The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-11-08
WRECK OF wAIRAIPA.
Details OF the Disaster on the Coast
OF New Zealand.

Auckland, Nov. "details OF the
sinking of the steamer Wairiapa and
the drowning of 125 people show 1t 10
have been horrible affair When
the steamer struck the rocks a large
number Of persons, 10y means OF float
Ing Wreckage, managed to reach the
edge OF the rocks. The main and fore
rigging were then filed with passen-
gers who had gone aloft to escape be-
ing swept into the sea by the huge
waves that were coming over the yes.
sci. About sixty Of them were stand
ing on the ratlines or crosstrees. 9th
ers We're 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
rope and jumped overheard, but had
not gone far when, the seas pounding
them, compelled them to relinquish the
line. They then swan for the rocks,
which they reached In a terribly
bruised condition. A Scotchman then
volunteered to make the attempt to
get the line ashore, but he, too, failed.
Those on the steamer had about given
up hope of escaping from a watery
grave, when one of the stewards said
that he would try to get the line
ashore. Divesting himself of nearly
all his clothing, he boldly sprang into
the foaming sea and made straight for
the rope that was floating seaward.
Grasping 1t with one hand, he struck
out strongly landward. Sailors on the
steamer freely played the line cut
Again and again it appeared almost
certain he had gone down; but then
his head would appear on the crest of
a wave, which would sweep him near.
er and nearer the rocks. His strength
and skill as swimmer stood him
well and those on the steamer in good
stead, for he reached the shore, ii
| shore 1t could be called, with the line
still In his grasp. Add by those on
the rocks the line was made fast, and
it was by this means that most of the
survivors were saved. Several of the
passengers reached the rocks only aft
er terrific struggles. A young girl
Jane Williams, says that she was in
her cabin when the steamer struck
She heard the thud, and aroused her
sister, who was sleeping soundly
Each Of the girls seized life belt and
rushed, in their night dresses, to the
hurricane deck. Here, too, was an
awful scene. In the intense darkness
could be seen affrighted passengers
struggling together. The vessel listed
| and the passengers on the lower side
were swept from the deck. Miss Will
Jams said: II and my sister climbed
up the steeply inclined deck to the
railing, to which we clung with all
our strength. We were repeatedly
| submerged by the waves and were
l Ylaa arIvy 61srx ,o6 IL
| dreadfully, and l thought that every
| moment she was going to break up.
had in the meantime caught hold of a
| rope, when large wave struck me.
| The rope snapped and | was thrown
into the sea / was unable to swim,
ard caught hold of pieces of wreckage.
l was buffeted by the sea until was
| driven. with others clinging to the
wreckage, close to the cliffs When
day began t, break the spectacle was
| appalling / war hanging TO spar,
| around which my h2ir was twisted
Near by | saw men and women torn
| from the wreckagc to which they
were clinging and drowned bnf..rr rly
| eyes. Some reached ledge, only to
be again drawn back into the sea by
a receding wave. Finally l was the
| only one alive. / thought every min.
ute that my time had come l man
aged to seize two life belts. BY this
time it had become light enough ~
me to see those being saved from the
wreck by the life line. My sister,
while thus attempting to escape, be-
came cntangled in the line and was
strangled. After ] had been In the
water twelve hours and was almost
completely exhausted I was perceived
by the survivors ashore. One of the IN
swan to my rescde. He fastened q
rope to me. and tier we We're both
hauled ashore. l was unable to
| stand"