two hours later. ' The weather was fairly clear (states the captain) 7 but when we were about halfway across the weather set down thick. I decided to set the outside course, which should have taken the ship well clear of the place where she struck, and I allowed for a big southerly' set, and expected to pick up Pencarrow light at 10 o'clock. When putting her head down the strait, as it was coming on thick, 1 was intonding to stand down clear to tho southward out of the way. Then she struck. It must have been after 10 o'clock. She just slid along the rock, touching on the starboard side. The pumps were sounded, and it was found, that the ship was making water rapidly in No. 1 hold and No. 2as well. The boats were swung out, and the first sent away were tho women and children. There was a good deal of crying on deck, but everyone appeared to be otherwise calm. ,To have beached where she struck would have been madness. It is an iron-bound coast, and not a life would have been saved had that been done. There was a heavy sea, and" one of the boats with the women and children was smashed against the side of the ship, and the people were, thrown into the sea. I believe they all got on deck again, but I would not be positive. Two boats got away. There were only women and children in thorn except the crew, who were there to row. I cannot say exactly who were in charge of the boats. The men had to take to the rafts. Two of them were got out astern. I dared not let the engines go, because I could not toll who might be floating within range of the propeller. I reckon the vessel went down at about eight minutes to 11 o'clock. That was when my watch stopped, and others stopped at the same time. The Penguin went down bow first. According to the statement of the purser there were 60 passengers and 40 of a crew on the Penguin when it left Pieton. The latest accounts to hand state that 30 persons were saved and seventy lost. A striking feature of tho sad calamity is the large number of the crew that perished Among those who lost their lives were the first, second, and third officers, chief and third engineer, chief steward, and boatsAvain. Only one woman AA'as saved, and she lost her husband and four children. Here is her account of the disaster and lioav she reached the shore : — ' When the Penguin struck,' said Mrs. Hannam, 'I, Avith my husband and children, put on lifebelts, and wo stood on deck. Then, Avith others, Aye Avere told to get into a boat. There Avere about four men, six Avomen, and several children in this boat. Only one of the men Avas a sailor. As ays got into it the boat capsized right alongside the Penguin Oh, it Avas dreadful. I had clung to my baby, tAAo years old, and scrambled Avith it into the boat again. All my children had been in the boat with me before it. tipped over, but only one Avas there after — the baby. When I had scrambled into the boat I helpetl several ladies avlio were struggling in the Avater to get into the boat again.My other children I could not see. Their ages Avere ten, five, and three years. Then Aye drifted aAA'ay from the ' steamer, and later on capsized again. I had tied my baby to a seat of the boat for safety, and AA'hen the boat turned over the second time I clung on, and came up boneath it. I saAv that the baby was all right, and then turned to help another child — a boy named Matthews, I am told. I made him comfortable, and AA r e rested under tho boat Avhile she tossed about and drifted and drifted. * Tho boy kept asking whether he AA'as saved, and I had to tell him he Avas quite safe, and AA'ould get ashore. I, looked to see if there Avere any others wlio needed help, - N but there> was no one. We drifted ashore at last, and I afterAvards heard voices. It Avas the shepherds from the homestead, aa'lio had been called o\it by some of those who had got ashore earlier. .1 called to them, and thoy got us from under the boat. Oh ! lam so glad I was able to save that dear little boy for his paronts. They will have someone.' An outstanding fcaturo of the sad calamity avis th« epleiidid bravery and coolness of the officers and croAV of the wrecked steamer. All the survivors agree that the

utmost order prevailed on board aftor tho vessel had struck. The womon bohaved well, and the stewardess bore herself like a heroine, fastening on lifebelts and speaking words of chocr to tho poor womon and children who were so pathetically helpless in the face of tho calamity! Without. loss of tune Lhc crow and obhors put the rest 'of the womon and children and some of the men in the second hioboat, while it was on the davits, hxxt hardly had they lowered it down a little when one of the ropes ran, lowering the boat at one end to such an angle that all were precipitated into the sea, and half of them— about 15 or 10— were drowned before tho onlookers' eyes. The bodies wore brought to Wellington on Monday for interment, which took place on Tuesday moraine at the Karori Cemetery. , Among the Catholics who lost their lives wero Mrs Bpttaiii, wife, of Mr. I G. T. Brittain, Stock Inspector,' Blenheim, and Miss Mary Doran, of Marlborough. At the bacrod Heart Basilica, Hill street, a Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated for tho repose of the souls "of those who had been drowned in tho wreck. His Grace Archbishop Redwood pontificated, and was assisted by- the W Father O'Reilly as deacon, and the Rev. Father Low-don as subdoacon. Just outside the altar rails' was tie cofhu containing tho remains of Miss M. A. Doran lne solemn music of the Mass, including the ' Dies Irae ' was sung by a choir of clergy, and tho whole Service was very impressive. Previous to the Mass the Sisters of Merr.y and the school childrcu sang a hymn suitable to the occasion.