TOLL OF THE SEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 29

TOLL OF THE SEA.

1 LOSS OF THE MACLEAY. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES. SYDNEY, October 12. "The steamer Macleay is ashore on Broughton Island. The particulars are meagre, but it is feared that the vessel is a total wreck .and that some lives have been lost. Two sailors, who came ashore on planks, stated that they feared the vessel was breaking uip. There were no passengers aboard the Macleay, but the crew numbered 20, and only two are known to be saved. The Macleay is ,a vessel of 400 tons, and belongs to the North Coast Company. She was bound from Newcastle to Clarence River,. and is supposed to have foundered in a fog. A message from a tea party at a station near Port Stephens states that the body of Jones, the steward on the ■ Macleay has been washed up. The survivors—Swanney and Peterson- — are able-bodied They declare that at 8 o'clock last night, in a fog, while the first officer was on the bridge, the vessel struck a rock. The impact was terrific, and the steamer heeled over, and practically turned turtle before she sank. The survivors, who are accompanied by a search party, are not expected back before the morning. October 13.

The Macleay was en route from Sydney to Clarence River. She had a general cargo (including three horses). Peterson, who had the wheel at the time of the disaster, states that the chief officer had just relieved the (second officer. He called the chief officer's attention to something white abeam, but the latter declared it was only a school of fish.- In another instant the steamer, which was going at a speed of about nine knots at the moment, struck. The captain rushed on deck, and ordered aij attempt to beach heir. The helm.was swuiig round, and the vessel slid sideways off the rock. Then water commenced to pour in forward. In 10 minutes she heeled oyer and sank. The boats had been swung out preparatory to launching, but swung back as the ship heeled over, and could not be launched.

All aboard were thrown struggling into the water. Peterson got on to a hurdle. Everyone was crying out, the excitement being increased- by a number of horses struggling in the water. The steward got hold of a horse's tail, and afterwards climbed on to the hurdle. Peterson was 13 hours in.the water. All through the long, cold night he hung on to the hurdle. When the moon rose he saw Swanney and another man on some hurdles that had been tied together. When morning broke he was close to the surf. In the breakers two men, being too exhausted to help themselves, were washed off the r.aft and drowned. The two survivors were terribly spent, but managed to struggle ashore. \

The scene of the -wreck is one of the Cabbage Tree Bocks, where the steamer Oakland was lost some years ago.

THE NAMES OF THE MISSING

The names of the missing are : Donald Keith (master). Goldsmith (chief officer). Mac Lean (second officer). Tarleton (first engineer). Goring (second engineer). Alexander (lamp trimmer). Jones (steward). Meechan (cook). Jabin, Drevar, Tabell, Hansen, Joyce (A.B.'s). Monks and Killen (firemen). Five bodies have been reoovered. Seaman Tabell did not sail. His place was. taken by a seaman named M'Kenzie, who is amongst the missing. October 14. - The wreck of 4he Macleay has been located off the eastern point of Big Cabbage Tree Island. An extended search failed to disclose any signs of further survivors. October 15. At the inquest on the three bodies which were washed ashore from the wreck of the Macleay, the coroner returned a verdict of " Found drowned," adding that the foundering of the vessel was caused by the careless navigation of the chief officer (Mr Goldsmith). . October 16. At the inquest on the Macleay victims Petersen, one of the survivors, gave evidence concerning the chief officer chang ing the course that had been set by the captain. The steamer shortly afterwards struck. The captain ordered the lifeboats out, and rockets were got ready. The captain was trying to get the vessel round to beach her, when she sank. When the clref officer told the captain the course he had been steering the captain replied, "Oh, you murderer!"

A STEAMER CAPSIZED. LONDON, October 12. The steamer Eastern Counties capsized in the Bomber. Four persons were drowned and 11 had remarkable escapes. A DISASTROUS GALE. LONDON, October 12. Fourteen Yarmouth fishermen perished

in the gale that has ravaged the southeastern coasts of England. FISHING VESSELS LOST. LONDON, October 12. Three Ramsgnte fishing vessels, with 11 hands on board, foundered in a gale. SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCE. NEW YORK, October 14. While returning from a reception to President Taft at Oakland, a cutter contaming the band belonging to the cruiser California collided with a launch in San Francisco Bay. Twenty-five men were thrown into the water, and one was drowned. FAMOUS YACHT MISSING. BERLIN, October 14. It is fea.red that the Noidstern, which was formerly the Ivaiser's yacht Meteor 111, has foundered between Gibraltar and Kiel. She carried a crew of 28. A. MYSTERY CLEARED UP. BRISBANE, October 15. The decomposed bodies of three young men have been found at .Cape Bedford, where the missing boat Valda wae recently stranded., DISCOVERY OF WRECKAGE. SYDNEY, October 16. Amongst wreckage picked up in th<? vicinity of the Macleay disaster is a quantity from tiie Rosedalo and the nameboard of the overdUie Peruvian barque Inca.