THE PENGUIN WRECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2428, 17 February 1909, Page 5

THE PENGUIN WRECK.

THE OBSEQUIES AT WELLINGTON.

WIDESPREAD SYMPATHY. ’ (Press Association.] \ WELLINGTON, Feb. 16. Yesterday the clouds lifted, and the mournful task of bringing in the bodies from the scene of the Penguin wreck was entered upon. One or tivo had been carried in on the previous day by devoted friends, but the Terawhiti 'went out at 3.30 a.m., with a special .crew, in charge of Captain Post, of the Tutanekai, .and the latter ship’s surf-boat picked up fortylive bodies, and bad them on the tug by noon. The Terawhifci reached the harbor again at about two o’clock, and to avoid the gaze of the curious proceeded to Miramar wharf. Here the remains were quickly placed in waiting vehicles, and a sad .procession wended its way along the three miles of road through KilbirnSe and Newtown to the Garrison Hall in Buckle street. A PATHETIC SPECTACLE.

An awestruck crowd of people gathered at the Garrison Hall in Buckle street .to witness the infinitely pathetic spectacle of loads of bodies being brought in from Miramar in vehicles. The faces of the. drivers of the vehicles spoke of the seriousness of their mission, and as the crowd parted to allow the vehicles to pass in to the shed through the. folding doors mere curiosity gave place to reverence, and hats were doffed, the women paled and stood appalled. The police kept the door sternly, and no one iwho was not a relative or friend of any of the dead was allowed to enter, so that those of a morbid tendency, and others desiring the mere experience of witnessing an unprecedented sight, were debarred. Inside there were improvised tables, running the whole length of each side of the. artillery hall. All the corpses had been carefully sewn in blankets, sails, pieces of canvas, and other coverings that were available, and so, happily, it was impossible to see the poor faces that were bruised and discolored by the terrible buffeting the victims had undergone previous to death. HEARTRENDING SCENES. Dr Frengley and a staff of helpers, attired in white overalls, were busy spraying the corpses with a strong solution of formalin, and the fact that it was absolutely necessary to treat the occasion as one for businesslike promptitude and quiet effort had a calming influence on those unhappy people who were permitted to enter in order to see if among the many unidentified bodies there were, any of their loved ones. All the afternoon there were conveyances coming and going through the folding doors, and each one bore a burden of heartrending interest. Sometimes an express came in with a load of coffins. Then there was one containing the corpses 1 of four little children. The corpses were, being loaded from the tables to the carts as the undertakers arrived to take charge of the bodies for friends or relatives of the deceased.

DISTRACTED RELATIVES. It is remarkable that among the many women who visited the sad temporary morgue none showed any weakness in the actual death chamber, but many, having once got outside, simply broke* down and sobbed convulsively. Strong men, too. were prostrated, and some were leaning up against the fences in Buckle Street, trying with indifferent success, to appear unconcerned. In some cases both men and women were led away by friends whose physical support was necessary. There were tense moments when some of the numerous undertakers undid 'the sewing of a cover in order that an inquirer might see the features beneath, .and decide if possible whether they were those of tho dead friends they sought. THE PUBLIC FUNERAL. TITE LAST SAD JOURNEY. Uncertainty as to which route from the drillshed the cortege would take dissipated the crowd in different directions. Most of them anticipated that the last journey would be along Webb Street, across Willis Street, up Wordsworth Street, and into Te Awo station. These were the thronged thoroughfares, people hurrying along some time before the procession started to take up favorable viewing places on the 'way. They were disappointed. The mournful music of the “Dean March” announced the departure through crowded Arthur Street. Headed by the Mission Band, the. long lino came, when, instead of turning up towards Webb Street, along the line of route, anticipated, it went down Cuba Street. There was immediately a rush, almost a stampede, to the corner. A GREAT CORTEGE. After the band came a lorry, drawn by two great horse , bearing four white coffins, draped with the colors and decked with wreaths. This unwonted form of hearse had joined the procession outside tire drillhall. It was followed by ,a covered express and a waggonette freighted with sadeyed women clad in mourning. Five heavy waggons succeeded, each having two black coffins,- also shrouded in naval ensigns. These 'were clearly the coffins of the members of the crew lost An' the wreck. They wore followed by their sailor mates, bareheaded. It seemed very crude in some ways. “Where are the hearses?” “Arc there no hearses in Wellington?” were remarks heard in the crowd. Then someone ventured a reply that he thought it was, after -all, in keeping with all the circumstances of the. wreck, and that probably all the hearses in Wellington would ho engaged for the more numerous private funerals. The following v.we the. bodies borne in the procession: E. Gale, J. Rafferty, Miss W. M. Ribbands. Win. Ernest Cooke, Keith Cape Williamson, G. A. Barnes, H. Wood, T. Woodford, Felix Woolward, Ivy Alice, Rose Agnes, Wallace Geo., and Florence McGuire.

The procession was brought up by eighteen cabs, containing prominent citizens and relatives of the deceased Many persons followed a-foot, .and many walked alongside. The streets were lined with, people standing bareheaded as the equipages passed. Windows, balconies, and fences were all occupied, and many cameras at the corners were 1 focussed at the procession. as it moved slowly along.

THE SCENE AT THE CEMETERY. Long before the public funeral reached the cemetery thousands of people had , gathered there. The first body buried was that of Mrs. Brittain, which was laid to rest before 10 o’clock. After that other private, funerals took place, and shortly after 10 o’clock the lorries reached the ceme'tery gates. So great' was the crush of people that the police experienced considerable- difficulty in 'keeping back the .crowd, and making way for the heavy vehicles- and their sad’ freight. Fuliy a couple of thousand people, men, women, and children, lined the roadside near the entrance to the cemetery, and there must have been four or lire thousand people inside the Lurial ground. They wore dotted all over the rising ground, and it is regrettable to have to state that a little belter order than that which obtained might reasonably have- been looked for on such a solemn occasion. The bodies of the McGuire children were buried in one grave at the north end of the grounds, a little distance from the public portion of the cemetery. The scene' around the graveside was a pathetic one. Before the burial service was read by the Rev. W. Shirer, the City Mission Band, of which the father of the deceased children was a member, played the “Dead March,” and' the ceremony was concluded with the playing of a solemn hymn for the dead. The bodies of those who had not been claimed by relatives were interred in two rows of separate graves in the north end of the cemetery. Here, too, a large crowd of people had gathered. The services in each instance were brief, the clergymen of the different sects curtailing the ceremonies as far as possible, recognising that lhe obsequies should conclude as early and as reverently as possible. The first body to be interred in this portion of the cemetery was that of Miss J. Rennie. Later in the day others which had been identified were laid at rest, willing helpers assisting in the last sad rites.

The authorities- have taken the precaution of having the graves numbered, and, where identification of the dead is subsequently established, every facility will be offered relatives for lhe removal of tile remains if so desired. Glancing round the cemetery the terrible extent of the disaster was borne upon one. Here and there funerals were being conducted simultaneously. In different portions of the burial grounds the hearses kept coining and going. The burial services extended well into the afternoon. A REQUIEM MASS. The Sacred Heart Basilica, Hi 1 ] Street, was crowded this morning when a solemn pontificial requiem mass wars celebrated far the repose of the souls of those who had been drowned in the ship-wreck. Ilis Grace Archbishop Redwood pontificated. and was assisted by the Rev. Father O’Reilly, as deacon, and the Rev. Father Bowdon as sub-deacon. Just outside the altar rails was the coffin containing the remains of Miss M. A. Doran. The solemn music of the mass, including the “Dies Lae," was sung by a choir of clergy, and the whole service was very impressive. Previous to the maw the Sisters of Mercy and the school children sang a hvmn suitable to the occasion.

LATEST PARTICULARS. NUMBER Off VICTIMS UNALTERED. To-day’s inquiries have ,iot altered tilic number of those drowned by the wreck of the Penguin, out tI?o name of Miss Jennings, previously tip j. caring in the list of dead, ’irk -jo deleted. She had booked to come on the fatal voyage, but did i;nt jo.n the vessel, and is now safe at Blenheim, this reduction, howe.ver, is ciinlerbalanced by the addition of the name of Mr. Jas. Collins, of Chariest')wu, near Westport, who was travelling to Wellington to attend a cunioivnco of Eore-stors. Ilis name did pod appear in the passenger list, 1 lit his preact ce on hoard the steamer is placed bey* rd doubt. Mr. Collins was 38 years of age, and unmarried. PATROLLING THE BEACH. (Several policemen and a se;geant are still stationed at Terawhiti, ami are patrolling the beach cn the. lookout for any-bodics that nmy l.e washed ashore. The Telegraph Department has arranged to kecip the Oterangi cable station telephone open, so that news of any recoveries ear. be quickly despatched to Wellington. So far no fresh recoveries are renorted. AIRS. HANNAN—A PREVIOUS ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

-Mrs. Hannan, the sole surviving woman of tho Penguin’s company, had a narrow escape from drowning some years ago, while crossing the YVait-ara-bar in an open boat. The craft was capsized, and all the occupants had a hard struggle for life, but all succeeded in getting ashore. She gr.es to Picton to-morrow, taking the ladies of her. husband and 'four children, for burial there. Afterwards, .be says, she will return to Wellington, as she could not again live in Picton.

THE NAUTICAL INQUIRY. The marine inquiry into the circumstances'attending the loss of the. Penguin,. which opens to-morrow, will be presided over by Dr. McArthur, S.M., assisted by Captains AV.- J. Reed land C. •McAirtlmr as assessors. INQUEST ON THE VICTIMS. An inquest on the bodies of those recovered from the Penguin* wreck was opened this afternoon by Dr. McArthur, S.M. (Coroner), and a jury of . six. The Coroner explained that it was’ not necessary they should view tlie. bodies. He had visited the scene of the wreck on Sunday, had seen the bodies then ashore,'and bad (riven certificates permitting their burial. A nautical inquiry would open to-morrow, and until that was ova the Coroner’s jury would really be exon in.<r m the dark if it attempted to ‘ox, "on. After the inquiry there vou T d be a better idea as to whose evidence might be considered necessary for the purposes of the inquest. He therefore -proposed an adjournment till February 24th. This was agreed to by the jury.

PREMIER’S REPLY TO OFFER OF ASSISTANCE.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 16. The Prime Minister. (Sir Joseph , Ward) has 'replied as follows to the Mayor of Christchurch’s, message of sympathy with the sufferers by tho Penguin wreck, and suggestion for the. raising of >a relief fund: “I desire to think tho citizens of Christchurch for kind message of sympathy with the sufferers, friends and relatives of those who lost their lives in tho sad disaster. It is difficult at the moment to know what may be required to give relief to those who have been left behind, but as soon as it is ascertained what is required, the Government will gladly co-operate to afford relief and assistance.” SYMPATHY FROM ENGLAND. The -Prime Minister has received a cable from the High Commissioner informing him that great sympathy has been expressed at Home and the deepest interest evinced in, the sad loss of life caused by tho wreck of the Penguin, and that numerous inquiries were being made as'to the names of those lost. Sir Joseph Ward cabled in reply giving the whole of the names and identification. CONGREGATIONAL UNION’S CONDOLENCES. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 16. The Congregational Union to-day decided to send the following telegram to the Mayor of Wellington: “The Congregational Union now sitting in Christchurch extends to the bereaved and sufferers through the wreck of the Penguin their most proround sympathy.” In addition to the general message, .special messages of sympathy were sent- to Mrs. A. E. Bone and Air. Jas. Henry. SYMPATHY FROM GISBORNE. The Mayor, Mr W. I). Ly-snar, despatched tlie following message to the Mayor of Wellington yesterday: “Gisborne deeply mourns with your city the. terrible wreck of the Penguin near your port. Sympathy is extended to the relatives and friends of those who have been lost, and as a small tribute of respect-to the dead flags are-Leing flown hero at half-mast.”

The- local office of the- Union Steamship Co. was closed yesterday between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. a* a tribute of respect to the victims of the disaster. Flags were Hying at half-mast on many public buddings, on the Belfry Tower, and on the shipping in the port.