IN A SUNKEN SHIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 35, 5 November 1907, Page 5

IN A SUNKEN SHIP.

.UNjQDjS:EXPERIENCE.

SAVED BY A STRATUM OP AIR.

BARQtSENTINE CAPSIZES. el TELEOIUPHr-FEESS ASSOCIATION—COVYEIDHI, .. ... (Rec Nov. 4, 9.59 p.m.) ''';■.:.■ . y v Sydney, November 4.' While tho'barqucntino Kats Tatham was lying ■in Newcastle Harbour,' empty, preparatory, to loading coal lor Now Zealand, she was caught 'by a sudden squall, which caused her, to heel-right over. Quo of the cables under tho port bilgo acted as a,roller, assisting the vessel to turn ovor. The hatches becamo displaced,'and water rushed in, causing tho vessel to settle down on tho bottom of the harbour. ■ The captain and the' crew were having morning coffee at the timo. They managed, with; ono exception, to. clamber on to the Tails on the ■' starboard side, which were above. wntor, ■ and thoy . were rescued by <v boat.' .'. -: ; ; ■ ■■■:■•:■. -.; . The exception was a youth, named Reffs, Who.hud a,.sensational exporionco. He was coming from below when tho capsize occurred,'and tho suction drow him into tho hold. A.stratum of air existed between the water in'the , hold and tho vessel's side, and he'managed, with the aid of a> piece of floating timbor,-to keep above the water. , By'tappingon tho sido or the vessel, RefFs attracted tho attention of his companions. Carpenters cut a hplo in the barqnentino's decking, ,rescued . Reffs after r ho ,had Undergone,two hours'' imprisonment. ./-'■i' , :;'■■'■'■'■. NaJDier, November 4. . Private , 'cable'advice , 'states that the well-knowjr b'arquentino Kate ■ Tathain cap'r size'dj at Nowcastlo during: a .heavy, squall, The'c'ro'w;are safe. The vessel is lying partly submDrged ;j iu! 16 feet of water. The Kato Tatham-is an-iron three-masted vessel, of 275' toils,-ibuijt in 1863, ; by R- Steele, of Greonocki' and-owned by Taitaml Milk. ,

r (Reo/Nov. 5, 0,37 a.m.) : ••■ ■'■'■'.' ' Sydney, Novembor 4.' A representative of the Underwriters' Asso-t uiation left to-night .to 'supervise the raising sf the Kate Tatham. ,/ ]'.'. /'-.,'.;'...

'In 60 far.as his escape is duo to the resistance of, imprisoned air to water. Kefls's exr perience recalls that of Varischetti, the Italian ivho was imprisoned, for., days, in a.flooded West' Australian mine, .and who was rescued by diver Hughes. No doubt Eeffs owes hie'lite to tho' additional fact that there was enough of the,vessel above water to enable the carpenter's to cut'a. way of escape. •■'•■,.■■....