SEA HORROR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 7

SEA HORROR.

STEAMERS COLLIDE. UNION SHIP SUNK. CAPTAIN'S GRAPHIC STORY. N.Z. ENGINEER IN HOSPITAL. MELBOURNE, January 30. "It was every man for himself; with 700 tons of iead ore on board. We did not have much time to get clear, and in a few moments after the impact my men were struggling in the water all around me." So said Captain T. W. White, master of the sunken U.S.S. Company's freighter Kakariki, to-day as lie sat up in bed in the Melbourne Hospital. He was telling of the scene of horror out in Port Phillip Bay at midnight last night, when his ship sank in three minutes after a collision with the Patrick Line freighter Cariidale. Five of his crew were drowned, and 17 others struggled for their lives in a heavy swell In-fore they were rescued by boats from the Caradale. Among the four who were admitted to hospital suffering from various minor injuries was James Wilson, aged 40 years, the second engineer, whose home is at Wangamii, Xew Zealand. TcTrific Blow. "There was not a chance of getting a lifeboat into the sea, because of the rapidly rising water and the heavy list," Captain White said. "I have no doubt that Lynge, Eodgers, Coscombe and Martin were killed by the impact of the two ships. They had just gone to the forecastle, and were fully dressed. "Lindeman, the assistant cook, must have been drowned. I saw him in the water after the collision, but then he disappeared. "The night was fairly calm, and there was good visibility. I was on the bridge when my ship was struck on the starboard bow. The force of the blow was terrific, and the Kakariki took a heavy list immediately. Seven hundred tons o"f lead ore and a big cargo of timber gave us little lime to clear. "In a. few moments (he water was washing over the forward deck. I rang the bell on the bridge to abandon ship. It was a case of every man for himself. I dived into my cabin, slung a lifebelt over my head and raced to the boat deck. Struggle in Water. "We tried to get a boat out. Then the sea washed over us. and I found myself swimming. My clothes draggedme, so I took off my lifebelt in tiie water, removed all clothing except my trousers, put back the lifebelt, and just managed to keep on top of the waves that were smacking me in the face. '■Only half a dozen of the crew had managed to put on lifebelts in the brief three or four minutes after the impact until the boat went down. Pour small lifebuoys, however, had been thrown overboard, and the calcium flares from them greatly assisted the lifeboats from the Caradale to find us. "My men wore struggling in the water all around me. and calling out to the lifeboats. It must have been half an hour before I was picked up by a boat which later took about six men from -a floating piece of timber. I am heavy, and they had a hard job tryin" to get mo into" the boat. I was about done, and could not have lasted in the rough sea another 10 minutes." The Kakariki was Captain White's first command, he having previously been first officer of the Xiagara.