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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9855, 24 July 1914, Page 2

A remarkable story connected with the last voyage of the schooner Americana, which disappeared while bound from San Francisco to Sydney with timber, was brought by the American mail steamer Ventura, last week (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph). The Americans left San Francisco for Sydney, via Knappton, over a year ago, and shortly after sailing a seaman named Louis Buttner had his arm caught in the windlass. It was stated that the arm had to be amputated on board the ship, a common saw being used for the operation. Butner was put ashore and sent to a hospital at Eureka. The Americana took m additional cargo at Knappton, and then left for Sydney, and was never heard of again. Buttner sued the charterers of the Americana for 40,000 dollars, but, as all hands had disappeared with the vessel, he could not obtain witnesses. Shortly before the Ventura left San Francisco Charles Berndee, formerly first mate of the Americana, made his appearance, and filed a deposition alleging that he witnessed the accident. He stated that he left the ill-fated Americana at Knappton, and thereby escaped the doom which awaited his shipmates.