The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-02
SWEPT BY THE SEA
WAIRARAPA'S DECKS CLEARED
SCORES AT A TIME
Thrown on the Rocks at the Foot Of a
Cliff Hundreds Of Feet High-Hc-
roism Displayed III Attempts to
Land a Life Line-Early Reports
Confirmed.

AUCKLAND, \. H., Nov. 1.-Survivors OF
the steamer Wairarapa, which went down
off the New Zealand coast Sunday night,
have arrived here. The steamer was driven
On the rocks in terrible gale and a
tremendous sea. The report is verified
that Ill passengers and three of the crew
persisted The survivors of the disaster
tell thrilling stories of the wreck. Second
Officer Stark says thick fog set in at noon
Sunday, obscuring everything. The course
Of the steamer had been laid so she would
clear Hen and Chicken island, when at
midnight she struck on Great Barrier
Island. The shock OF the stranding
awakened the passengers aud many
of them rushed from their cabins
On deck in only their night clothing. The
sea Was then making a clean breach over
the AFTER part OF the steamer. and as the
affrighted passengers came on deck many
Of them were carried overheard before they
bad chance TO catch hold of anything to
save themselves. When daylight came it
was found that be steamer had struck at
the foot of high cliff that doomed several
hundred feet above the vessel. To effect a
landing Oh the shelving places Of the cliff
WAS most difficult and dangerous under
taking.
IECSt Ou DOdlu LHC StcdibNl NoUAu oSS
floating IN the sea around the wreck u
large number of corpses. A large number
of persons by means OF floating wreckage
managed to reach the edge OF the rocks.
The main and fore rigging were then hiied
with passengers who had gone aloft 10
Escape being swept into the sea by :he huge
waves that were combing over the vessel.
About sixty 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 co.
Eineer and fireman volunteered to swim
ashore with line. They took rope and
jumped overheard, but had not gone far
when the sea compelled them TO relin-
guish the line. Then they swan for the
rocks, which they reached IN terribly
bruised condition. Several attempts were
made by others, when finally Que of the
stewards said he would Try to get the line
ashore.
Divesting himself of nearly all his cloth
Ing be boldly sprang into the foaming sea
and msde straight for the rope that was
floating outward. Graspiug IL with one
hand he struck out strongly landward.
Again and again it appeared as though he
had gone down, but then his head would
appear on the crest of wave, which would
sweep him nearer and nearer the rocks.
His skill as swimmer stood him well, for
he reached the shore, If shore IL could be
cdlied, Win Inc line Sui III MS grasp
The line WAS IN ide fast and it was by this
means most of the survivors were saved.
A passenger describing the scene on the
deck after the vessel had struck, says Ii
number OF persons were singing and pray
ing. Several of them were kneeling aud
had hold of nothing and therefore when
the first big wave swept over the steamer,
they We're carried into the sea. When the
bridge was smashed this passenger saw
Captain Mcintosh jump into the sea with
q lady. Neither was seen afterwards