LOCH FINLAS WRECK

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 315, 30 September 1908, Page 7

LOCH FINLAS WRECK

FIFTEEN HOURS' DRIFT. 1 CARRIED AMONG THE BREAKERS. A MATE'S MADNESS. (BY TEiIGRArn--rnESS ASSOCIATION—COPi'RIGHT.) ( Hobart, September 29. Ono of tho four survivors of tho Loch Finlas, which was lost near Capo Portland, Tasmania, tells a thrilling story. He says:— How the Barquo Struck. "Tho barque loft Adelaide on September i 16, with a cargo of 30,000 bags of wheat. ( Heavy weather was experienced, and wo hovo to several timos. Early on Saturday nioniiug tho ship was running close to the laud, and orders woro given to keep away. There was a strong wind from tho west and amoderato sea. Tho first intimation we had that anything was wrong was heavy bumping. Tho captain was below at the time, the chief mate being in charge. ' "Orders wero givon to get tho boats out. The carpenter reporting a lot of water in the hold, the crew got excited, but the mates told them not to hurry, but to take things quietly. Two boats were got out, but were smashed by the breakers, and several men thrown into tho sea. Ono boat, with niuo in it, including the second mate, got clcar. Captain Will Not Quit. "Captain Lonnen, who looked out of tho companion-way aftor we struck, went below again. The bos'n asked him to coino with the boat, but ho replied • 'No; I aw" going to stop here.' That was tho last we saw of him. • The chief mato. engaged to launch iho port life boat, but injured himself, and I saw him consequently in the rigging. • He must have gone under with the ship, as also, I thiuk did tfe cook and steward. " Tho vessel disappeared about half an hour after tho time of striking. Our boat, which had no oars, capsized, but we clung to it and drifted away. We saw one man (Svensen) in the ship's gig, and - another floating on a plank. These two passed towards Swan Island. Washed Off the Upturned Boat. "With tho current wo 'drifted, along tho coast. Several times wo wero washed off tho upturned boat. One by one ou> number decreased, but we succecded in getting ono or two back. "Tho second mate became dblirious. Wo drifted about throughout' the day hoping, against hopo of reaching land. Wo had great difficulty with the second mato. Ho twico got away, but I brought him back. Towards nightfall ho became dangerous, and, slipping out of his life-buoy, threw .up his hands and disappeared The Landing. "Some hours later, when only four out of nino of us were left clinging to tho boat, wo drifted into the tieaPers, .but, with great trouble, managed to land. All wero severely bruised. Wo huddled together on tho beach till daylight, ind then made our way along the ■ coast to a fisherman's but. "We had drifted for. 15 hon.'s ir the boat, and could not bavo, lasted much longer. I cannot explain how the ship camo to be so near tho coast." The sum of £1000 was spent or ropairs to the Loch Finlas .while sho wa" lying in Melbourne. Captain Lonnen had stated that it was his intention to make this his last voyage, and to settle down whmi be reached England. ; The names of the four are Kailsen, Reeder, Alvagren, and Braca. The search is being continued for othei possiblo survivors. One body has been washed ashoro. The Crow. When the Loch Finlas left Mollouruo tho crew consisted of tho following: — Captain Lonnen. Mr. Logan, first mato. Mr. Rogers, second' mato. Peterson, steward. Mahcr, cook. Cowan, boatswain. Solberg, Svenson, Jerison, Saagor, Kanuti, Peterson, Brown, Leger, and Thilp seamen. Lushington, Parkes, and ZacL'ison, apprentices. . There wero also the four sunivors, and four others who are believed to have left the vessel at Adelaide. Adelaide, "September 29. Several changcs were made in the Loch Finlas's crew when sho was here. Seamen Svensen, Kanuti, Leger, Philp, and probably one or two others left, and the following took their placesGustfsen, Fskari, Hagerbind, Ahlgra, M'Carvon, Cibilish. and Neil. THE MISSING LOCH LOMOND. ' ANOTHER SEARCH. (B1 TELEaBA.ru—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, September .29. Tho steamer Wanaka is to sail this afternoon for the Auckland Islands to search for tho missing barquo Loch Lomond. All hopo of tho vessel being found is praotically abandoned, tho nautical authorities considering sho must have foundered during tho' recent easterly gales when several boats were wrecked on the .Australian coast