FOUR LIVES LOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 6

FOUR LIVES LOST

WRECK OF TWO KETCHES

SURVIVORS' GRAPHIC STORY

MAN LASHED TO MAST Survivors of the fishing ketches Saguenay and Star, which were •wrecked during a fierce Rale off New Year Island, in Bass Strait, reached Melbourne subsequently and gave a graphic account of their experiences. Four members of the crew of the Saguenay were drowned and one saved'. Mr. A. F. Johnson and his son, Murray, of the Star, were rescued. Mr. Johnson said that on the afternoon of Saturday, April 21, the Star, the Saguenay and two other ketches were crayfishing, when it began to blow hard. All four ketches immediately ran for their moorings off New Year Island, about five miles from King Island. The ketches dropped anchors and preparations were made to ride out the gale. "A terrific south-westerly gale was soon howling round us, lashing the seas to a fury," said Mi. Johnson. "Incessant rain squalls, a bitterly cold wind and our anxiety whether the anchor would hold made the night „ one of misery and terror. From where the Star was anchored I could see the Saguenay riding the mountainous seas about half a mile away. She had two light anchors out, in addition to a grapple, and about 120 fathoms of chain.

Captain Washed Overboard "Throughout the night the crew of the Saguenay spent watch and watch about. We could hear her engine working for four hours. Then something went wrong and it stopped. Even with the aid of the engine the Saguenay was dragging her anchors and rolling closer and closer to the rocky beach. "About 8 a.m. on Sunday the Saguenay foundered on a reef about 400vds. from New Year Island, and immediately began to break up. From where we were I could see that Murray Dunk had lashed himself to the top of the mainmast. As each huge wave" broke over her the ketch swung violently from side to side, so that her masts were almost; continuously under water, and Dunk must have been dashed against the rocks. Captain Learmonth was clingiDg to the mizzen-mast, and the other men were huddled together. When the mizzen-mast was torn out Captain Learmonth was washed overboard. Dragged to Safety on Rope

"Soon afterwards McGrath—the sole survivor—Harold Gregory and Frank Henry leaped into the sea in an endeavour to swim against the strong tide to the shore. McGrath, who is a powerful swimmer, kept behind the others, possibly with the object of assisting them. After a desperate struggle Gregory threw up his arms and went under when only 80yds. from the shore. McGrath finally stumbled ashore in an exhausted condition. Struggling to keep my own boat afloat, I could see the bodies of the crew of the Saguenay floating in the water in their lifejackets, but I was unable to lift a hand to help them." Mr. Johnson said that the Star began to drag her anchor early on Sunday morning. She was driven rapidly toward the beach, but before she struck he managed to throw a rope ashore, by means of which his son and he were dragged to safety by Mr. W. Scott, a fisherman, who lives on New Year Island.

The Saguenay was valued at approximately £3OOO. The Star was Mr. Johnson's only means of livelihood.