STATEMENT OF THE ONLY SURVIVING OFFICER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 196, 12 August 1895, Page 2

STATEMENT OF THE ONLY SURVIVING OFFICER.

Sydney, August 10. A cutter was picked up yesterday containing the body of a Chinaman with the skull smashed in. The tug picked up the bodies of two others belonging to the Asiatic crew. The second mate of the Catterthun (Mr A. W. Langfear) says :—Everyone — captain, officers, and men — We have just received a splendid line in Silk Pluehee, in cardinal, maroon, myrtle, mose, green, navy, old gold, brown, fawn, all the above shades, in plain and shot oolor, 3s 6d yard ; usual price 6s 6d. Velveteenß in cardinal, blaok, maroon, navy, light blue, white and cream, Is yard ; usual prioe 2a. Liberty Silk, in cardinal, maroon, light blue, cream, white, light green, navy and (awn, Is lid; usual prioe 39.-?-B. Auw, Market St.:

was perfectly sober, and everything worked smoothly. The oaptain had not turned in, hut was up and down from the bridge to the ohartroom all nignt. After the vessel struck, the crew and passengers were orderly and quiet. The boats were cleared in eight minutes. The third mate and chief steward were told off to assist the passengers. I was washed overboard after requesting the engineer to go to the captain. The vessel lies four miles north-east of Sugar Loaf Point. Dr Oopeman says : — The chief officer, Dr Anderson (of the ship), Mr Crane, and I had been sitting smoking in the chief officer's cabin until about 10 o'clock, when we all retired. Curiously enough one of the topics of conversation was the wreck of the Wairarapa. The chief officer remarked, " I have quite made up my mind that, whatever death I die, I will not be drowned." Captain Fawkes stated that the night was fairly clear, as he saw the lighthouse when in the water. Further particulars show that the survivors had a terrible experience in the boat, which was the means of saving their lives. When the boat was being lowered it was struck by the sea, and a large hole was knocked in the bows. As a consequence they had to keep baling during the whole time. They were in a miserably exhausted condition after their immersion in the water, and their misery was accentuated by seas constantly breaking over the boat, drenching the occupants*. Received August 12, 11 am. Sydney, August 12. Vessels arriving report a strong current setting north in the vicinity of Seal Bocks. This is contrary to the general trend of the currents. All wreckage is found drifting north. Another boat, the captain's gig, was picked up at Cape Hawke. Captain Fawkes states land could be seen occasionally. He could not understand how the wreck occurred, as it was only an ordinary piece of navigation, The rocks were well known, and vessels were naturally on the look-out for them. The wind, instead of blowing the vessel on to the rocks, was in the opposite direction. Dr Copeman sticks to his statement that the captain was washed off the bridge. This happened while he was clinging to the spar.