WRECK OF THE LOCH FINLAS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13234, 30 September 1908, Page 7

WRECK OF THE LOCH FINLAS.

CASTAWAYS' AWFUL EXPERIENCES.

A THRILLING TALE.

TJaited Press Associaikn—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

HOBART, September 29,

A survivor of the Loch Finlas tells a thrilling story of tho wreck. The barque, be says, left Adelaide on September 26th with a cargo of 30,000 bags of wheat, and, heavy weather being experienced, tho vessel was hove-to several times. Early on Saturday morning the ship was running close to the land, and orders were given to keep her away. A strong wind was blowing from the west, and a moderate sea was running. The first intimation of anything being wrong was a heavy bumpiug. The captain was below at the time, tho chief mate being in charge. Tho carpenter reported that a lot of water was in tho hold, and the crew grew excited, but tho mates told them not to hurry, but to take things quietly. Two boats were got out, but were smashed in the breakers, and several men thrown into the sea. One boat, with nine men in it, including the second mate, got clear. The captain, who had looked out of the com-panion-way after the vessel had struck, went below a_ain. Tho bosun asked him to come with tho boat but he replied: ''No; I'm going to stop here." That was the last the crow saw of him. The first mate, engaged in launching from tho port side the lifeboat, injured himself. They saw him subsequently in the rigging, and he must have gone under with the ship, as also the cook and steward. The vessel disappeared about half an hour from the time she struck the rock. The narrator of tho story goes on to say: "Our boat, which had no oars, was capsized but wo clung to it and drifted away. Wo saw one man, Svensen, in tho ship's gig, and another floating on a plank. These two passed towards Swan Island with tho current. We drifted along the coast. Several times we were washed off tho upturned boat, and one by one our number decreased. I, however, succeeded in getting ono or two back. The second mate became delirious. We drifted about throughout tho day, hoping against hope to reach land. Wo had great difficulty with tho reeond mate. He twice got away, but I brought him back. Towards nightfall lie became dangerous, and, slipping on a lifebuoy, threw up his hands and disappeared. Some hours later, when only four of the original nine were left clinging to tho boat, wo drifted into' the breakers, and after great trouble managed to land, though all were severely bruised. We huddled together on the beach till daylight, and then made our way along the coast to a fisherman's hut. Wo drifted fifteen hour-. Tho boat could not have lasted mucu longer."

The man could not explain how the ship came to be so near the coast.

The names of the survivors are Karlson, Reeder, Alvagren, and Braca.

Search is being continued for possible survivors of the wreck. One body was washed ashore. _«-

A thousand pounds was spent in repairs on the Loch Finlas while lying in 'Melbourne. '

Captain Lonnen had stated his intention of making this his last voyage, and settling down when he reached England.