TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21239, 20 July 1932, Page 8

TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.

LOSS OF TEN LIVES.

HOW THE CASINO SANK.

DISASTER COMES SUDDENLY.

[KSOM OUR OWN COIUIESrONDENT.]

MELBOURNE, July 14.

It was with amazing suddenness that the little coastal steamer Casino sank in Apollo Bay, on the Victorian coast, on Sunday last ,with the loss of ten lives. Remarkable heroism was displayed during the rescue work, and it, is considered that if there had been a lifeboat at the bay not one life would have been lost. As it was, those who died had little chance of reaching the shore, as the sea was rough and a heavy gale was blowing. In fact, it is remarkable that the death-roll 'was not a great deal higher. The Casino was one of tho oldest vessels trading on the Australian coast, and had been in trouble many times before. Two years ago she struck a submerged object and was in a sinking condition. In 1924 she grounded on a reof in Apollo Bay, and before she could be refloated much of her cargo had to be jettisoned. At the time of Sunday's disaster commemorative plates were being made to mark the jubilee of the Casino, which had been longer in the Australian trade than any other vessel. "Too long," say some, but the vessel had the highest classification at Lloyd's, and was generally regarded as being good for many years to comei.

Bump and Serious Leak,

"When the, Casino left Melbourne on Saturday afternoon with two passengers and a crevsr of 17, bad weather prevailed outside the heads, and became worse as the vessel approached her first port of call, Apollo Bay, at daybreak on Sunday morning. The vessel was manoeuvred to » position alongside the pier, where the captain endeavoured to tie up. A big lea was running at the time, and the task of mooring the Casino proved to be a very difficult one. Suddenly a great wave rolled up the bay, lifted the Casino, and then let her fall. The Casino struck the sandy bottom heavily, and though this caused no alarm at the time, it is evident that the bump started a serious leak. The captain deckled to 7 anchor in the bay until the weather abated, and it was not until he reached deep water that the discovery was made that the vessel was rapidly filling with water. Tragedy Comes Swiftly. The captain immediately put the ship about with the idea of beaching her, but before he could do so the Casino sank in about 50 feet of water 200 to 300 feet from the shore. The vessel was caught broadside on in the heavy surf, and practically everybody on board was thrown into the sea. When the danger was realised the stewardess, Mrs. Gill, fastened lifebelts on the two passengers, but in doing so she sacrificed her own life, for the tragedy came with such suddenness that she was unable to secure a lifebelt for herself, and she was one of the first' to be drowned. '

None of the crew was able to don a lifebelt, and th?y were at the mercy of the waves when they were washed overboard into the roaring surf. Captain Middleton and four others scrambled on to the overturned hull, and clung there until they were washed off again when the tide rose. People on the beach were helpless to render assistance. They had no boat that could hope to live in the Burf, and all attempts tp get a line to the wreck were in vain. The rocket apparatus was Dot successful, and urgent calls were sent to the aerodrome at Point Cook for an aeroplane that (iould carry a line. When the aeroplane reached the spot the old ship had disappeared. Husband's Dash to Beach. Settlers on the coast were quickly on the scene, and on horseback they were able to drag the survivors to the beach. Mrs. Con berry, a passenger, was the only person to reach the shore unaided. Her husband was working on his farm directly above the bay when he saw the ship go under. ITe dashed down to the beach in time to see his wife crawling on her hands and knees up the beach. He stayed to rescue several of the others. Captain Middleton reached the shore exhausted, and all efforts to revive him were in vain. Three homes that were brightened only last week when the bread-winners obtained their first work after months of idleness w£re rendered desolate by the tragedy. Anxious to relieve the lot of unemployed seamen, the owners of the Casino allowed several of the crew to take their holidays, and they put uncmploved seamen in their place. Three of these temporary employees were among those who lost their lives. A father and son were among the crew, and the sou was saved and the father drowned. Captain Middleton has left a wife and three daughters, and one of the seanien who lost his life had a family of 11 children.