The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-01
CAST ON A ROCK.
Wreck of the Steamer
Wairarapa.
CAPTAIN AND CREW LOST
With Over One Hundred of Her
Passengers.
CAPTAIN AND CREW LOS
STRUCK GREAT BARRIER ISLAND
She Was a Union Liner PIying
Between the Ports of Sydney
and Auckland.

SYDNEY, n. S. W., Oct. 31.-The Union
Line steamer Wairarapa, bound from this
port for Auckland, New Zealand, was
wrecked Sunday evening on Great Barrier
Island, off the northeast coast of New
Zealand. The steamer had large num-
ber of passengers and Ill Of them were
drowned. The number of people saved is
not positively known, but among the
rescued are some of the passengers
The night was very dark, aud the Off
GERS and lookout on the steamer were
ignorant Of the proximity of land until the
steamer struck on the rock. Captain Nc
IntOsh. the master of the Wairarapa, was
on the bridge at the time. He, together
with most OF the crew. was lost.
The sea was rough when the steamer
went aground. Attempts were made to
lower some OF the boats, but several of
these were either smashed by being
thrown by the sea against the side of the
steamer before the falls were cast off, or
were capsized before they could be laid
head on to the sea. Everybody in the
boats perished. Those remaining on board
refused TO attempt to escape this way.
In the meantime the people on shore had
gone 10 the assistance of the shipwrecked
people. The steamer had two or three life
RATS. and these were thrown overheard,
but attached to the vessel by stout lines
Then some Of the passengers scrambled
down the side by means of ropes and
dropped upon the RATS, which were then
cut loose. They drifted rapidly ashore,
and the people on them were taken off
when they came Ia reach by men who
went out in the water as far as possible 10
meet them.
line was finally thrown across the
steamer and the breeches buoy rigged. A
number of lives were saved by this means.
Altogether Ill of the passengers and 80 of
the crew were drowned. The survivors
have arrived at Auckland.
AUCKLAND. Oct. 31.-The Wairarapa
struck at midnight when most of the pas
sengers were asleep. They were aroused
by the shock of the steamer striking and
rushed on deck in great excitement. Life
belts were rapidly served out. There
were many pathetic and heartrenderiag
scenes.
Despite the confusion there was no
panic. A heavy sea was breaking over the
vessel. and the boats were launched wi h
the greatest difficulty. The steamer after
she struck settled rapidly and was partly
submerged, and this added to the danger
and difficulty in getting the lifeboats away.
Most Of the boats were capsized xnd
their occupents thrown into the water.
No help could be extended TO them, ana
they were drowned. The liferafts were
cut adrift. and many persons were saved
by them. A large number sought refuge
on the bridge. Many were swept from il
by the seas. Others took refuge In the
rigging. W here they remain until daylight.
when two OF the crew swan ashore with
lines. by means of which a sort of
breeches-buoy was rigged and a number of
persons hauled ashore. Ali who reached
the shore were attred in the scaptiest
clothing. They remained on the rocks for
thirty hours, subssting on oranges that
had been washed ashore.
The Wairarapa was a steel screw pas
senger steamer, having three decks, and
was rated at Lloyds as 100 Al special
survey. She was built for the trade be-
tween Auckland and Sydney In 1882 by
w. Denny q Sons of Dumbarton. She
was of 17S6 tons. 2S5 feet long So ieet
beam and "a feet depth of hold.
Great Barrier Island, upon which she
was cast ashore, lies in the mouth of the
Gulf OF Hauraki. at the head Of which is
the port of Auckland, and is a rather large
body of land with high rocky coasts
The reef upon the outer or northern
side of the sland catches the full swell of
the South Pacific Ocean, and is bad at all
times, but in heavy wind is apt to make
landing from RATS or small boats almost
m pns sthlp