SHIPPING DISASTERS

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 158, 5 July 1921, Page 7

SHIPPING DISASTERS

ON AUSTRALIAN COAST. FITZROY AND OUR JACK. STORIES TOLD BY SURVIVORS

Graphic accounts arc published in the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" of the experiences of survivors Of the two coastal steamers Fitzroy and Our Jack, which were wrecked during a gale thai blew with cyclonic violence on Saturday, June 25. Both vesesls foundered, and in each case there was a big death roll as already reported by cablegram.

A.B.'S GBAPHIC STORY. Olaf Johansen, an A.B. on the Fitzroy, who gained the shore after a long swim to about a mile south of Black Head, and who was at the wheel at (i o'clock in the morning, relates a graphic story.

"The ship was carrying as deck cargo some logs on the port side, and cattle on the other. Huge seas swept the vessel, and washed the cattle and everything else on the port side overboard, thus giving the ship a great list.

"The captain ordered the logs to be jettisoned, but they could not get the steam to the winches. Evidently the steam pipe had been broken. The chief engineer then ordered the men to shift the coal from the bunkers, but when they got down there was too much water in the stokehold to allow of this being done. The skipper tried to work the ship inshore; hut she became unmanageable, and the boats were ordered out. I was assisting the ladies, and was experiencing great difficulty in getting them out of the cabins. I succeeded jn bringing out two of the women, and passed them up to Mr. Ramsay, who was assisting to get them into the boat. "I was about to help the stewardess, who had three or four blankets in her arms, when we were washed overboard and went down. As I rose from the water the wreckage struck mc on the head and face, and I was compelled to release my hold of the stewardess. As I had a lifebelt on I quickly came lo the surface, but I do not think the stewardess was wearing a belt. » "When I came to the surface I saw the 'chief steward, chief engineer, the second mate, and another person on an upturned boat. I swam to them and endeavoured to right her, but unfortunately, I failed. I then dropped off the I boat and swam towards the shore. By I the line of drift I saw that if I did not : get closer in to the shore I would miss | the beach south of Black Head and strike a' rocky stretch to the north. I I kept swimming all the time towards the shore, and in the grip of the drift. I was thus landed about a mile south of the headland. When I reached the shallows I crawled out, but staggered and fell. My legs were cramped, and I crawled up on the beach. There I lay for a couple of hours, weak and ex-hausted,-and famished.

"Those two hours were the longest that I ever experienced; but they brought mc strength," and when I was able to stand I started along the beach south for Tuncurry. Arriving there at 2 a.m., I met Mr. C. Wright, manager of the local dairy company. He gave mc every attention, including a dry change."

PASSENGER'S STATEMENT. Mr. Herbert Harry Ramsay gave a plain, straightforward story, which is all the more graphic because it is an unvarnished recital of What he remembers most clearly. When it was clearly seen that' no human agency could save the Fitzroy, the order was given to man the boats.

"I was assisting to get a lady passenger into one of the boats," said Mr. Ramsay, "when a huge wave swept mc overboard. AVherr I came to the surface again and was able to look around I saw a boat near by water-logged. I swam to it, and found two men in .it A little later we picked up the body or a lad about 12 or 13 years of age. We laid it reverently in the boat, but the sea, not to be baulked, washed it out again.

"Soon after we noticed a man swimming towards us. It proved to be Peter Hansen, a member of the crew, and we helped him on board. Here we wore in an angry sea. The boat tossed about like a cork. Karl Jansen hoisted his trousers on an oar as a signal of distress in case any other boat or vessel might be in the offing. Unfortunately it was unobserved. We then drifted about until nearly 4 o'clock. I was terribly exhausted with the buffeting of the waves as I sat in the water-logged boat, and when we ran ashore I was unable to get out, of the water. Hansen and Jansen, however, pulled mc out, and also helped out the two other men, but they were insensible.

"We then went up into the bush to see if there was any sign of human habitation, but none was A,o be found. We then decided that I should walk aloag the edge of the scrub whilst they made their ' way along the beach. They did this, and continued on until they came to a signboard, 'Trespassers will be prosecuted.' This heartened us, because close by was a track which we ultimately found led to the prison camp at Tuncurry. We were all quite exhausted, but the residents showed us every attention and gave us every assistance. Constable Nesbit; who was quickly on the scene, showed us great kindness. He had the two bodies brought in, and worked on them, hoping by artificial respiration to fan any life-spark there might be into a flame. After efforts extending over three Lours he had to give up. The two men were dead.

"My brother," said Mr. Eamsay % with feeling, "was also on. the Fitzroy, but whether he got away on one of the other boats or not I am unable to say.'"

"JUST LUCKY."

FIREMAN" BALE DODGES THE BRUNDAH.

Albert Bale (47) was a fireman on the Our Jack. He was picked up by the Brundah, and at the Sydney Hospital showed the effects of his rough time. Only half of his face was visible, the rest being 1 swathed in bandages. " I had just come off watch," he said, "when Engineer Rudder rushed along to the firemen's quarters and shouted: ' AH hands on deck.' Up on deck I went and joined the i£st of the crew dumping cargo over the side.

"Terrific seas were striking the ship, and it was apparent to us all that it would not be long before she would founder. We were dumping for about three-quarters of an hour, and all this.. time the seas were continually sweeping over us.

"Orders now came to launch the lifeboat. This was swung over" the side with its crew of 14. We had just cleared the sAip when the lifeboat capsized. But we all managed to get a grip on it, and waited for the Brundah to pick us up. The captain soon weakened and: disappeared. ____ .

"The Brundah was nearing us by this, but the seas were so heavy that it was a difficult job for the skipper to make us. Gray was lying across the keel of the lifeboat when the Brundah came down on us and as the steamer struck Gray was badly injured. I saw what was coming, and, letting go, came up on the other side of the Brundah, and was then hauled aboard.

"We did "not know how many had passed out until some time after. 1 would like to pay a tribute to the way the captain of the Brundah handled his ship, and the splendid manner in which he and all aboard treated us. Indeed, they could not do enough for us."