SHIPWRECK IN BASS STRAIT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1518, 14 August 1912, Page 7

SHIPWRECK IN BASS STRAIT.

■ ■ VESSEL GOES TO PIECES. DRIVEN ASHORE BY A HEAVY GALE, THE CAPTAIN MISSINGBy Telegraph—l'rcjs Association-Copyright Melbourne, August 13. A iishing smack has arrived from Hummock Islands, IJass Shs.il, with twentyone members ol' the crew of Iho CI. W. 0111, a Swansea ship oi' IUOO lons. The vessel was on a vogaye from Buenos Ayics to Newcastle in ballast, and it is reported she was driven ashore during a heavy galo on. Wednesday morning. The master, Captain J. \V. Thomas, was drowned. At the time of sighting land, there was a strong wind and heavy adverse tide. Tho gale became worse and the ship was unablo to weather the and was driven ashore stem on. Big breakers soon begau to play havoc. The vessel was pounding heavily\uul the mainmast snapped and fell overboard. Shortly after the foremast went, then the nnzzenmast. The crew donned their lifebelts as the ship was showing signs of* a general breaking up. Tho second mate, Mr. Pultgke, anil .three men. many times were driven back badly bruised, but they managed to cross seventy yards of broken water to the shore and secured a line. Twenty-one members of tho crew then crossed to the laud safely. Tho first mate, Air. Jenkins, had a narrow escape. Ho was swept oil' tho line, but a seaman dived, and rescued him. It was then, discovered that tho captain was missing. He was last seen going below, it is supposed to tceure the ship's papers. Meantime, tho main deck opened, tho vessel parted in two. There was no sign of tho captain, though the coast was searched. Tho survivors sayed only tho clothes they wero wearing'. They made their way across the island, where a smack was anchored. They wero tnkep aboard and well treated. Before they left the island tho wreck had completely disappeared. Mrs. Thomas's lather, two brothers, and now her husband have been drowned at sea. ' THE CAPTAIN'S END. (Rec. August 13, 10.15 p.m.) Melbourne, August; 13. From another statement by one of (he survivors of the CI. W. Wolff, it appears that' Captain Thomas was last seen on the poop with his I'aeo covered with blood. It is surmised that he wqs struck 1 by falling gear and knocked overboard.