CAPSIZE OF VESSEL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11118, 5 November 1907, Page 5

CAPSIZE OF VESSEL.

THRILLING ADVENTURE

(Press Assn. — By Telegraph— Copyright) SYDNEY, November 4. The barquentine Kate Tatham, lying in Newcastle harbor empty, preparatory to loading coal for New Zealand, caught a sudden squall, which caused her to heel right over. One of the cables under the port bilge acted as a roller) assisting the vessel to turn over. The hatches became displaced, and the water rushed in. The barquentine settled down on the bottom of the harbor. The captain and crew, who were having their mug of .coffee at the time, managed with one exception to clamber over the rails on the starboard side, which was above water. They were rescued by a boat. The exception was a youth named Reffs, who had a sensational experience. Coming from below' 7 when the capsize occurred, the. suction drew hini into the hold. A stratum of air existed between the water in the hold and the vessel's side, ahdhe managed with a piece of floating, timber to keep np. Tapping on the side, of the vessel attracted the attention of his companions, and carpenters cut a hole in the barquentine's decking, and rescued Reffs, after a two hours' imprisonment. A representative of thie Underwriters' Association left to-night to supervise the raising of the Kate Tatham: (Received November sth) 9.44 a.m. : SYDNEY, November 5. Within' ten minutes of the capsize of theJKate ships' boats arrived on the- scene 1 from the German ship Hans, lying a few hundred yards away at North Stockton. The 'watchman of the Hans "noticed the disaster and gave the alarm with commendable valacrity. The crew turned out in their night garments, lowered a boat and pulled to the partially submerged barquehtine. The officers and crew of the Kate Tatham were passed -Into;'' the '"'boat': and'-' a thorough search was then made for the missing sailor.* The crew wer©.;takeri to the ship Hans, where they were fitted out with clothes and subsequently conveyed to the Sailors? Home, When RefTs horrifying position was discovered there was no time to lose as •the* .tide was almpstTat its full , .height and was only about a foot off the vessel above water, leaving but'.little air for the distressed i; sailor.'". ? The :■ axes went to work with a will, and in a few minutes an^oblong; opening was cut 'in the deck just below the bulwarks. Reffs was : some distance from the aperture, but on being called he just ■managed with his wasted strength to creep along to the openuig.= Strong arms then pulled him through the hole and the crowd of onlookers, gave encouraging cheers.. The sailor, with face blanched* from his ter- / nble imprisonment in noisome air, collapsed upon reaching the open air, but made a good recovery. (Special to Herald.) ' - . NAPIER, this day. Messrs Tait and Mills received advice to-day that their weltknown trader, Kate latham, had capsize, during a heavv sqjall at Newcastle. ' The barquetiiie was ruining light, i awaiting a cargo of coablhe crew escaped. The owners do not anticipate thsut much difficulty will be experienced in refloating the vessel, as she is not submerged altogether. Aluch sympathy is felt for Tate and Mills' and also for Captain Munns. '