KAKARIKI SINKS IN THREE MINUTES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20640, 1 February 1937, Page 7

KAKARIKI SINKS IN THREE MINUTES

VESSEL LOST IN COLLISION FIVE SEAMEN FEARED DROWNED GRAPHIC STORY OF SWIFT DISASTER United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, January 30. The Patrick Line steamer Caradale came into collision with the Union Line steamer Kakariki, oft Gellibrand pile light early this morning. The Kakariki -was sunk. Only about six feet of her funnel is now showing above water. Five members of the crew are missing. The Caradale, a small inter-state freighter, met the Kakariki a few hundred yards from the Gellibrand Light, but the officers of the lighthouse did not see the collision. List of Missing A wireless message from the captain of tire Caradale to the Director of Navigation, Melbourne, told of the tragedy. The missing men are:— Charles Lynch, A. 8., of Sydney. Jack Rodgers, A. 8., of Melbourne. Harry Coscombe, A. 8., ot Melbourne. Dan Linderman, assistant cook, address unknown. Athol Martin, fireman, of Sydney. Sixteen other members of the crew of the Kakariki were picked up in .the lifeboats, and they reached Melbourne at 2 a.m. All the men on the Caradale are safe. The Caradale was holed in the bows above the waterline. A launch has been sent to search in the vicinity, and wireless messages have been sent to shipping advising masters of the position of the wreck. FAST-MOVING DISASTER MEN TRAPPED IN QUARTERS □ nlted Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, January 30. It is now considered certain that five of the men missing from the Kakariki are dead. Lynch and Goscombe were trapped in the forecastle, and were heard by their mates calling: “For God’s sake open the door.” The forecastle was crushed like an eggshell, and the steel door bent in such fashion that it was impossible to move it. Lindrum, Rodgers and Martin were seen on deck a few seconds after the impact, but have not been found. It is presumed they went down with the ship. Other reports suggest that Rodgers was killed when the bows of the Caradale crashed through the decking of the Kakariki. The Kakariki sunk within three minutes of the collision. Some of the men on the Kakariki were thrown into the hold, and despite being up to their waists in water were able to regain the deck. Three of the crew, thrown into the water grabbed floating pieces of timber, to which they held on to until picked up by the boats from the Caradale. Some of the Kakariki’s crew were in their pyjamas and others half-shaven. A diver made an inspection of the Caradale this morning, and found the vessel much more seriously damaged than was at first believed. The vessel was going down at the head, and the cargo had to be hurriedly moved stemwards to bring the bows above the waterline. WARNED BY SHIP’S WHISTLE CLOSE CALL FOR MEMBERS OF CREW United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 31, 6.30 pm.) MELBOURNE, January 30. Able Seaman J. Evans, of the Kakariki, in an interview said he heard the warning blasts of the whistle indicating that something was amiss. He and two others rushed on deck. They saw the Caradale only a few yards vway. Then came a terrific crash. His comrades whi had not heeded the warning whistle were trapped in the crurhed forecastle. The Kakariki’s second engineer, James WiLson, of Wanganui, scrambled through the inrush of water and shut off the cteam throttle, thus preventing a possible explosion. He and several others were swirled round in the water, but all finally leapt overboard. Wilson and three others have been taken to hospital, mainly for observation. The diver to-day recovered the body of a man about 34 years, who has not yet been identified. There is no sign cf the others. The body of Lindeman was washed up at Williamstown this afternoon. James Wilson (second engineer) f -om Wanganui, has been taken to hospital because of injuries to a leg. Three other seamen were also sent to hospital, mainly for observation.