LANDING THE BODIES IN WELLINGTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2427, 16 February 1909, Page 6

LANDING THE BODIES IN WELLINGTON.

SOME RUMORS CONTRADICTED. OFFICIAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THOSE FOUND. (Special to “Times.”) WE-LLINGTON, Feb. 16. Some very wild rumours have been in circulation., to-day, and all sorts of absurd statements have been made about the bodies not having been attended to. These may reach you from other sources, and I may as well state, on -absolute authority and from my personal knowledge, that they are absolutely without tho slightest foundation ; indeed, some of them seem to be absolute lies, and it is most- extraordinary how sueli stories could have got into circulation. UNFOUNDED STATEAIENTS. Complaints have been made that the Union Company has neglected its duty. I have no brief for the Union Company, but I know, from intimate personal knowledge of all the circumstances, that- the local manager has been thought!illness itself, and that he has worn himself out in an exceedingly trying ordeal. A responsible citizen was to-day circulating a report that yesterday afternoon the bodies were still uncovered. As a matter of fact, every body, except perhaps two or throe that have lately come ashore, was decently covered, with canv-as, rugs, blankets, or sacking. Another story in circulation this afternorfti was that Airs. Hannan was dead. On inquiry I found that she was talcing a walk up town. It is a pity that such wild stories should have been put in circulation, as they can only cause needless mental pain to relatives and friends of those who lost their lives. The conduct of one and all who were in the wreck is such as makes one proud of the Anglo-Saxon race. CALLOUS SPECTATORS.

Of the. conduct of some of those on shore, who visited the scene of the wreck cut of morbid curiosity, aud subsequently spread these idle rumors, the less said the bettor. There were, of course, some of them who had business there, and were in great grief and expectancy os to finding some relative or friend amongst thedead. It was easy to identify such people, but there were others who out of idle and morbid curiosity lifted up the head cloths to see what was underneath. The man with a camera was also in evidence, and as a “Post” representative says, “As there was not much wreck to photograph the bodies were photographed. In one instance a complacent spectator posed behind the group for several pictures. He wore the usual pleasant smile.” It is sincerely to be hoped that none of the New Zealand newspapers, at all events, will outrage common decency by the publication of such photographs. As I mentioned in the description of my ride along the beach, one could write in detail of the many harrowing sights to be seen, but over such sights it is well to draw the veil. The Wellington newspapers, I am pleased to say, have kept well within the bounds of decency and common sense in this respect. It is with regret that I write on this subject at all, but there have been so many wild and untrue statements in circulation, and so much unjust fault-finding with those who have done all that humanity could suggest, that I have been impelled to, do so. LANDING THE BODIES.—EXCELLENT ARRANGEMENTS. As a matter of fact, while some people were talking at random about the inattention to the bodies still said to be strewn along the beach, the bodies wore actually in Wellington, though the critics and the general public did not know it. The authorities, instead of landing them at the Wellington wharves, where thousands would have congregated, wisely sent the tug Terawhiti in to Miramar wharf, a mile or two away. Here the bodies were unshipped and carted away in expresses to the Drill Shed in Buckle Street, Here a small crowd collected, but they practically saw nothing, for each body was carefully sewn up in blankets or canvas, and each loud had a cover over it. The vehicles were taken right in to the shed, then the big doors were closed, the bodies unloaded, and laid in two rows down the sides of the commodious shed. Everything was done decently and in order. Dr. Erengley and Dr. Macgillpof the Health Department, were there, and due sanitary precautions were taken; even the express waggons were sprayed with disinfectants before they were allowed to drive away. Inside the Drill Shed were a few friends and relatives

, . , . # V :a; • "' -1 who cause to identify the bodies or to claim the bodies already identified. The face of -each body Lad to be uncovered, but of such proceedings it is nob well to write. J LIST OF THE BODIES. 1 Tho following is a list of the bodies taken to the Drill Shed, with the official description of each: — (1) AVoman, found near Karori stream. (2) Ethel Symons. (3) Steward, belonging to U.S.S. Co., aged about 35. U.S.S. Co. buttons on pants; figure of woman tattooed on right arm. (4) Alan, found near Karori stream. (5) Boy, about 6 years, brown hair. (7) AA’allaco McGuire. (7) Mr. Henry. (8) Girl, aged between 4 and 5 years, fair hair, attired in red colored dress. (9) Air. G. Troadcc. (10) Airs. Brittains. (11) Mrs. Bishop. (12) Elderly woman, grey hair. (13) Stanley Rcntoul, third engin- ! ear.

(14) Mr. Mclntyre, third officer. (15) Photo taken of this body. (16) Boy, fair-haired, in grey suit. (17) A steward, U.S.S. Go. (IS) Jessie Rennie. (19) Boy, about 12 years of age, fair-haired, in dark knicker suit. (20) Airs. Symons. (21) Master Bishop. (22) Girl, aged 11, fair-haired. (23) Mr. Keith Williamson.

(24) Alary Symons. (25) AVoman, 25 years of age, sft 7in in height, dark hair, black ulster grey bodice, black skirt. (26) Rose McGuire. (27) Mr. Barnes, a fireman. (28) Girl, about 10 years old, lairhaired, blue guernsey and dress. (29) Mr. Shaw. (30) Ala’s. Jacobs, stewardess. (31) Fireman, belonging to U.S.S. Co. (32) Alary Doran, 5 Aorangi Terrace, AVellington. (33) Woman, 50 years of age, sft 3in iu height, grey hair, thin features, cl rosed in black. (34) Air. Rodgers. (36) Servant to Airs. Cbatfiokl. (37) Mr. John Seed. (38) AVoman, grpy-jacket. (39) Seaman, belonging to U.S.S. Co., blue jacket and guernsey, but no boots. (40) Driscoll, second officer. (41) Airs. Hope, stewardess, U.S.S. Co.

(42) Florrie McGuire. (43) Fireman, belonging to U.S.S. Co., bandy-legged. (44) AVoman, 30 years old, dressed iu white blouse and black underskirts, but no boots. In addition to these there were, of course, the few bodies taken in to AVellington yesterday by friends. One number (35) is omitted in the above list.

GATHERINGTHE BEAD.

A GRIM TASK. SHIPPING THE BODIES. (Special to “Times.”] AVELLINGTON, Feb. 15. The shipping of the. bodies in a- surf boat to the tug Terawhit-i this morning was a splendid bit of v6rk. The tug left AVellington once more at- 3.30 a.m., and was on the scene in a little over a couple of hours. Captain Post, with the big surf boat from the Tutanekai. and two members of his crew played a prominent part- in the work. Frotunatcly the sea had gone down. The surf boat made three landings at different places. The first point of debarkation was just in front of the station buildings, almost- identical with the spot where Captain Post landed eighteen months ago, when looking for a couple of .mien who were lost from) the AATool-lalma. which was Ijroken up in the little bay there. The landing party included some sail-makers, sent out by the Union Company to sew up a covering of canvas or blanket oround each body. This work was at once begun •and soon the boat- was ready to return to the steamer with twenty-one of the drowned. The men ashore then worked further up the beach, and the next passage of the boat took nineteen bodies. Oterongu Bay, a mile and a-half from Air. McAlenamin’s, wias next searched, and three bodies were shipped from there. Finally the surf boat was pulled into another little strip of beach close to Mr. AlcMenarnin’s, and the last of the bodies in sight (making a total of 45) were taken to the- Terawhiti; several others had already been taken overland. By 12 o’clock the men, by strenuous labor, bad finished their task, which was difficult enough, although the sea had moderated and everything was clear for the return journey before the men of the Permanent Force reached the. shore with their horses. It was a splendid performance, and proved after all the wisdom of tho Union Company’s manager in sending the Te-r-aiwihiti out, in the face, of the prognostications that she would Pot he ablo to effect a landing.