Shocking Fatality at Sea.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 208, 4 March 1895, Page 2

Shocking Fatality at Sea.

HEROISM OF AN OFFICER. • FKB PBKS* ASSOCIATION London. March 1. The steamer Norham Castle, on a voyage from Durban, sighted two boats full of castaways. Mr Whitehead, one • of the officers of the steamer, swam i through a heavy sea with a line around ! his waist, and a mate from the boats did the same, meeting him half way. The number of men thus rescued was 18. Sydney, This Day. Details to hand regarding the rescue by the Norham Castle show that the wrecked vessel was the ship Fascudale, from Java to Lisbon, with a cargo of sugar. The captain was left at Java sick, and the ship was commanded by the chief officer. She went ashore under full sail near Durban on a pitch dark night. A tremendous sea was running and all the boats were smashed. The crew were changing to to the masts for nine hours before they were sighted by the Norham Castle. Whitehead had a fearful struggle through the boisterous sea before he succeeded in reaching the wreck. An apprentice showed great pluck in carrying the second line. Whitehead ventured his life a second time to rescue the third officer, who was was' el overt© ird, and reached him just as he was sinking. Nine men were drowned. The ship broke up completely, and everything was, lost. Whitehead was presented with an address by the Mayor of Durban.