WRECK IN BASS STRAITS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 491, 14 August 1912, Page 5

WRECK IN BASS STRAITS.

CREW'S NARROW ESCAPE

THE CAPTAIN DROWNED

8y Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright Melbourne, Tuesday.

A fishing smack arrived from Hummock Island, Bass Straits, with 21 members of the crew of the ship G. W. Wolff, Buenos Ayres to Newcastle, in ballast.

They reported that the ship had been driven ashore in a heavy gale on Wednesday morning. Captain Thomas was drowned.

At the time of sighting land a strong wind was blowing and a heavy adverse tide was running. The gale became worse and the ship was unable to weather the land and drove ashore stem on.

Big breakers soon began to play havoc, pounding her heavily. The mainmast snapped and fell overboard, and shortly after the foremoast followed, then the mizsenmaat went. The crew donned lifebelts, as the ship was showing signs of general breaking up. The second mate, Pultkze, and three men, were many times driven back, but, badly bruised, they managed to cross the seventy yards of broken water to the shore and secured a line by which the 21 members of the crew crossed to laud safely.

The first mate, Jenkins, had a narrow escape. He was swept off the line, but a seaman dived in and rescued him. It was then discovered that the captain was missing. He was last seen going beluw it is supposed to sscure the ship's papers. Meantime the main deck opened and the vessel was parting in two. There was no sign of the captain, though the coast was searched. The survivors saved only the clothes they were wearing. They made their way across the island, where the fishing smack was anchored, and were taken aboard and well treated.

Before they left the islands the wreck had completely disappeared. Mrs Thomas' father, two brothers, and now her husband, have been drowned at sea.