LATEST PARTICULARS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 2 May 1881, Page 2

LATEST PARTICULARS.

The following message reached us as we were going to press '.last night :— The account given by the second man is substantially as follows:— The ship struck at about 5 o'clock on Friday morn* ing. . The night had been very heavy and dark, with a thick haze over the land/ Both officers and captain were on deck. Cap'ain Garrard thought that he was far enough to the southward to clear Wai* papa Point, and gave instructions to alter the course to west, so as to head for the Bluff, for which point he was bound. Ten tnlttUtua W<>f--iht»-abip gtruuk,Hhe captain went aft, verifying his course by standard compass. While be was doing so, the second mate found that the vessel was near the reefs. The course was altered immediately, but too late, for she struck on the reef, to the northward of Slope Point, the ship being on the weather side of the reef, and exposed to a heavy swell. The second mate was sent with a boat's crew and one passensenger to look for a landing«place, and a second boat was despatched with the chief officer with the same instructions. One of the crew of the second mate's boat (James Maher) swam to the reef with great difficulty to see if it was pos« Bible to land. In the meantime the boat in charge of the chief ofS *er capsised. Mr Maloney, however, says that five persons were seen to land; He (the second officer) afterwards ftook his boat back to the vessel, and then returned to the reef | bringing three steerage passengers. Some j of the crew who were supposed to be able to swim, jumped overboard, but were not seen again. Maber swam to the boat and was taken on board, greatly exhausted. This very plucky action occurred early in the morning. Ihe other two boats be» long'ng to the Tararua were washed oot of the davits by the sea and smashed np. After taking Maher on board the second mate tried to get alongside the steamer again, but found it impossible, as the sea was making a clean breach over her. Women and children were congregated for safety in the smoking room. The second officer could do no more, and stood out to sea in his boat in the hope of obtaining assistance from passing vessels, and the Prince Rupert picked them up at I*3o to-day. Tt is believed that 130 were on the steamer all told. This is corrob* orated in all essential particulars by Mr Hill, the passenger ; thp vessel parted amidships towards the afternoon, and at 2 this morning she became a total wreck, the masts breaking and the hull went over board broadside, drowning all who were on board. The following is a list of the survivors : Robert Lindsay, chief officer; John Wilson, chief cook ; Frank Eobey, seaman ; Thomas Dison and Frank Denny, seamen. Passengers;— »J. L. Lawrence, J, Cbatterton, George "Robins, J, Tittle>, John Williams, Henry Daly and Thomas Dayis. In addition to the above a boat containing the second officer (Maloney) six seamen (names unknown) and William Hill, a steerage passenger, from ChristcUurch. Later news states that the boat con« tamed the following: — James Mabcr, William Hill, Malor.ey, Jas. Burnett and four sailors, two of whom are Germans.