STEAMERS FOUNDER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 234, 28 June 1921, Page 5

STEAMERS FOUNDER

OFF NEW SOUTH WALES COAST u SEVERAL LIVES LOST TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES IN A LIFEBOAT By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Sydney, June 27. Two coastal steamers, the Fitzroy, 623 tons, and Our Jack, 272 tons, have been lost, and heavy loss of life is feared. The Fitzroy foundered off Cape Hawke with thirty people aboard, crew and passengers. Three bodies have ’been washed ashore. The Our Jack foundered at Port Stephens. Nine men were rescued by the Brundah. Boisterous seas prevailed on the North Coast on Saturday and Sunday, a southeast wind reaching the force of a gale. Owing to the stormy conditions on the North Coast and the consequent telegraphic delays, details of the wrecks are meagre. Our Jack was a small cargo boat in charge of Captain Forbes, and carried a crew of fourteen. Three members of the crew of the Fitzroy, Ramsay, Jensen, and Hansen, were washed ashore and rescued. Tho bodies of two other men, Daley and Carlson, were also washed ashore. It is believed that three lifeboats were launched from the Fitzroy; ono containing eight persons was recovered abandoned. It is supposed that three of the survivors and two of tho dead, washed ashore came from this boat. The fate of the other two boats is unknown. Capatin Colvin remained on the bridge of the Fitzroy till the last moment. There are hopes that tho other two boats escaped, but, owing to the heavy weather, have been unable to land. Search steamers have been sent out. Later. A message from Morstor states that a fourth member of the crew of the Fitzroy has I'Ain saved. Three bodies have been washed ashore. Thera is no further news of the Fitzroy’s boats. In the/ absence of authentic details the theory is advanced that the steamers collided in the vicinity of Cape Hawke and drifted apart. The Brundah brought the Our Jack’s survivors to Sydney. When the Brundah approached the sinking vessel the crew were alongside in a lifeboat which a big wave capsized before the steamer could reach it. The rescuers managed to drag nine of the crew aboard. Five, including the captain, were drowned. Four of the survivors were injured, and wore taken to hospital. The fourth survivor of tho Fitzroy was the boatswain, Johansen, who swam ashoro. There is no news of tho missing boats. The latest reports are that the sea continues rough, and searching is difficult. Large quantities of wreckage are coining ashore. —Frees Assn. STORY OF SURVIVORS LEAKING VESSEL IN HEAVY SEAS. (Rec. June 27, 7.55 p.m.) Sydney, June 27. The story told by Our Jack’s survivors dispels tho theory of a collision with the Fitzroy. Our Jack was bound from Camdon Haven to Sydney, timber laden. She struck a gale and heavy soas during the night, and commenced to leak, and in tho early morning the engineer reported that tho water had beaten him. As tho vessel was sinking it was decided to abandon her. With great difficulty, owing to the dangerous sea, a lifeboat was got afloat. For an hour before the Brundah arrived the 'boat was knocked about helpless, and several times overturned. Tho members of the crew were badly exhausted, and some dropped or were washed off. The Brundah, by splendid seamanship, was got .alongside. It was a difficult task transferring the spent survivors to the Brundah in the raging sea, and four received injuries in the transition. Our Jack was still afloat when the Brundah left tho scene. The names of Our Jack s_ company who wore drowned are:—Captain Forbes, Seamen Wirkman, Neilsen, Erikson, Cook and C. Hillstcji. It is believed that tho litzroys passengers numbered thirteen and the crew thirteen. There is yet no connected story of the wreck. The survivors had a terrible time, knocking about for hours in the rough sea, and-were greatly exhausted. They state that they noticed one ofc the other boats bottom upwards. It is surmised that tho occupants, numbering about ten, perished. The boatswain Johansen, who was wearing a lifebelt, was washed ashore and lay for seveial hours exhausted before he was able to walk to the township to report the wreck. ■--Press Assn.