The Wanganui Herald, on September 14, reported that all passengers on board the Avalanche had perished, although three crewmen had been saved. "We would that we could hold out any hope, but the facts are against the possibility."
The next day the Wanganui Chronicle stated: "SYMPATHISING WITH THE MOURNERS - It has been suggested, as showing public feeling in the matter of the Avalanche disaster, that so soon as it is known to what extent Wanganui suffers in the general bereavement, that the town go into mourning by putting up the shutters of the shops, hoisting flags half-mast and that the bell of St Paul's be tolled at intervals. Today will be a gloomy one for Wanganui."
The writer of a separate article in the same edition could not avoid the euphuistic style typical of the day by recording:
"The Avalanche, a well-appointed passenger ship, has met with her doom - been stricken down beneath the hungry waves, ere her voyage was well commenced - and of her human freight of ninety-nine souls, but three remain to tell the story of her destruction. Stricken relatives of the lost will scarce yet have realised the full measure of their grief, or felt that intensity of crushing sorrow which gradually steals o'er the heart and expels every vestige of earthly light and gladness from the soul - the cry of the bereaved goes up to heaven."
The writer offered a slim cause for hope by reminding readers of cases where fortuitous changes of travel plans had resulted in lives spared, but concluded: "We do not wish to unduly buoy up the expectations of anxious friends and relatives, to who subsequent authentic intelligence may confirm the worst and change their hope to despair."
Although there were one or two happy endings, it was wise counsel in light of what later became clear.
Saturday evening, usually a busy night in town, was more crowded than usual. Anxious groups discussed the tragedy and awaited further news which was eventually telegraphed from Wellington, prompting the Herald to issue an "extra", confirming the fears of all.
Monday's papers carried fuller accounts of the disaster in columns edged in black and naming many of the victims, eight of whom came from one family, six from another and four from a third.
"Suspense is now no more and we have before us in harrowing detail the mournful intelligence ... Wanganui has suffered a bereavement, in the foundering of the Avalanche, compared to which all previous social calamities fall into insignificance." (Chronicle, September 17).
Epitaphs were installed on family graves in the Heads Road cemetery, but the most significant local memorial was established in the name of Margaret Watt, daughter of Mayor William H Watt, albeit many years later.
The Margaret Watt Orphan's Home was opened in 1931, later becoming the Margaret Watt Children's Home. Changing Government requirements eventually rendered it unable to operate under the original stipulations of Watt's will and the building is now a private dwelling.
However, the Margaret Watt Children's Trust Inc continues to award scholarships and
make grants to enable children to enhance their educational and career opportunities.
A second memorial stands just a short distance from the central city. Originally installed outside St Paul's Church in Victoria Avenue, it was transferred to its present site at St Paul's in Guyton Street when the new church was consecrated in 1913.
Not only does it immortalise Margaret Watt but also Annie Taylor, who was a fellow passenger. Annie was the daughter of Watt's business partner T B Taylor, who himself is memorialised having also been drowned several years earlier.
A third memorial is the central triptych window in St Mary's Church at Upokongaro which was installed in 1879 in memory of Archibald Montgomerie, who lost his life in the Avalanche disaster.
And another permanent reminder is the Avalanche Memorial Church which stands at Portland, England. Consecrated in 1879, it honours both the victims and local fishermen who rescued the few survivors.
*Murray Crawford is a Whanganui author with an interest in local history
