NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES
SS WAIRARAPA
29 OCTOBER 1894
From the 1983 Centennial issue of Salvation Army Magazine ‘The War Cry’ .
(Thanks to John Billing for this.)
Salvationist Heroine
On
There were four Salvationists on board including Captain Laura Flavall aged 27, and Staff-Captain Annette Paul.
The SS Wairapapa left
A few minutes after midnight the watch through he saw a dark shape looming right ahead and a minute later gave the alarm. The engines were thrust into reverse, but it was too late and the ship drove into the base of the cliffs, which rose 800 feet above.
Tossed by the sea, the stranded ship gave a severe lurch and some 60 people were thrown into the sea and drowned.
Before Captains Paul and Flavall left their cabin, according to a fellow passenger, they said, "Don’t be afraid, Miss Dickenson, God will look after us. We are prepared to die." Captain Flavall then knelt on the floor and prayed before they went up on deck into the tragic darkness, pulsating with a life-and-death struggle.
The War Cry of 10 November 1894 records: "The Salvationists, with others, clung to the rails for 12 hours. In that position the lasses sang to the passengers ‘Jesus, Lover of my Soul’, ‘My Father God is at the helm’ and ‘I do believe’. Between the singing, they talked to the passengers about their souls."
Several vain attempts were made to get a line to shore, before a steward succeeded. A thick rope was then secured to land and many were rescued by that means.
"Captain Flavall’s hands were cut and bleeding as she hung to the rigging. She got hold of the line to the shore, when the sea dashed against her and swept her off: she caught hold again. The third time a tremendous wave swept her right off and Captain Flavall’s spirit went off to Glory."
FAMILIES I AM RESEARCHING | MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL STUFF | NEW ZEALAND — ON LINE GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY RESOURCES | NEW ZEALAND — YOUNG BOY IMMIGRANT SCHEME 1911 — 1914 | NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES | NEW ZEALAND MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND LAND WARS — MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR ONE | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR TWO | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY LOCATION | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY CONFLICT | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR — MILITARY NURSES | PAKEHA/MAORI TRANSLITERATIONS | PASSENGER LISTS TO NEW ZEALAND | SHAND — FAMILY HISTORY | SOUTH TARANAKI, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | SPONDON, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | WANGANUI COLLEGIATE SCHOOL 1865 — 1947 | WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES