The cemeteries of Lyttelton, as can be expecvted in a port tiown, hold many memories of sailors who never retuirned with their ships. It is also, more recently, notable for the large number of fallen and broken memorials, a legacy of the 2011 earthquakes. One such is that of Francis James Driscoll, of the inter-island ferry SS Penguin.
WRECK OF THE S.S. PENGUIN AT TERAWHITI.
Thirteen Passengers Saved Out of Fifty.
Sixteen of the Crew Saved.
Extraordinary Press Association. 9 a.m. Wellington, February 13.
The s.s. Penguin, from Nelson and Picton to Wellington, was wrecked at Terawhiti.
Twenty landed, but one boatload of women and children is missing at present.
11.20 a.m. Only thirteen passengers have been saved out of 50. Their names are Mrs Hannan, Hopkins, Bob, Jack and Robt. Ellison, W. H. Green, Gerald Bridge, T. Allen, Matthews (lad), Frank Shaw, L. T. Hogg, G. Perkins, Riggs, Millar, O. E. Downes.
Sixteen of the crew were saved.
The following were the passengers according to the Union Company’s list on board the Penguin from Blenheim and Picton Messrs Ellis, Underwood, Bridge, Noel, White, Mathews, Shaw, O. Hale, Bird, Riggs, Miller, Holcroft, Misses Riboands, McAlley, Wemyes and Mrs Hale. Steerage: Messrs Hogg, Holmes and two men without tickets.
The names of the crew saved are: Captain Naylor, Second Engineer Luke, Purser Thompson, R. Watts, Keyes, Hull, O. Jones, W. Rees, D. McCormack, D. Francis, stewards; Lynn, cook; Jackson, Farrell, A.B’s.; Snellgrove, O.S.; Wickton and Pierrie, greasers.
[The s.s. Penguin, 824 tens, was one of the Union Company’s boats.]
EXTRAORDINARY CURRENTS. Wellington, February 13. The Postmaster at Picton advises the Postal Department that Captain Carey, of the s.s. Blenheim, informs him that both the Blenheim and Opawa were carried many miles northward last, night by an extraordinary current. The Blenheim forced in here. This may throw some light on the wreck of the Penguin. Terawhiti is considerabley northward of the usual course.
THE PASSENGER LIST. The following were passengers from Nelson by the Penguin: Misses Jennings, Lowman, Symons (2), Toomer, MacGuire (3). Mesdames Rutherford, Jacka, Symons and maid, Toomer and child. Messrs Lowman, Johnstone, Troadec, Chappell, Rutherford, Jacka, Maslens, Berkett and MacGuire.
The Nelson bowling team of twelve were passengers to Picton only.
There were several return passengers, whose names are not known.
The Union Company are sending the Te Anau to take up the Penguin’s running. She leaves Port Chalmers at daylight to-morrow.
NAMES OF THE MISSING. Dunedin, February 13. The officers drowned are:—First officer, W. A. McIntyre; second, F. Driscoll; third E. A. Loosemon; first and third engineers, R. Urquhart, one of the oldest engineers in the service of the Company, and W. R. Rentoul, of Wellington. Chief steward, O. Alexander, and the stewardesses, Mrs Hope and Miss Jacobs. None of the officers belong to Dunedin There were also drowned six firemen, six sailors and twelve in the stewards department, but the names are not available.
STATEMENT BY THE CAPTAIN.
A FOGGY NIGHT.
CANNOT ACCOUNT FOR THE DISASTER. Per Press Association Wellington, February 13. Capt. Naylor’s statement is that he left Picton at 6.20 p.m. and entered the Strait at 7.50. The weather was clear at the time. Half-way across it became very thick and he set a course which would keep him well clear of land, allowing for the southerly set. He expected to pick up the Pencarrow light, hut as he could not see it he was in the act of putting the vessel’s head out down the Strait to sea, when she struck at ten o’clock on Tom’s rock, the outlying obstruction off Terawhiti. She struck about a midship on the starboard side. The pumps were sounded and water was found to be making in No. 1 and 2 holds, and was gaining slowly on the engine room pumps. The lifeboats were swung out and the women and children sent away. A very heavy sea was running and the first boat was immediately smashed, but the occupants were all got on board and transferred to another boat. There was plenty of time to get the boats away, but at 8 minutes to 11, the steamer sank bodily. The captain and several of the crew were still on deck, and had to launch the rafts and jump for them. The captain succeeded in reaching a broken boat and got ashore on it. On the way he picked up a man, but lost him coming over the reef. Two rafts landed about midnight, and neither had seen any of the boats. He, however, did not succeed in getting ashore till an hour and a half before daylight. On landing he found the men on rafts were being cared for by Mr McMenamin, a resident of the locality. As far as he (the captain) knows there are two boats still out and there is a prospect of their reaching Ohau Bay if they escape being swamped. Two women’s bodies were washed ashore, but he did not know their names. He was on the bridge all the way and the third officer was with him. He cannot account for the disaster except on the theory that he was carried in by a heavy swell and southerly set.
MESSAGE FROM SIR J. MILLS. Sir J. Mills cables to the Press Association from Sydney: — “Am much distressed at sad loss of life on Penguin. I desire to convey my deepest sympathy with all those concerned in the disaster, and especially with those who have lost relatives and friends.”
OTHER CAPTAINS’ REPORTS. Nelson, February 18. Captain Stewart, of the Pateena, interviewed by a Mail reporter this morning, said he left Wellington at 6 o’clock last evening for Nelson direct. The weather was thick and there was a moderate southerly gale. The land at times was wholly obsoured. He did not see the Penguin. Captain Stewart had expected a moderate ebb tide, but had not experienced it. He was not disposed to be communicative about the tides but enough was gathered to show that conditions were very unusual. Captain Vickerman, of the Anchor Company’s Kennedy, which left Wellington at 6.30 last night, said that when off Terawhiti at 9.30 be passed a steamer five miles off the shore, which he supposed to be the Penguin. The steamer was going slow. The weather was very thick at the time.
RELIEF FOR THE RESCUED. Dunedin, February 13, The Shipwreck Relief Society has instructed the Union Company’s manager in Wellington to provide necessary clothing for the Penguin survivors.
A LUCKY ESCAPE. Nelson, February 13. Mr and Lowman, Mrs Symons and maid, and Misses Symons, whose names appeared on the passenger list, did not leave by the Penguin. -Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, 13/2/1909.
THOSE WHO PERISHED
PERSONAL NOTES ABOUT THE VICTIMS.
MANY HOLIDAY-MAKERS.
YOUNG COUPLE DIE TOGETHER. (excerpt)
Mr F. Driscoll, late second officer, was a native of Lyttelton, and about 31 years of ago. He had been at sea since he was 15, and was fourth officer on the Miowera when that vessel was in the Vancouver trade. He was afterwards third on the Mararoa, and second on the Komata. Some months ago he got his master’s ticket, and was transferred to the Penguin as second officer. -NZ Times, 15/2/1909.
IN MEMORIAM.
DRISCOLL.—In loving memory of my dear son. Francis James Driscoll, who was drowned in the wreck of the s.s. Penguin on the 12th February, 1900.
Rest in Peace. Inserted by his loving mother. -Evening Post, 12/2/1917.
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