The Wreck of the Catterthun

Southland Times, Issue 13284, 10 August 1895, Page 2

The Wreck of the Catterthun

STATEMENT BY SURVIVORS. United Press Association—By Electbio Telegraph—Copyright. Sydney, Aug. 9. Captain Fawkes says that after the Catterthuu struck,the tremendous sea running and breaking over the( reef and steamer carried away boat after boat. The after part of the vessel was going steadily down when a mountainous sea swept the vessel from end to end, and carried everything before it, and the bridge was smashed up. He continued Captain Shannon, two officers, and myself were thrown from the bridge into the boiling sea. All this happened in a few seconds as it seemed to me. The sea swept away the starboard cutter which was at that moment on the point of being launched, and, I think most of the passengers and crew. The men made desperate efforts to pass the passengers into the boats and lower them,but the boats were constantly swept back inboard by the rush of water. The port lifeboat about this time was smashed and carried away by a sea, one or two of the crew going with it. It. was a very noticeable feature - of the terrible scene that calmness and good discipline prevailed amongst nearly all on board. . Mr Crane says:—“The captain, second officer, chief officer, and Captain Fawkes surveyed the scene from the bridge, over which seas hurled from time to time, and directed operations, while the men under the direction of the third officer worked to get the starboard boat out in order to take the women off the vessel. It was seen that the steamer must go down before many seconds elapsed, as she was already settling fast by the stern. A moment later a sea, which appeared to tow< r as high as tho mast, struck the vessel aud swept her from stern to stem. Captain Shannon was washed away by this se i, and with him the first and second officers and Captain Fawkes. Of the bridge itself but a remnant was left, and the furious seas found other victims in those who were clustei itig round. Efforts to launch the starboard cutter were made, but it was smashed to atom>, and every hope was being abandoned by the few left on the sinking vessel. One desperate effort, made by those of the crew who were kft, put the starboard lifeboat into the water. A moment later the Catterthun rolled over and sank. The boat contained some of tt.e Chinese crew, and they picked up several other Chinese seamen who were floa ing on wreckage. I was drawn down by the finking ship, but came to the surface and swam to the boat.”

Dr Copeman says when work was transferred to the starboard cutter he went forward and got into it, together with some others. Several attempts were made to get this cutter into the water, but the seas breaking over the vessel hampered work terribly. Ultimately a great wave broke aboard, and smashed the cutter to pieces. Those who were in it were thrown into the water. He managed to cling to the spar of the davits and hung there in a desperate condition for some time. At last he heard a boat splash into the water, and heard someone hail beneath him. He then let go and dropped into the water right in front of. the boat. They made a careful search of’ the wreckage before they left, and stood by till daylight. Mr Fraser, an engineer, was proceeding to Port Darwin, and the Lorings were English tourists. Captain Shannon was a married man. With the exception of Adams, who was married six months ago, the engineers were single men. Local shipmasters are astounded that the vessel was so’ close in as the Seal Rocks are much further to the eastward than Port Stephen, so there could not be any mistake as to lights. Captain Craig, an old officer in the China trade, thinks the course must have been altered to the westward too soon. Had the Catterthun gono on another quarter of an hour before altering the course, she would have cleared tho Seal Rocks. Received 9th, 10.15 p.m. The tugs have returned after thoroughly searching in the vicinity of the wreck and for miles along the coast. They picked up a cutter belonging to the Catterthun bub saw no trace of the missing people or of wreckage. The survivors are doing well. Among the Chinese passengers was a widow and four young children. [By Telegraph.] Wellington, August 9. A Wellington mail to August 1, for Hong Kong and Bluff mails of July 20 and 29 for the same place were on board tho Catterthun.