Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-30

of the entire ship depended largely on the
success of his efforts.
1t was 10 O'Clock before the second boat
was launched. and the four hours of day.
light had given every one an opportunity to
form some idea Of the desperate situation
in which the ship was placed. The Koturah
was apparently a hopeless wreck, with her
nose damned hard and fast on the ugliest
reef to be found anywhere along the New
Zealand coast. A big hole in her stern
quarter admitted tons Of water at each
wash OF the seas, every influx of which ma
terially weakened the structure. Dreaming
and writhing as If IN mortal agony from the
strain, the vessel threatened to go to pieces
at any moment. So long as her bows re-
mained nipped in the jaws of the reef she
was fairly safe, but the constant shocks
made this very uncertain tenure Capt
Barrett was right in believing IL an inn
pcrat!ve necessity to either effect a landing
on the coast or take the remaining beats
and pull out to sea. Why he did not adopt
the latter course while the opportunity last
ed will never be known.
Paul was not the only person who Won
dered why the ship CHANGED to be so near
shore " hen she struck. From a hasty ex-
PLANTATION he overheard Capt. Barrett CIV
ing the chief engineer he learned that on
account of the heavy fog the skipper had
mistaken his position. and not making due
allowance for the southerly swell ina gined
the koturah lay much further out. When
the snip struck the second mate was in
charge Of the deck, the captain having just
retired believing all was We'll The boat
was running about ten knots an hour-a
good average speed. The lookout, thinking
he heard the breakers, reported to the
mate, who ran to call the captain instead
of acting instantly himself The delay
proved fatal. Hurrying on deck Capt. Bar
rett scented the danger Immediately and
ordered the helm hard-a-starboard and the
engines reversed, but the Roadway was so
great that before she could swing around
the vessel went on the rocks.
For two long hours the half-drowned
passengers watched and waited for Riley's
return. Cold, hungry, and wet to the skin,
more miserable set of human beings could
scarcely have been found. At II o'clock
the captain instructed the chief steward to
try TO pass some kind of food forward for
the passengers and crew, few of whom had
eaten a mouthful since the night previous
For this service two volunteers were called
The pantryman. bright young fellow from
Geelong, and Paul were the first to respond
and a line being made fast to the waist Of
each the two clasped hands and watched
their opportunity to dash aft to the store
room.
Almost drowned in the attempt they man.
aged to emerge with a supply of soaked
crackers, some timed meats and an Edam
cheese which they had hastily thrown into
canvas bag that was fastened to the
rantryman's belt. There was not enough
70 go around, so 1t was divided among the
shlvering women and hungry. crying chill
dren A second venture was essayed and
the bag filled with hard biscuit, which
sorry food was apportioned among the
male passengers and crew
PROBABLY lew on the koturah at that
time fully realized their imminent danger
The fog having completely lifted. land was
Seen comparatively close by and OCCASION
any the dim outlines of persons moving
ABOUT on the shore could be discerned II
was not until Riley's absence became No
prolonged that hope began to pale for the
TIDE coming in. the sea grew much rougher
ana poured continuously through the shin.
when was likely to so to pieces at any
minute. '
During a temporary lull the second mate
vas seen trying to make up to the vessel
put on account OF the heavy swell he found
II Impossible to get alongside. After re-
peated efforts he was forced to desist and
with despairing gesture he waved a
sood-bye and pulled out to the open sea
Where the waves were calmer and the
danger OF being dashed on the reef less
imminent.
This action on the part OF his subon1inat e
decided Capt. Barrett to waste no more
precious time In trying to effect a landing
on the cruel coast But before he could put
ms plan into execution a perfect avalanche
or water descended on the doomed shin
carrying away the long boat cutter and
dinSy, and Leaving him entirely helpless
AS II In furious competition for their prey
thls was followed by another monstrous
wave. which swooped down upon the helm
less wreck from the opposite quarter, tear
ing away big section OF the forward bull
"arks, behind which nearly a score of pas
sthSeTs lay couched. In q moment all
were precipitated In the angry waters their
plteous appeals for help falling on the ears
OF those who were powerless to render the
slightest assistance.
This fearful disaster which might n.
their own fate any moment, had a most de-
pressing effect on the survivors who were
now collected in the 70 castle, which was
apou, the least exposed part Of the ship.
About twenty persons were left out of $50
souls. Some OF the women were clad only
in their underclothing and night dresses
over which ships blanket had been hasti-
ly thrown. All were soaked through with
salt water and suffered acutely from cold
and hunger. physical discomforts which,
however, were not TO be compared with the
| mental tortures they endured
AS the afternoon waned and the dreaded
night wore on the situation grew more
agonizing. At about o'clock one of the
sailors, dashed to the foremost shouted .
Lights! Lights! A boat in sight" Paul
glanced at th. captain, but he shook his
head despairingly; no vessel could possibly
approach near enough the treacherous rock 3
to be of service. And 50 II proved. After
trying In vain to beat up toward them she
was at length compelled for her own safety
to bear cut 20 sea
Since the loss OF the small boats the only
hope of rescue lay In assistance from a
passing vessel, and when the passengers
saw the. ships lights growing DINNER and
less distinct some of them lost all control
and fell to curSinS and praying alternately
While the heart-rending shrieks Of agonized
women and the incessant sobbing Of their
| more self-contained sisters added t. the
frightful picture of desolation One old
white-haired minister from Napier tried 10
sing Rock of Ages" but his voice tren,-
hled so that he broke DOWN completely ana
ended by blending his tears with those OF
The unfortunate females
During all this long, miserable day nv his
many little acts OF unseifishness and his de-
votion to the weak, trembling women whom
ne tried in every way known to q cour-
aSeous heart to comfort and cheer Paul had
greatly endearef himself TO the captain and
the latter several times thanked the ou.et
spoken American lad for his thoughtful and
timely services.
As they crouched together In the ro'castle
waiting for the vessels dissolution and VIVA
seemed to be certain death Cant Rsrrett
suddenly bent down to Paul who was ann
porting the limp figure of little girl. whose
pa ,., SIi's hau peen swept away.
"Travers." he hoarsely whispered
Yes SIR"
II by any chance You get t. shore alive
! "atI you TO see the owners and tell them
,hat IL made mistake did what / be
neVed was for the best VIII you do this
| for me?'' Wv '''i'
GLADLY. sir. If get the chance"
lhat ALL Travers. You've been q great
| heip 10 me, great comfort lad, and may
may COD bless and preserve you" Then he
"rung the boys hand in token of farewell
| stinsd a grCan that was half a sob and
| turned to speak word of cheer to the sec
ond engineer. who. with broken leg, was