STEAMER SINKS NEAR SYDNEY.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1927, Page 1

STEAMER SINKS NEAR SYDNEY.

[Australian & X.Z. Cable Association

SYDNEY 7 , Feb. 9. The steamer Galava, of 413 tons gross, foundered off Terrigal, about midway between Sydney and Newcastle, early this morning. Nine of the crew are missing. Three survivors, including the master, managed to reach the shore shortly before noon, having spent nine hours in the water. Captain Pearson, master of the dilated vessel, said the Galava had loaded a full cargo of coal at Catherine Hill Bav,‘ for Sydney, lie was asleep in his cabin when the mate rushed in and awakened him with I he nows that the ship had suddenly developed a. heavy list, and was in danger of turning over. Captain Pearson rushed on deck, sounded the siren to awake the members of the crew sleeping below, and then he throw down lifel>elts to them as they emerged from the forecastle. Tt was then pitch dark. Only a minute or two elapsed till the Galava turned turte, and disappeared. He thought that all aboard had lifebelts. Some also had planks and pieces of hatches. It was useless striking out in the dark, the captain said, so he waited till daylight, when he found the crew had been .separated. He could see no one, so lie set out for the beach, three miles distant. Shortly after he landed he met two others of tho crew.

Captain Pearson could give no explanation as to the cause of the disaster. The sea was only moderate. The tug St. Olaves, was immediately despatched from Sydney for the scene, to search for any survivors. The police from Terrigal are also conducting a search in a launch. The collier Ruekenfield, on arrival at Sydney, from Newcastle, reported sighting two bodies, one of which had a lifebelt around it.

TWO MORE SAVED. SYDNEY, Feb. 9

The tug St, Olaves picked up two of the Galava’s engineers in the breakers near the rocks at Terrigal. One of the engineers was holding to a grating and the other was clinging desperately to a lifebuoy. Realising the latter was in an exhausted condition, a. fireman from the fug pluckily dived to his assistance.

The bodies of Charles Lancaster (mate), and Louis Wilson (seaman) were brought ashore at Terrigal. 1 Five are still missing. They arc:— .Tames Christie (cook), Peter Stagnola (fireman), A. Brown, J. Hansen and Benjamin Gilt (all seamen).

BODY FOUND. SYDNEY, Feb. 10. Terrigal to-night. Duckenfiold was The body of Christie was found at unable to lower the boat when he saw the bodies. He reported earlier that as the sea was too choppy he waited till dawn, but saw nothing as the ship had drifted too far.