BRAQUE IN TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 812, 9 May 1910, Page 7

BRAQUE IN TROUBLE.

DISMASTED. ' LOCH KATRINE'S TERRIBLE TIME, By Teleeraph-l'ress Associatlon-Copyriirht , :<R«c. May 9, 0.55 a.m.) Melbourne, May 8. Eight of the boat's crew of the barquo Loch Kat'rino (recently reported as having been, sighted . dismasted by the, steamer Tasmanic) arrived today by tho steamer Tasmanic. Th'o Loch Katrine fell in with a viplent hurricane at tho eastern entrance to Bass Straits four days after leaving Melbourne. ■,-.-. Tho boat in which the men left the vessel was the only one not smashed by falling masts. Mr. Smith, chief officer, aud Mr: Marshall, second officer, and five seamen formed tho crew of tho boat. When they left the Katrine, she was drifting approximately about ten miles per day in a circlo near latitude 39 degrees south, longitude 152 ■ degrees east. . ■ "■ . . :Tho Katrine left port on April 23 and when the gale came on in a perfect frenzy the ship strained heavily, and the captain made for ; the open seas. Off Cape Howe a squall of tremendous force struck tho ship. She heeled over and the main topmast carried away, leaving only tho main lowormast and- main-yard standing. It was a wicked night, aud the crew worked desperately to clear the wreckage. , Then the lower ■ mainmast snapped off'three, feet from tho deck. The rolling of the vessel was terrific,! and the mainmast, rolling over tho side to starboard, threatened to bump through the side of the ship. In its fall it carried away the leo fore braces which sustained the yards of the foremast, and the , yards, swinging round like teetotums, became unmanageable. Before the crew could get rid of the fallen mainmast, tho fore-topmast came' down. . Next morning, ,' the mizzentop crashed down 'aftc? tho wreckage, and the vessel was left with only the mizzen-lowerniast standing, tho foremast having tumbled on the deck, smashing the deck-house. '. The pumps were.smashed and four boats wore destroyed. ' ■■'- , ■.-■■' The weather began .to moderate on April 28, and efforts were made to sail the ship. Canvas was rigged on the mizzen-lowermast, and a gaff was rigged in place of the foremast, but they could not get steerage, way. On the second day'.of dismastmeiit they sighted a ship, but failed to attract its. notice. The captain and chief officer decided that the 'only thing possible was to send off the remaining boat. Volunteers were called for, and. all hands volunteered. The boat left with ten days' provisions to-make land, 150 miles away. ' >'On May 6 they sighted Gabo. Island, and they were-afterwards seen by the Tasmauic, and picked up.