WRECK OF THE CATTERTHUN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10071, 12 August 1895, Page 3

WRECK OF THE CATTERTHUN.

(PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. -COPYRIGHT

Sydney, Saturday.

The second mate says :— Everyone— the captain, officers, and men — were perfectly sober. Everything was working smoothly. The captain had not turned in, but was np and down from the bridge to the chart

room all night. After tbe steamer struck the crew and passengers were perfectly quiet, The boats were cleared in eight minutes, The third mate and the chief steward were told ofl to assist tbe passengers, I was washed overboard after requesting the engineer to go to tbe captain. The vessel lies four miles north-east of Sugar Loaf Point. Dr. Copeman says :— The chief officer, Dr. Anderson (of the Bblp), Mr Crane, and I had been sitting smoking in the chief officer's cabin until abont 10 o'clock, when we all retired. Carionsly enough, one of the topics of conversation was tbe wreck of the Wnirarapa. The chief officer had remarked, "I have quite made up my mind that whatever death I die I will not be drowned." Captain Fawkes states that the night was fairly clear, as be saw the lighthouse wben in the water. Fnrther particulars show that the survivors of the wreck had a terrible experience in the boat which was the means of Having their lives. When the boat was being lowered she was struck by a sea and a large hole knocked in her bows. As a consequence those on board had to keep baling during the whole time. They were In a miserably exhausted condition, and after their immersion in the water their misery was accentuated by tbe seas constantly breaking over the boat and drenching them. A cutter was ! picked np yesterday eon talnlog tbe body of a Chinaman with hia skull smashed in A tug picked np the bodiea of two obhar members of tbe Asiatic crew. (Received August 11, 8.20 p.m.) Snnday. There seems every reasen to balieve that Messrs Fraser and Smith were overwhelmed in tbelr cabins, and were drowned while asleep. None of tbe snrvivors saw them from the time they went to tbe oabln. Tbe ladies were drowned apparently because afraid to leave tbe saloon wben they saw tbe great Inrush of water which followed the opening of the door by the chief steward.

The Chinese quartermaster, who took the wheel at midnight, states that the second mate altered the course four points to the eastward. This would show his opinion to he that the vessel was hugging the land too closely.

Mr Crane states that MrsMathias asked him for a life-belt. He went to get) id, but In the darkness could not open the locker. He fastened his own belt on her. When he attempted to leave the saloon the door was jammed by the water, which was then up to bia knees in the saloon. A Chinese steward after some difficulty opened it. The water instantly rushed Id, and the Chinese steward and himself lefb the saloon, bub 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 16 to the poop. Noticed the ship heading for the land with the lighthouse on the porb bow, and the vessel waß rapidly settling down. Alter rising to the snrface subsequent to the ship foundering he got hold of a meat sate, and was then jolaed by a Chinaman, who in a bland and persuasive tone, sild " More better for you go catcbee another piece of box." He replied, " More better you," but the Celestial declined the invitation. The safe, however, was ample to support both. He heard shouts and cries of dlstre.*?, but only male voices. (Roooived August 13, 12.50 a.m.) Snndny. The Catterthun survivors have arrived here. Arrangements are being made by the agents of the company for the accommodation of the crew at Chinese boardingbonses. A tug picked up a second empty cutter, also some wreckage and another body some distance from the scene of the wreck. A quantity of wreckage was also eighted in the viciolty of Crowdy Head. The Chinese are old servants of the company, find speak English. They had a roost thrilling experience.

Their boatswain states that three boats, one after another, while being lowered with people in them, were carried over board by tremendous seis. He saw one man crashed against the davits and killed before his eyea. No. 1 boat containing the survivors got clear of the steamer as if by a miracle, as while being lowered the steamer began to heel, and the boat humping againso her side had a plank stove in. The boat just manned to escape from the whirlpool In which the Catterthun sank, though being almost engalfed. The boat leaked badly, and seas were breaking aboard. Several of the occupants were constantly baling, as they bad a continuous fear that the boat would swamp. They pulled round several times In search of survivors, While aboaid he saw no pissengers about the deck. When the last boat was ready to lower the captain shouted from the bridge for the crew to clear out as the ship was sir king. He wns positive it was the captain, as he could not mistake hie voice and saw his fienre plainly. This Is Important, as it was previously stated I that the captain was washed from the bridge at the same time as the officers and Captain Fawkes before the vessel sank. The boatswain further states that If they had been half a minute later in lowering the boat not one of them would have been saved. If the weather had been Doe all would have been saved, as there was sufficient boats and they were all ready for lowering. The crew, he Bays, simply obeyed orders and never attempted to save themselves nntil ordered by the captain. The narrative of a Cbineaa steward clears up the fate of the lady and some other passengers. He states that when he went below after the first alarm he found that all had gone back to their bunks, apparently thinking there was no danger, but when tbey saw the water rnsblng In they appeared to be Belzed by panic. The chief steward stayed in the saloon until the water rose breast high trying to persuade them to come out, but i they persistently refused, and finally the stewards had to leave to save themselves. He found the door leading to the deck fast, bat after a greib effort opened it sufficiently to pasß bis leg through, <md the force of the water burst It open. The steward also pays that be once more returned and called for the ladles, Dr. Anderson, and Mr Fraser, who were with them, to come onb, but they still refused. He then made for the deck, and 'the steamer sank as he reacted It. Both Ltngfear (the second officer) and Captain Fawkes state tha* they never sighted the green guiding light on Seal Rocki, which would have warned them of the danger. Ib Is believed this will form the defence of the former, who was in charge of the bridge when the ship struck.