WRECK OF THE CATTERTHUN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2164, 15 August 1895, Page 19

WRECK OF THE CATTERTHUN.

TWO BOATS MISSING.

Sydney, August 7.

The steamer Catterthun struck on the Seal Rocks at 2.30 this morning, and Bank in 15 minutes. A boat containing the captain, pootor, second mate, and two other white tn«n, and 16 Ohinwe and crew landed at Forster. The others are supposed to be lost. The boats which landed at Forcter contained 30 Chinese, including 16 of the crew, and the following white men: — Doctor Copeman, A. W. Langfear (the second mate), Sir Crane, and Captain Fraser (the pilot). Ihe other boats, containing the captain of the steamer and other officers, are missiog. The Oatterthun left Sydney last night for China, via way ports, in charge of Oaptain Neil Shannon, and the following officers :—: — W. O. Pinney, mate; Langfear, second mate; Harold Ltffier, third mate ; H. Anderson, fargeon; J. H. Harper, F. Wilson, J. W. Adams, and A. WoJstenholme, ohief, second, third, and fourth engineers; R. Manning, chief steward; W. Jackson, quartermaster; three Chinese quartermasters, and a Chinese crew of 44. She carritd as passengers : — R. Fraser, T. C. Crane, Oopeman, Dr Anderson, Oaptain Fawkes, Mesdames Mathias, Loring, Miss Loring, and 15 Chinese. Tugs have been sent from Newcastle to the scene of the wreck. Intense excitement has been caused in the city by the lose of the Oatterthun, accentuated by the uncertainty as to tbe fate of the missing people. The weather for the past day or so has been boisterous, and an ang ry sea was running when the steamer left Sydney yesterday. Owing to the isolated part of tbe coast where the wreck toobXplace very little intelligence is yet to hand. The survivors were very much exhausted when they reached the land. No accounts have been received from them.

, The vessel must have been somewhat to the eoath of the lighthouse as tbe keeper did not see her. The tug, just returned, reports a high sea, and no sign of the vessel or boats. She had 81 persons on board all told. Accounts are conflicting as to the number saved, being variously stated at 22 and 25 ; but the latter is certainly the limit. Several coastal steamers passed the Seal Bocks during the day, and their arrival is anxiously awaited here to-night. There is an almost forlorn hope that they may have picked up tbe boats.

The passengers saved are : — Dr Copeman (of London), Oaptain Fawkeß (pilot), and Mr Crane (an official of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company).

■ The spot where the survivors landed is 20 miles from the Seal Rooks.

Amongst the missing are Mrs Mathias, wife of the captain of a steamer trading in Chinese waters, who was formerly oonnected with Money, Wigram's Australian steamships ; Dr Anderson, a ship's surgeon ; and a young Victorian doctor named Smith, who joined the ship at the last moment.

The hull was insured in London. The general cargo is insured for between L 20.000 and 1.30,000. Those chiefly interested are the Darwent, Tamar, Canton, and China Traders Companies. There was LIO.BOO in specie on board, of which LSOOO was shipped at Adelaide and the rest belonged to the Chinese passengers. The gold was insured. There was one bag of mails from Wellington and two from the Bluff, STATEMENTS BY THE SURVIVORS.

The following statement has been obtained from Crane :— " We cleared the heads at 5 30 last night followed by a south-west g»le, a high broken sea, and rain squalls. All went well till 25 minutes past 2 o'clock, when the paßsergers were aroused by a severe shock, quickly followed by a second. The captain quietened the passengers, telling us we were only struck by a sea. Shortly after we were roused out by order of the captain and told to go on deck. The ship had a strong list to starboard, and heavy teas were breaking over her fore and aft. The position was appalling, for the ship was evidently settling fast. The officers and crew had already Bucoeßdedin getting out the lifeboats, but the efforts to lower them were greatly impeded by the tremendous seas which continually broke aboard, carrying the boats in again. The port lifeboat waa swept off the davits. A noticeable feature was the coolness and discipline of all on board. The captain, chief and second mates, and Captain Fawkc-s were swept over the bridge, and the same sea smashed the ontter to atoms. The sea was then level with the rails, and breaking clean over the poop. The starboard lifeboat was successfully launched, and a moment after the steamer gave a sudden lurch to starboard and disappeared. The crew of the starboard boat subsequently picked up all the survivors."

Captain Fawkes states that just before the ship disappeared he, with the captain and ohief officer, were swept off the bridge. He saw no more of his companions, and was 30 minutes in the water before he was rescued.

Crane remained in his cabin to within a minute or two of the foundering, then went on to the poop and remained 20 minutes in the water before he was picked up. Dr Copeman was in the starboard cutter when she was washed away, and clung to a spar, and then dropped into the water till picked up by the lifeboat. After examining the wreckage, the lifeboat proceeded to Charlotte Bay, where a trading cutter conveyed them to Caps Hawke.

Langfear, who was in charge of the bridge, refuses to make a statement. After Btrikiog, the steamer continued her course for some distance. It is supposed she stiuck a sliding blow on the edge of the outer reef. The rocks ripped open her side. She swung off at a tangent, and went ahead till she filled with water. Off the outer rock there is a depth of 25 fathoms.

The Mararoß, which has just (11.20 p.m.) arrived, saw nothing even to indicate that a disaster had occurred.