Washington Standard

One Hundred and Thirty Persons Clinging to the Rigging at Last Washed into the Sea.

San Francisco, June 15.—Particulars of the wreck of the steamer Tararua are given by the Auckland Herald of May 23d. The Tararua was a steamer belonging to the Union company of New Zealand, was employed on the coast of New Zealand and was running to Melbourne and Sydney on the voyage on which she was wrecked. The Tararua had passed down the east coast of New Zealand, calling at different ports. She was between Port Chalmers, Port of Dunedin and Bluff, the last place of call before going to Melbourne.

When the vessel first struck the sea was comparatively calm and it was thought no lives would be lost, but on account of a heavy surf that breaks on that part the coast there are no life boats or saving apparatus. One boat which went from the vessel was driven on the beach and broken, while the other could render no assistance and was picked up at sea. A heavy swell set in, the steamer settled down on the rocks and was washed over by waves. The crew and passengers huddled at last on forecastle and in the rigging, and as they became exhausted were gradually washed off into the sea. The vessel struck at 5 o'clock Friday morning; by 2 p. m. all women and children had been washed off the forecastle. A few of the strongest of the men held on to the rigging till night. At 2 o'clock Saturday morning a cry was heard by those on shore as the mast fell into the sea, and when morning dawned there was scarcely a vestige of the wreck visible. Between 60 and 70 bodies have come on shore, most of which have been identified. A majority have been buried on a piece of ground on the coast. About 130 lives were lost.