STATEMENT OF THE ONLY SURVIVING OFFICER.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 36, 10 August 1895, Page 2

STATEMENT OF THE ONLY SURVIVING OFFICER.

(Boceived August 10, 11.30 a.m.) , Stdnbt, This Day. A ontfcor was picked up yosterday contain- ; ing the body of a Chinaman with the skull smashed in The tug picked np the bodies . of two others belonging to the Asiatio crew. The second mate of the Catlorthun (Mr. A. i W. Langf ear) says: — Everyone — captain, I officers, and men — was perfectly sober, and i everything working smoothly. The captain , had not turned in. but was up and down from l the bridge to tho chartroom all night. After . the vessel struck, the crew and passengers I were orderly and quiet. Tho boats were i cleared in oigbt minutes. The third mate i and ohief steward were told off to assist the . passengers. I was washed overboard after . requesting the engineer to go to tho captain, i The vessel lies four miles north-east of Sugar [ Loaf Point. I Dr. Copeman says : — The ohief offioer. Dr. Anderson (of the ship), Mr. Crane, and I i had been sitting smoking m the chief , officer's cabin until about 10 o'clock, when we all retired. Curiously enough one of the ) topioß of conversation was tho wreck of tho I Wairarapa. The chiof officer romarked, " I i have quite mado up my mm i that, whatever death I dio, I will not be drowned." Captain Fawkes states that the night was fairly clear, as he saw the lighthouse when in the water. Further particulars show that the survivors bad a terrible experience in the boat, whioh was the means of Baying their lives, i When tho boat was boing lowered it was i struck by the cci, and a large hole was , knocked in the bows. As a consequenoe j they had to keep baling during the whole ■ time. They were in a misorably exhausted : condition af tor their immersion in the water, ! and their misery was accentuated by seas [ constantly breaking lover the boat, drench- , ing the oocupantu.