LOSS OF THE MACLEAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 14 October 1911, Page 5

LOSS OF THE MACLEAY.

SINKS IN TEN MINUTES. SURVIVORS' TRYING TIME, 2y Telegraph—Prtesa Association— CopyrighJ Sydney, October 13. Tho coastal steamer Macleay, lost near Broughton Island, was en routo from Sydney to tho Clarence Rivor with a small general cargo, including three horses. Petorsen, tho seaman who had the wheel at tho time of the disaster, states that tho chief officer had just relieved the second officer. Ho called tho officer's attention to something whito abeam, but tho officer declared it was only a skoal of fish. In another instant the steamer, which was going at about nine knots, struck. Tho captain rushed on deck and ordered an attempt to beach the vessel. The helm was swung round, and the vessel slid sideways off the' rock. Water commenced to pour in tho forepart, and in ten minutes sho heoled over and 6ank. The boats had been 6wung out perparatory to launching, but they swung back as the steamer heeled over, and could not bo launched. All aboard wero thrown struggling into the water. Petersen got on to a hurdle. Everyone was crying out, and tho excitement was increased by tho horses struggling in tho water. The steward got hold of a horse's tail, arc. afterwards climbed on a hurdle. Petersen was thirteen hoars in the wafer. All through the night he hung on to the hurdle. When the moon rose he saw iSwanney and another man on some hurdles, which were tied together. When morning broke they were close to shore, but when in the breakers two men wero washed off Swanney's raft. They were too exhausted to help themselves and wero drowned. The two survivors, terribly spent, managed to struggle ashore. Tho sceno of the wreck is on one of tho Cabbage Tree Hocks, where the steamer Oakland was lost some years ago. . The missing officers and crow of the Macleay aro:— Captain Donald Keith, master, Mr. Goldsmith, chief officer. Mr. M'Lean, second officer. Mr. Tarleton, first engineer. Mr. Gowing, second engineer. Mr. Alexander, lamp-trimmer. Mr. Jones, steward. Mr. Meochan, cook. Messrs. Jabtin, Drevar, Tabell, Hansen, and Joyce, seamen. Messrs. Monks and Killen, firemou. FIVE BODIES RECOVERED. (Rec. October 13, 10.30 p.m.) Sydney, October IS. The bodies of five of thoso lost in tho wreck of tho Macleay have been recovered. Tho only other body to be identified, besidos that of Jones, tho steward, was that of Hansen, a fireman. Tho seaman Tabell, whoso name was given in the earlier list, did not sail, and his place was taken by a seaman named M'Kenzio, who is among tho missing. Petersen, one of the saved men, wno was at tho wheel when tho vessel struck, states that the captain instructed him to steer north-oa6t, but tho mate, when ho took command, ordered him to alter tho course to north by east A few minutes later the ship struck the rock.