THE WRECK OF THE KARRAKATTA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9118, 11 April 1901, Page 4

THE WRECK OF THE KARRAKATTA.

SHE STRIKES AN UNCHARTED ROCK. TLMELY RESCUE BY THE ALTO. PERTH, April 3. The schooner Alto, Captain Frank Biddies, master, arrived at Broome, this morning, from Cygnet Bay, having on board 121 shipwrecked people, being al- : most all the officers, passengers, crew, and including Mrs Ramsay, the stewardess, of the W.A.S.N. Company's steamer Karrakatta, bound from Frelnantle to Singapore. After coming out of King's Sound, and rounding Swan [Point, the Alto found the Karrakatta nearly submerged ,the water being over I the promenade deck. The Karrakatta's boats were shortly afterwards descried on a. sandbank, where, it transpired, all hands had landed. The Karrakatta flew signals of distress, "Require assistance." The Alto sailed close up and sent a boat, which brought back Captain Talboys, who reported having anchored on the evening of March 26, at six o'cldtek, near Cape Levique, and got under weigh again at half-past nine, with a floood tide. He then steamed the usual course to round Swan Point. At five minutes to. ten the steamer struck what was evidently a pinnacle rock, unknown and uncharted, where she hung about an hour with a big list to port. At eleven she gave to the tide, and swung round on the«rock, and immediately started to settle down, sinking with such rapidity that the water was blown forcibly up through the ventilators. The captain- had ordered the boats to be lowered and hung alongside when she first struck, and now gave the command to all hands to take to the boats. The tide was running. with terrific speed, and the boats were afraid to cast off. They hung alongside till 4 a.m., m spite of the imminent peril and the danger of a further collapse of the vessel through pressure of the tide, m which case not the strongest swimmer could have reached land. Wonderful coolness prevailed, and with the good example of Captain Talboys before them, all did what they could, to get a little provender and water m the boats. Much credit is due to the colored people, who composed the large majority of both crew and passengers, for* their willingness and amenity to discipline. Mr Day (the purser), nobly assisted by Mr Broadfoot (one of the engineers), was meanwhile making strenuous efforts to rescue the mails by diving into the large mailroom, which was almost full of water,' only about a. foot of air' remaining between the surface, and ceiling. : They managed to save all except three small bags. ... Mr Day also recovered by diving into his own. room a box containing all the ship's books and papers. All hands, however, landed practically as they stood, mostly destitute. - Very little personal were saved. Daylight found 129 souls stranded on a desert sandy island, off Swan Point, with. little food or water; arid bufc for the happy arrival of the Alto, a miserable time stared them in' the face. Mr Hillman, the chief officer, and Mr Rowell, the third engineer, had started to walk across country to Cygnet Bay, hoping to find a pearling fleet and procure assistance; but on the way they met a friendly native, who stated that the boats were all out for the new season. The walking party then turned back. Captain Talboys arranged with. Captain Biddies to take the passengers and crew to Broome, and the Alto started on the 28th, having on board 146 all told, including the setewardess and 5 women passengers. Captain Talboys and Mr Willis,the chief engineer, and the second officer, remained behind to look after the wreck. The general opinion is that the Karrakatta. is a total wreck, and a menace to navigation. . - ' '