The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-11-15
A FEARFUL SIIIPWRECK.
TUE wAiRARAPA LOST on THE
BARRIER REEF.
One Hundred and Twelve Persons Perish
Captain Mcintosh Drowned
Heartrcndering Scenes.

BY the arrival of the Mariposa this
morning the particulars of the loss of
the Wairarapa on the great barrier reef
together with list of 1l2 persons who
persisted was received. The following
are the salient points of the disaster:
AUCKLAND, November lst.-The I'M
certainty that has prevailed for
the past few days regarding the safety
of the Wairarapa has been ended in
manner which few dreamt Of The YES
sci ran on the rocks at the Great Barrier
on Sunday shortly after midnight, and
Captain Mcintosh and liz of the passen-
gers and crew are reported to have lost
Their lives. At the time of the occur
renee the weather was thick and there
was heavy sea running. From the
narratives of the survivors it will be seen
that until the vessel actually struck
there was no sign of land, and it is evil
dent that the captain believed that he
was on a safe course.
! The place where the steamer struck is
known as Minors Head, the north
westernmost point of the Great Barrier.
The passengers were in bed at the time
but were speedily aroused, and lifebelts
served out to them. Although the
greatest alarmed prevailed, and the
scenes, more especially in the case of
those who had children on board, were
of the most pathetic and heartrending
character, there was nothing approach
/ ing panic.
/ Immediately the vessel struck, Cap
tain Mcintosh, who was on the bridge
at the time, gave orders to launch the
boats; but, owing to the great list of the
vessel, and to the heavy seas which
were breaking over her, this was a
work of very great difficulty, and it was
almost impussi BILE to take on board any
of the passengers, as the lower portions
of the deck were under water. An
attempt was made to lower the star
board boats, but they were capsized and
a number of those who We're in them
were drowned.
The life-rafts were cut adrift, and
were the means of saving consider
able number, by enabling them to sup,
port themselves until rescued by the
boats. The majority of the drowned
appear to have made for the bridge OF
the steamer when the accident occurred
in 4 (
vicinity, until it was swept away by the
force of the waves breaking on board
The captain was observed up to the last
moment at his post, and as the bridge
was carried away he was, it is said
seen to plunge into the sea, but was moi
again observed.
Apart from those on the bridge
number had sought safety in the for'
and main rigging, and although thu
funnel was carried away the masts re
) NAMED in position. and when daylight
broke and the sea had somewhat lulled
communication with the shore was eff
fected at great risk by two of the crew
swimming ashore with lines. BY thi'
means those in the rigging were hauled
) through the water, all succeeded in
efrecting landing save two, who letting
go their hold of the rope, were SWEEP
away by the current and drowned.
After being on the rocks for over 81
: hours, with nothing more sustaining
than few cases of oranges which haC
been washed ashore from the wreck, thu
survivors were discovered by some MAJOR
boats and taken off to Catherine Bay
In the meantime, the third officer an'
some of the crew made their way over
: land to Port Fitzroy, and reported tn
: catastrophe. The Argyle, which arrived
. at that port yesterday morning, tool
the survivors who had reached there OF
: board, and proceeded to the scene of tn
. wreck afterwards going on to Catherin
BAY, where the remainder were take
J, on board and brought to Auckland, al
y here about three o'clock this morning.