A TALE OF THE SEA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 33, 2 October 1912, Page 7

A TALE OF THE SEA.

WRECK IN BASS STRAIT.

The following graphic account of the wreck of the skip G. W. Wolff on one of the Flinders Group in Bass Strait is given by the Melbourne Ago: It was in the mate’s watch, a few minutes after six a.m., that the G. W. Wolff entered the strait, and was being driven before a fierce north-west-erly gale. Suddenly, through the blinding rain squalls, the look-out man descried a low-lying island on thestarboard bow. The alarm was given, and the whole crew scrambled on deck. Despite every effort to navigate the ship clear of the land, she raced on to her destruction. Even through the storm the captain could see that a passage lay on the port bow. and that there might have been some chance of rounding the island. However, a strong tide running with the wind swept the vessel on to the rockbound shore. At the last minute it was seen that to weather the island was impossible. All hands mustered on the poop and lifebelts were served out. Above the roar of the storm could be hoard the thunder of the waves on the reefs scarcely a ship’s length ahead, and the little group stood waiting for the inevitable. In a minute it was all over. Bow on, the vessel struck the reef, staggering at the force of the impact. The noise of splintering timbers as the vessel’s bon ground on the rocks was drowned b\ the appalling crash of the mainmast going by the board. Heavy seas swept over the stern, and warned by tin ominous creaking of the decks under their feet, the whole crew, with tin exception of Captain J. W. Thomas, the master of the stricken ship, scrambled forward and gathered on the forecastle head. Then came anothoi fearful crash, and the foremast followeel the mainmast over the side. “Where is the skipper?” was the anxious in quirj of one of the sailors. Gaptaii Thomas bad last been seen on tlu poop, anel every eye was turned aft The captain had been washed over board by the mountainous seas whicl tumbled over the stern. So far the other members of th< crew were safe, but their future seem ed almost hopeless. The ship had onh been ashore a quarter of an hour, bid already she was beginning to break up before the force of the pounding breakers. In two hours their present posi tion would be untenable, and the mei were -beginning to despair. The boats oven if they had been accessible, conk not possibly have been launched 01 the weather side, and under the let of the vessel the angry waters swirled round rocks that would batter am craft to pieces in a few seconds. Tht bow of the ship was only a few yard: from the shore, but the rocks ros: sheer up in front of it, and all chance of escape in -that direction was civ, off: The nearest possible, landing place on the shore wjis fully *7o*.Vyaixlp'dis tant. ‘ 1 I 'r .

Suddenly the second mate'. Williarr Putzke, came forward with the des. perats suggestion that an attempt shotfld l>e> -made* to- .swiff 5 # the ing place. One glance at the .swirling waters and the wliole company were silent. However, the mate was re solved, and called for volunteers te follow him. Three seamen—Luston Buldhordt, and Hendrickson—respond cd to ifhje call. The lore topmasi staysail was hanging over the side and the four men lowered themselves by its aid into the water. Then follow cd a terrible struggle. All four mer were strong swimmers, but the pro gross to the shore was painfully slow They would swim a few yards and the? clasp hold of a rock until they had recovered some of the breath that had been beaten out of their bodies by tin relentless waters. They battled on however, and eventually after a twi hours’ struggle all managed to read the shore, those who first arrived as ■sisting the remainder to land. Aftei a few minutes’ rest they made for tin rocks overhanging the how of the ship A heaving line was thrown ashore, and a few minutes later a substantial rope spanned the gap between the ship and the shore. “Boys first!” was the order from the chief officer (John Jenkins), one' the cabin boy Stevenson and anothci lad named Meyer were the first to crosf the lino, going hand over hand along the taut rope. This dangerous me thod of reaching the shore nearly cost the chief officer his life. He hud almost reached -the rock to which tin line was attached when ho became exhausted and relaxed his grasp of tin rope. Hendrickson, one of tin heroes of the swim, again was conspicuous for his bravery. Ho immediately went to the rescue of his officer, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that the pair were got out of the water. The crew were fortunate in finding a fishing smack sheltering under the lee of the island, and this vessel took them to Melbourne.