THE WRECK OF THE MAORI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2575, 9 August 1909, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE MAORI.

CABLE NEWS.

DEATH ROLL REDUCED. THIRTYrONE IIvES LOST. ' United Press Association—Copyright LONDON, August 6. Those saved from the Maori include: Steward Yates, seaman Munro, greaser Brown, firemen Holmes and Milton. FURTHER RESCUES. HEROIC FISHERMEN. (Received August 8, 5.5 p.m.)LONDON, August 7. Some fishermen yesterday morning detected 12 men clinging to the Maori’s mast tops. They established communication despite the enormous waves breaking over the wreck and saved two, two others being drowned while attempting to come ashore.- Rocket communication was established by the evening, and food and brandy sent to the wreck. There is a fair prospect of rescuing the other eight. The fishermen displayed great heroism. . The Maori lies in deep water with her back broken.

SURVIVORS’ SUFFERINGS

FORTY-EIGHT HOURS IN THE RIGGING.

The -“Daily Mail” correspondent wired later that the Maori was wrecked three yards from the rock-hound coast, in an inaccessible position. When the boats left the ship 12 men were still asleep below, unaware of the disaster. They threw a line ashore, and an engineer, Air. Middleton, and a fireman named O’Brien crawled to land with difficulty. Two others were drowned in the attempt, and the remainder took refuge in the rigging, remaining there for 48 hours, frequently drenched by the heavy seas. The rocket apparatus threw a rope to the wreck on Saturday morning, and eight men were dragged ashore through a tremendous sea.

A BRAVE SURVIVOR’S NARRATIVE. TWENTY-TWO LIVES SAVED . The boatswain, George Stewart, a native of Lyttelton, states that he cut free two boats, when! they were filled. He thought himself to have been last to leave with the third boat, not knowing that any other men were below. Those in his boat pulled desperately, occasionally sighting the other two. Dawn showed a jagged coast. They steered for a patch, of sand, struck a rock, and overturned. He started to- swim ashore and rescued Hill well and Mellon. The latter weighed 18 stone. Twenty-two men out of 53 have been saved. There were pitiful scenes among the mothers and wives of the crew awaiting news at the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co.’s office in Leadenhall Street. The crew were mostly Londoners. (Received August 9, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 8. The names of the others saved from the Maori are: Engineers Brewer, Ala3 r wood, Bowler, and Thomson; storekeeper Barr; seaman Evans; fireman Hutchings, a cook named Hatch, ship’s boy Clarke, and another named Mills.