THE WRECK OF THE CATTERTHON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5334, 12 August 1895, Page 4

THE WRECK OF THE CATTERTHON.

NABBATIVES OF SURVIVORS. THRILLING EXPERIENCES. [Special to Press Association.] SYDNEY, August 10. There seems every reason tonbelieve that Fraser and Smith were overwhelmed in their cabinH, and were drowned while asleep. None of the survivors saw them from the time they went to their cabins. The ladies were drowned apparently because they were afraid to leave the Baloon when they saw the great inrush of water which followed the opening of the door by the chief steward. A Chinese quartermaster who took the wheel at midnight Btatea that the second mate altered the course four points to the eastward. Taia would show that his opinion was that the ve3sel was hugging the land too closely. Mr Crane states that Mrs Mathias asked him for a lifebelts He went to get it, but in the darkness could not opon the looker, and fastened his own belt; on her. When he attempted to leave, the saloon door was jammed by water, which was then up to his knees in the saloon. The Chinese steward, after difficulty, opened the door, j The water instantly rushed in. The Chinese steward and himself left the Baloon, but the three ladies and the chief i steward did not follow. Thoy found the water on the main deck up to the waist, and had to force their way through it to the poop. He noticed that the Bhip was beading for the land, with the lighthouse on the port bow, and the vessel was rapidly settling down. After rising to the surface, subsequently to the ship foundering, be got on top of a meat-safe, and was there joined by a Chinaman, who in a bland, Jperßuasive tone said, "More better for yon go catohee another piece of box." He replied, " More better you." The Celestial . declined the invitation. The safe, however, amply supported both. They heard shouts and cries of distress, but only male voices. The Catterthun'a survivors have arrived here. Arrangements are being made by the agents of the company for the accommodation of the crow at a Chinese boarding-house. The tugs picked up a second empty cutter, also wreckage and another body . some distance from the scene. A quantity of wreokage was also sighted in the vicinity of Crowdy Head. The Chinese are old servants of the company, and they speak English. They had a most thrilling experience. Their boatswain states that three boats were smashed one after another while being -lowered, and the people in them were carried overboard by tremendous seas. He saw one man crushed against the davita and killed before his eyes. No. 1 boat, containing the survivors, got clear of the steamer as if by a miracle. As it was being lowered the steamer- began to heel, and the boat, bumping against the side had a plank stove in. The boat just managed to escape from the whirlpool in which the Catterthnn sank, though it was almost engulfed. The boat leaked badly . and seas were breaking aboard. Several occupants were constantly baling. They had a continuous fear that the boat would be swamped. They pulled round Beveral times in search of survivors. While aboard he saw no passengers about the deck. When the last boat was ready to lower, the captain shouted from th bridge for the crew (o clear out as the ship was sinking. He was positive that ib was the captain. He could. -pot mistake his voice, and saw his figure .plainly. This ia important, a 9 it was previously stated that the captain was washed from the bridge at the same time as the officers and Captain Fawkes, before the veesel sank. The boatswain states that if they had been half a minute later in lowering the boat no one would have been saved. If the weather had been fine all would have ; been saved, as there were sufficient boats, and they were ready for lowering. The crew, he says, simply obeyed orders, and . never attempted to save themselves until ordered by the captain. The narrative of the Chinese steward ' clears np the fate of the ladies and some other passengers. He states that when he '- went below after the first alarm he found : that .all had gone back to their, bunks ~ apparently thinking that there was r>6 *'.' danger,, l ;-,bnt_ '/when' they Baw : /the. water rushing in they appearad to be. . seized _by .panic. The . chief steward ■ stayed in the saloon until the water rose breast high, trying to persuade them to come out. They persistently refused. Finally the stewards had to leave to care themselves. They found the door leading to the deck fast, but after a great effort opened it sufficiently to pass a 1( g through and the force of the water burst it open. The steward says that once more he returned and called for the ladies and Dr Anderßon and Mr Fraser, who were with them, to come out, but they still refused. He then made for the deck and the steamer sank as he reached it. ■Both Mr Lanfear (second officer) and Captain Fawkes state that they never sighted the green guiding light on the rocks, which would have warned them of the danger; It is believed that this will form the defence of the former, who was in charge of the bridge when the ship struck.