THE WRECK OF THE CATTERTHUN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7441, 12 August 1895, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE CATTERTHUN.

[pub pbess association.—oopxeight.]

Sydney, August 11. There aeems every reason to Relieve that Messrs Fraserand Bmithwere overwhelmed in their c»binß, and were drowned while asleep. None of the survivors saw them from tho time they went to the cabin Tho ladies were drowned apparently becausa afraid to leave tho saloon when they saw the great inrush of water which followed the opening of the door by the chief stowarn.

The Chinese quartermaster, who took tho wheel at midnight, states that tha second miita altered the course four points to the eastward. This would show his opinion to be thst the vesael was hugging the laud too closely.

Mr Orane etates that Mra Mathias asked him for a life-belt. He went to get it, but iv the darkness could not Ojjpn tho locker. Ho fastened his owe belt on her. When he attempted to leave the saloon the door was jammed by the water, whioh was then up to his knees ia the saloon. A Ohinese steward after some difficulty opened it. The water instantly rushed in, and the Chinese steward and himself left the saloon, but the three ladies and a Chinese steward did not follow. They found the water on the main deck up to their waist, and had to force their way through it to the poop. Kotioed the ship heading for the land with the lighthouse on the port bow, and tho vessel was rapidly settling down. After rising to the surface subsequent to the ship founderiag he got hold of a meat safe, and was then joined by a Chiuaman, who in a bland and persuasive tone, said "More better for you go catchee another piece of box." He replied, " More better you," but the Celestial declined the invitation. The safe, however, was ample to support bath. He heard shouts aud cries of distress, but only male voices. Later.

The Catterthan survivors have arrived hero. Arrangements are beiug made by th<j agouts of the company for ibo accommodation oi the crow at Ohinese boardinghouses. ± tug picked up a second empty cutter, also some wreckage aud ano her body tome distance from the seeue of the wreck. A quantity of wreckage was also sighted iv the vicinity of Crowly Head.

The Chinese are old servants of the company, and speak English, They had a most thrilliug experience.

"1 heir boatswain states that three boats, one after another, while being lowered with people iv them, wore carried overboard by tremendous seaa. He saw one man crushed against the davits and killed before his eyes. No. 1 boat containing the survivors got clear of the steamer as if by a miracle, as while beiog lowered the steamer began to heel, and the boat bumping against her tide hid a plank stove in. The boat just managed to escape from the whirlpool in which the Catterthun Bank, though beiog almost engulfed. The boat leaked badiy, and seas wor& breaking aboard, f-everal of tho ocoupauts wore constantly bailing, as they had a continuous fear that tho boat would swamp. They pulled round several times in seurek of survivors. While a.boKx'd he saw no paesengars about the deck. When the IHBt boat wss ready to lower the captain shouted from the bridge for the crew to clear out as the thip was sinking. Hβ was positive it was the captain, as he could not mistake his voice and saw his figure plainly. This is important, aa it wag previously stated that tho captain waa washed from tho bridge at the satno time as the officers and Captain Fawkes before the voi-sel sank. Tho buatswaiu further state i that if they had been half a minuto later in lowering tho boat not one of them would have boen Ruve\ If the weather had been fine ail would have bcou saved, as thero woro sufficient bouta urid thoy were all ready for lowering. Tho crew, he save, simply obayed orders and never attempted to nave themselves until ordered by the captain

The narrative of a Chinese steward cloars up tho fate of a lady and some other passeugijre. Ha states that when he wont below after the first alarm ho found that all hud gono back to thtiii , buuUs, apparently thinkiug thei'o was no danger, but when they Haw tho waiter rushing ia thty appeared to be seized by p.mio. 'Ui.j chief steward ttayod iv tho bhloou until tha water rose breast high trying to persuade them to comu out, but thoy pc-rsieteutly refused, aud finally the stewards had tolcavo toeuve thetnsolvos. Hβ f jund tho door loading to the deck fast, but after v xro'.t effort opened it suiliuioutly to p is.-! his leg tbroagh, aud tho force of the water buret it opou. The steward al«o says that ho onco more roturnctl and culled for the ladies, !>r. Aniiersou, and Mr Fraaor, who were with them, to come out, but they still refused He then made for the deck, and tho steamer sank as ho readied it.

Both Langfear (the seooud officer) aud Captain Fawkes state that they never sighted the green guiding light on Seal Hecks, wbioh would havo warned them of tho danger. It is bblieved this will form tho defence of the former, who was in charge of tho bridge when the ship struck.