SANK WITHIN THREE MINUTES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 14, 1 February 1937, Page 7

SANK WITHIN THREE MINUTES

— Preas Assii.-

Terrific Crash Warned Crew of Kakariki WANGANUI MAN'S STORY

(By Telegraph.

-Copyrisht.)

(Kecexved 1, y.45 a.m.j MELBOURNE, Jan. 31. Able Seaman J. Evans, one of those rescued aftei; the Kakariki sank followxng a collison with the Caradale, in au interviexv, said he heax'd the warning blasts of the whistle indicating that something was amiss. He and two others rushed on deck and saw the Caradale only a few yards away. Then came a terrific crash. His comrades who had not heeded the warning whistle were trapped in the crushed forecastle. The Kakaiuki's aecond engineer, James Wilson, of Wanganui, scrambled through the inrush of water and shut off the steam throttle thus preventing a pos'sible explosion He and several others were wliirled round jn the water and all 'finally leapt overboard. Wilson and three others were taken to hospitai mainly for observatioxi. A diver to-day xecovered the body of a man aged about 34 who has not yet been identified. There was no sign of the others. The body of Lindeman was washed up at Williamstown this afternoon. Lynch and Goscombe were trapped in the forecastle and were heard by their mates calling, "For God's sake open the'door." The forecastle was crushed like an egg-shell and the steel door was bent in such a fashion that it was impossible to move it. Messrs Linderman, Rodgers and Martin were seen on the deck a few seconds after the icapaet, but have not been found and it is presumed they went down with the ship. Other reports suggest that Mr Eodgers was killed when the bows ef the Caradale crashed through the decking of the Kakariki. The Kakariki sunk within three minutes of the collision. Some of the men on the Kakariki were thrown into the- hold, and despite being up to their waists in water they were able to regain the deck. Three of the crew thrown into the water grabbed floating pieces of timber which they held on to until picked up by boats from the Caradale. Some of the Kakariki crew wero in pyjamas and others half-shaven. A diver made an inspeetion of the Caradale in the morning and found that the vessel was much more seriously damaged than at first. believed. The vessel was going down at the head and the cargo had to be hurriedly moved sternwarda, to bring the bows above the vvaterlixio.