WRECK OF THE CATTERTHUN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6331, 12 August 1895, Page 3

WRECK OF THE CATTERTHUN.

(Bt Electric Teleorafh—Coftkioht.)

(PER CinXED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Received August 11, at 8.20 p.m. SVDJfBT, August 10.

There seems every reason to believe that Fraser and Smith were overwhelmed in their cabins, and were drowned while asleep. None of the survivors saw them from the time they went to their cabin. The ladies drowned apparently became afraid to leave the saloon when they saw the 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 it to be his opinion that the vessel was huzging the land too closely. Crane states that Mrs Mathias asked him for a lifebelt. He went to get it, but in the darkness could not open the loefcer. 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 his knees in the saloon. The Chinese steward, after some difficulty, opened it, and the water instantly rushed in. The Chinese steward and himself left the saloon, but the three ladies and the chief steward did not follow. They found the water on the main deck up to their waists, and had to force their way through it to the poop. They noticed the ship heading for the land, with the lighthouse on the port bow, and the vessel was rapidly settling down. After rising to the surface subsequent to the ship foundering, they got on top of the meat safe, and while there they were joined by a Chinese, who, in a bland persuasive tone, said, "More better for you go catcbee another piece of box." Crane replied. "More better you." The Celestial declined the invitation. The safe, however, supported both. They heard shouts and cries of distress, but only m:\le voices. Received August 12, at 0.35 a.m. Sydney, August 11.

The Catterthun survivorg have arrived here. Arrangements are being made by the agents of the company for the accommndation of the crew at a Chinese boardinghouse. Tugs picked op the second empty cutter, also wreckage and another body some distance from the scene. A quantity of wreckage was also sighted in the vicinity of Crowdy Head. The Chinese are old servants of the company, and speak Enslish. Their boatswain states that the three boa's were smashed one after another while being lowered, and the people in them were carried overboard by the tremendous seas. He saw one man crushed against the davits, and killed before his eyes. Number 1 boat, containing the survivors, got clear of the steamer as if by a miracle. As it was being lowered, the steamer began to heel, and the boat, bumping against the side, had a plank stove in. The boat just managed to escape from the whirlpool caused by the sinking of the Catterthun. though it was almost engulphed. The boat leaked badly, and seas were breaking aboard. Several of the occupants were constantly hailing, and they were in continuous fear that the boat woukl be swamped. They pulled round several times, in search of survivors. While on board he saw no passengers about the deck. When the last boat was ready to lower, the captain shouted from the bridge for the crew to clear, as the ship was sinking. He was positive it was the captain, as b.2 could not mistake his voice, and he siw his figure plainly. This L-t important, as he previously stated that tha captain was washed from the bridge at the same time as the first officer and Captain rawkea, before the vessel sank. The boatawain states that if he had heeu half a minute later in lowering the boat no one would have been saved. If the weather had been fine alt would have been saved, as there were sufficient boats, and these were ready for lowering. The crew, he says, simply obeyed orders, and never attempted to save themselves until ordered by the captain. The narrative of the Chinese steward clears t'p the f »te of a lady and some other passengers. He states that when he went below after the first alarm, he found all going back to their bunks, apparently thinking that there was no danger, but when they saw the water rushing in they appeared to be seized with a panic. The chief steward stayed in the saloon until the water rose breast high trying to persuade them to come out, but they ~ persistently refused. Finally the stewards had to leave to save themselves. He found the door leading to the deck fast, but after a great effort managed to open it sufficiently to pass his leg through and force the water to burst it open. The steward says he once more returned and called for the ladies (Dr Auderson and Mr Fraser were with them) to come out, but they still refuied. He then made for the deck, and the steamer sank just as he reached it. Both Lanfear (second officer) and Captain Fawkes state that they never stghted the green guiding light on the rocks, which would have warned them of their danger. It is believed this will form the defence of the former, who waa in charge of the bridge at the time. Feceived August 12. »t 11-20 a.m. SYDNEY, August 12.

The quartermaster, who was steering at the time the vesael struck, was a South Sea Islander, and not a Chinaman as at first stated. He was seen at the wheel op to the very last, and went down with the vessel, atiil holding to the wheel. This man was on the steamer Quetta when she was wrecked, being rescued after having floated for many hoars on some wreckage. The man who was found dead in the boat died at his post, having stuck by her while she was being launched. Others of the Chinese crew who had to attend to the launching of boats also perished at their posts, some being crushed to death by fioaline wreckage. They stood unflinchingly throughout. Received August 21, at 11 a-m. Syi»ey, August 12.

Vessels arriving report a strong current setting north in the vicinity of the Seal Rucks. This is contrary to the general trend oi the current. AH the wreckage found is drifting north. Another boat —the captain's gig—has been picked up on Cape H*wkes. Captain Fawkes states that land could be seen occasionally, but he could not understand how the wreck occurred, ns in the ordinary course of navigation the rocks are well known and vessels axe naturally on the look out for them. The wind, instead of blowing the vessel on j ?he rocks was in the opposite direction. | Coptfuian sticks to the statement that the cspuin was washed off the bridge. He says: The skipper went on the bridge and left me in the chart room. That was the list I saw of him. When climbing the bridge he called out to the third officer to look to the lady passengers. The next thing I noticed was that the port lifeboat, which I had made up my mind to jump into, was washed away. I then began to look to my lifebelt, but I could not fix the shoulder straps on properly, and consequently it slowly slipped ofi. By this time the ship had a heavy list to starboard. Seeing the starboard life boat full of people I sprang into ber. Seeing that I was on my feet and the boat was swaying about a good deal I got hold of a spar between the davits and kept a firm grip of it. The officer was standing up aDoarenUy awaiting orders. I said to him •• nft flp ot. lower away,".bot hardly had tbjnrndf escaped lay Hprwneu»greafc

wave came clean over the ship and the boat was carried away from under me, leaving me with one of the Chinese crew clinging to a spar. This was the sea that swept the captain and his officers from the bridge, for next time I looked at the bridge they had gone.