The herald., 1894-11-02
THE LOSS OF THE WARA|PL
Further Particulars of the
Disaster.
Passengers and Crew at the Mercy of
the Waves.
Many Thrilling Stories Related by the
Survivors - Heroic Efforts of
the 5enmsn to Rescue
the Passsngers.
By the Associated Press.

Additionai Details regarding the loss OF
the Waraipa have been received from
passengers arriving here. The steamer
struck at midnight during heavy wealth
er and when rough sea was running.
The passengers were aroused by the
shock and rushed in terror to the deck,
whore life belts were served ont and
preparations made to lower the boats.
Several boats capsized while being low
cred. The crew then set to work con.
structing RATS. and ran q line ashore
with great difficulty. With the aid of
q sort OF breeches- buoy they succeeded
in rescuing number OF people. Many
pathetic and heartrsnding scenes were
witnessed, especially between husbands
there was no panic.
The survivors OF the dissster tell
thrilling stories OF the wreck. Second
Officer Stark says thick fog set in ct
noon Sunday, obsouring everything.
The course OF the steamer had been laid
so she would clear Hen and Chicken
island, whom ct midnight she struck on
Great Barrier island. The shook of the
stranding awakened tho passengers and
many OF them rushed from their
cabins on deck in only their night
clothing. The sea was making
clean breach over the Afterpart OF the
steamer, and ~ the affrighted passen-
gers came on deck many OF them were
carried overheard before they had q
chance to catch hold OF anything to save
themselves. When daylight came ii
was found the steamer had struck at
the foot of high cliff that loomed sew
ersl hundred feet above the vessel. Tho
effort to get landing on the shelving
places on the cliff Was a most difficult
and dangerous undertaking.
Those on board the steamer could see
in the sea around the wreck large
number Of corpses. A large number Of
persons by means OF floating wreckage
managed to reach the end OF the rocks.
The main and forerigging were then
filed with passengers who had gone
aloft to escape being swept into the sea
BY the huge waves that were coming
over the vessel. About 80 of them were
standing on the cross trees. Others
were hanging with most tenacious grip
to the davits.
The outlook was very dark when an
engineer and fireman volunteered to
swim ashore with line. They took a
rope and jumped overheard, but had
had not gone far when the sea com-
PEELED them to relinquish the line.
They then swan for the rocks, which
they reached in terribly bruised con-
dition. Several unsuccessful attsmpte
were made by others, when finally one
OF the stewards said he would try to get
the line ashore. Stripped of most Of his
clothing, he boldly sprang into the
foaming sea and made straight for the
rope that was floating outward. Grasp.
ing it with one hand he struck out
again it appeared as though he had
pear on the crest of a wave, which
would sweep him nearer and nearer the
rocks. His skill as q swimmer stood
him well, for he reached the shore, If
shore 1t could be called, with the line
still in his grasp. Tha line was made
fast, and it was by this means most of
the survivors were saved.
A young girl, Jane Williams, says she
was In her cabin when the steamer
struck. She heard the thud and aroused
her sisters, who were sleeping soundly.
Each of the girls ssized q life belt and
rushed in their night clothes to the hur.
ricane deck. In the intense darkness
could be seen affrighted passengers strug.
Cling together. The vessel listed and
the passengers on the lower side were
swept from the deck. Miss williams
said:
II and my sister climbed up the steep
incline to the railing, to which We olung
with all our strength. We werB deeply
submerged Dv the waves and were nearly
drowned. The. vessel pounded dread
fully, and thought every moment that
she was going to break up. A large
wave struck me and was thrown into
the sea. was unable to swim and /
caught hold of pieces of wreckage.
was buffeted by the sea until l was
driven, with others. clinging to the
wreckage. close to the cliff. When day
began to break the spectacle was appall-
ing. was hanging to a spar, around
which my hair was twisted. Near by
saw men and women torn from the
wrecksge to which they were clinging
and drowned before my eyes. Some
reached q ledge, only to be again drawn
back into the sea by the large waves.
Finally was the, only one alive. I
thought every minute that my time had
come. l managed to seize two life belts.
BY this time it had become light enough
for me to see those being saved from the
wreck by the lifeline.
"My sister, while thus attempting to
escape, became entangled in the line
and was atrangled. Alter had been in
the water IL hours, and was almost ex-
hausted, was perceived by the surviv-
ore ashore. One OF them swan to my
rescue. He fastened a rope to me, and
then we were both hauled ashore. I was
unable to stand"
Another passenger describing the
scene on deck after the vessel struck,
says number Of persons were singing
and praying. Several OF them were kneel.
ing and had hold OF nothing and there's
fore when the fire: big wave swept over
the steamer they were carried into the
sea. When the bridge was smashed
this passenger saw Captain Mcintosh
Jump into the sea with a lady. Neither
WAS seen afterwards.
Nearly all the survivors reached the
shore in the scsntiest clothing. Some
remained on the rookie 80 hours, subsist-
ing On oranges which washed ashore
from the wreck. When the disaste- be,
came known to the Maorin on land these
natives launched boats and succeeded
in rescuing number of people. Assist.
ance was finally obtained from Port
Fitzroy. and thS survivors OF the Wa-a.
ipa were brought hero. One hundred
and eleven passengers and % seamen
were drowned.
National Fets.
Gorno En- ~: as