THE GOTHENBURG WRECK.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 253, 3 April 1875, Page 3

THE GOTHENBURG WRECK.

THE DIVER’S NARRATIVE. (South Australian Register, Marah 16.) The following is the report of Mr James Putwain, the diver, who has been working at the wreck of the steamship Gothenburg;— “ I left Bowen on Sunday morning, the 7th inst, at six o’clock, in the Florence Irving, with a boat, diving apparatus, and a crew, for the purpose of trying to recover gold and other valuables supposed to be lost in the Gothenburg. We were cast adrift from the Florence Irving near the scene of the wreck at noon the same day, and the steamer proceeded on her yoyage. “The wreck was found lying with head N.E. and S.W., with a strong list to port, the stern in about ten fathoms of water, and the bows in about five fathoms, with her foremast and yards lying awash. “ I found much difficulty in getting down in consequence of the strong current and heavy wash on the reef, and finding it was impracticable to go down from the boat, I rigged a temporary stage from the maintop, which was a few feet out of the water. Here 1 fitted up my diving apparatus, and there made my descent from the rigging to the captain’s cabin, but my air tube becoming entangled with the ship’s funnel I had great difficulty in clearing it, and at one time thought the consequences would have been very serious, owing to the attendant being unused to handling the apparatus. After some delay I succeeded in clearing the tube, and was compelled to come to the surface to give fresh instructions, I then descended the second time, and took a short survey of the ship. I found her broken abaft the fore chains, and the funnel partially down; but the deck is not started abaft of where she is broken. The captain’s cabin was broken away except the roof and combings. After a diligent search I got the box supposed to contain the gold on the lee side of the combings of the captain’s cabin, and at once slung it, and placed it in a convenient position for hoisting to the surface. I then endeavored to descend the cabin stairs, but only could go down a few steps in consequence of not having sufficient length of tube; but here a melancholy sight presented itself, for at the port side of the vessel, and at the foot of the saloon stairs, I saw two females, with one apparently having her arm around the other. I was anxious to get there to obtain, if possible, a portion of their hair, which was flowing loosely around them, or some other relic that might be identified by their friends, and save them as a memento of their fearful and sudden loss, but unfortunately I was unsuccessful, for reasons previously mentioned. Finding that at this time I could not do further good at the wreck, and after making the gold secure in the boat, I proceeded to Bowen, and reported all the circumstances to the proper authorities, and deposited the gold in the Joint Stock Bank. I left Bowen next morning for the wreck, but found I could do nothing, the weather being too boisterous, but while waiting alongside we caught two sharks 12ft long.” Writing about the Gothenburg disaster, the South Australian Register observes : “ The predominant feeling produced by the several narratives cf survivors is bewilderment at the apparent inability of the captain to appreciate the terribly perilous character of the situation in which be found himself. How the fact of the steamer’s sudden transition from rough to smooth water can have been allowed to pass unnoticed, as seems to have been the case, is a perfect mystery. Almost equally inexplicable is the amount of

misconception which evidently existed in the captain’s mind as to the extent of the injuries caused by the collision. It may seem hard upon the captain, who has paid a fearful penalty for any mistake he has committed, to refer thus pointedly to these matters, but it is absolutely necessary to do so by way of warning to other masters who may have to do with navigation among the treacherous shoals and coral reefs of the eastern coast, and who may through familiarity with danger come look upon the possibility of shipwreck as too remote to occasion much apprehension. Upon the subject of the boats we are at once reduced to a state of perplexity, Some days ago we arrived at the conclusion that there five of these, but we have now the positive assurance that there were but four—a revelation which renders irresistible the conviction that there was not boat accommodation enough during the prevalence of rough weather for anything like the number of those who were stowed away on board. Along with this piece of information comes the news that there were 125 souls on the steamer, and not 123, as has been for some time supposed. Thus no less than 103 have perished, including all the saloon passengers except one, all the steerage passensengers except nine, and all the ship’s company—numbering 37 men—except 12.”