The Wreck of the Delaware

Long, long ago there was a lady who was called Huria Matenga. She lived in the top of a pa with her husband Hemi and her friends. They were very nice and strong swimmers.

One morning Huria Matenga woke up to the most horrifying storm she had ever seen. She saw that there was a ship in trouble. The ship’s name was the Delaware. Finally Huria, hemi and their friends made it to the beach. They could see that the people on the ship were in trouble and calling out for help. The captain threw a rope so that everyone could get off the ship safely. Luckily there was the strongest swimmer who was called Henry Squirrell on the ship. He held onto the rope as hard as he could but the humungous waves of the sea smashed Henry Squirrell against the rocks. The crew of the ship pulled him back to the ship and laid him on one of the bunks inside the ship. Everyone thought he was dead. After that Huria, hemi and their friends plunged into the water. They swam to reach the rope. They yelled to the people on the ship to climb down the rope. The captain was the last person the leave the ship.

When everyone was off the ship they were very surprised to see Henry Squirrell standing on the boat, calling out for help. They couldn’t save him now because the rope was gone. Everyone was shocked to see that they could not save their friend. Soon after Henry Squirrell was thrown off and the ship was smashed to pieces.

A few days later Huria, Hemi and Hohepata were famous. They were rewarded wit a gold or silver watch. Huria’s picture is in the Nelson Art Gallery.