LOST AT SEA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 798, 22 April 1910, Page 7

LOST AT SEA.

HOW THE SATARA WENT DOWN. Bj Telegraph-Presi ABGOclation-Oopjrlght. . Sydney, April 21. Captain Hugill and tho officers and crew of tho British India Steam Navigation Company's , steel-screw steamer Satara, 5272 tons gross (which foundered off the Seal Rocks, .about G5 miles north of Newcastle) have arrived in Sydney by tho steamer Dorrigo. No lives were lost in tho Satara. The captain declines to raako a statement. The Pilot's story. Pilot Binstcad stated that .the inner passage of the Seal Rocks was taken, The vessel struck suddenly. The sea was not heavy, though ho believes there was a strong inset. Tho utmost calm prevailed among the Lascar crew, who immediately went' to their posts. 'After the striking, it waa decided to.beach the Satara.

The vessel would not answer ; her helm at'first, but ho (Pilot afterwards got her headed, inshore. The water, however, gained so fast that .there was no hope of beaching her. The crew ivero ordered into the boats, the captain; pilot, and the officers being the last to leave. As the vessel suddenly dipped forward'and disappeared from sight, . the officers were plunged into tho water. V

The pilot was sucked down, but all were eventually picked up.

Plenty of Boats. Further particulars show that the Satara settled down- so fast that her rudder was out of the water, and she became uncontrollable and sank within anhour. . . , : • The fifth engineer, was in the water for a long time through' one of -the boats sinking wheal he .came alongside the rescuing steamer - Orara. When picked up, he was nearly frozen with the cold;• ~ ■ ■

( The third engineer states that there was no break to indicate- the presence of a shoal. ■ A davit broke when one of the boats was being lowered. The boat was sunk, but there was plenty of room for all in the other boats.

NARROW ESCAPE OF TWO LASCARS. STEAMER VALUED AT OVER £100,000. . (Rcc. April 21,,0,25 p.m.) Sydney, April 21. " With regard to the two coolies on tho Satara nho were reported yesterday to have been drowned, it transpires that they went down with tho vessel, and were floating for- a long time beforo they were rescued. The crew lost all they possessed.

The Satara was valued at £100,000 to £150,000, and her cargo at between £7000 and £8000."The company are their own underwriters." ■ ■ ■.;•-.'■'