WRECK OF THE CLAN RANALD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10062, 2 February 1909, Page 1

WRECK OF THE CLAN RANALD.

FORT'S LIVES LOST

\By Electric Tembravh.— Copyright.]

(Per Press Association-.) Received Fehruarv 1, at 3.22 p.m. Adelaide, February 1

The steamer Clan Ranald foundered in St. Vincent Gulf last night. Forty-six were drowiud and 18 saved.

(The Clan Ranald was a screw steamer of 3596 tons gross. The vessel was bin It in 1900 bv \Y. Doxford and Sou, Limited. Sunderland, and was classed Al at Lloyds. She was owned by Messrs Cayger, Irvmr and Co.. ami was registered al Glasgow, j Received February 1, at 11.7 p.m. Sydney, February 1. Cwiii" to interrupted* lines in South Australia very few details of the disaster have filtered' through. The lirsi news readied Adelaide early this morning that a large steamer, with her lla,g at hall-mast, was drifting toward Trowbridge 11 ill m front of a gale. A steamer went out from Edithburg-.'but found the distressed vessc. too close "inshore to give relief. 'I he next news that came was that one man hail been washed ashore, but was too dazed to give anv intelligence. The Clan Ranald leit Port A'delaide "on Sunday with a wheat cargo valued at £20,000. The spot where she went down is very rocky, and the landing is difficult. CAUSE OF FATALITY A MYSTERY. Received February 2, at 8 a.m. Adelaide. February 2.

The survivors of the Clan Ranald arrived at Kdithburg this evening. The male states that all went well till 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, when the vessel too.. a sudden list and became unmanageable. All hands came on deck and remain..l in the high part of the ship. They lost two boats, and the other two could not lie launched. The vessel, drifting towards shore, foundered at 10 o'clock at night. All hands were thrown into the water. The second officer was in charge when she listed. , . ~, , The crew consisted of Captain Ua-d----stone, Rose (first mate), Campbell' (second mate). Wilson (third male). Stewart leh let engineer). Fordyce (second engineer), Walls (third engineer), Patterson (fourth engineer), Stewart (chief steward), Shaw (carpenter), and 54 Asiatics. The nanvs of the survivors are Rose, Fordyce. Shaw. Wilson, and 20 Asiatics. Heartrending cries were heard as the men were cast into the sea. The Clan Ranald was bound for Durban as the iirst port of call, and earned a South African mail. A feature of the disaster is the fact that onlv those of the crew who could swim reached the shore. The lirst male ami the second engineer were an hour in the water before they reached the shore. I helatter came across an upturned 'mat and clung to her. One of the Lascars states that six or seven died during the night after landing. A SURVIVOR'S NAR.RATIVF..

Shaw I the carpenter), who is 60 years of a..«. swam ashore with 111* aid of a lifebelt. He states: "The vessel was about live miles from shore when, a wave struck her. From the time she took the lirst sheer till she sank six or seven hours elapsed. The two boats were washed awav with the stays, and two others were smashed in an effort to launch them. It was impossible to get at the other on» on account of the extreme list. There was ample warning of the impending danger and everyone was on deck when the ship took the final plunge. I had been eight vears on the ship, and had. heyer known' her to behave in such a fashion before. I cannot sav whether or not the shifting of the cargo caused the disaster, certainly it was not lvnd weather, and she was a splendid sea boat. On approachin.r the beach the surf carried me 000 vaixls. Three others were carried up on the beach in a similar fashion. Some people were ashore when we got there and had a fire burning to warm us. I he* had plenty of water, bread, butter, ami brandv. a'ml made us as comfortable as possible. I noticed the captain on the rail just before the ship went under.

MAY HAVE STRUCK A BE HE. Received February 2. at 9.2 a.m. Adelaide, February 2.

Several of the colored crew clung tenaciously to a rudely-constructed raft which had' lie en put hurriedly together ' and reached the shore bv this means. Fordvce states that the third engineer proffered him a lifebelt, but be declined it as he was a strong swimmer, lie endeavored to tie the belt round the third cii'Miiecr. but tiic hitter would not accept it/" At that moment the ship sank in the whirlpool and that was the last sent ol the third engineer. . . The vessel is completely out <>t sight, as she went down in 14 fathoms. The Lascars and crew displayed great calmness. Nautical men believe thai the Clan Ranald struck a reef. It is clear that the water put the fires out alter the vessel heeled over. The beach at the spot presented a gh-istlv spectacle, dead bodies lying about in all' direction?. Improvised stretchers were used and the bodies were carried up the face of the cliff, some 200 ieet. All Hie dead found so far had on lifebelts. The bodies bore marks of being flattered on the rocks. One Ihxlv was found at the top of the din'. The' man had climbed the ascent but had died from exhaustion at the top. Thirty bodies have already been recovered. 'The pilot who took the vessel out ol port savs she had a slight list to starboard, hut nothing out of the ordinary or that could not'have been righted by the consumption of coal.