THE KATE TATHAM.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8964, 5 November 1907, Page 2

THE KATE TATHAM.

PtasuAssoNation— Copyright. Sydney, Koyeift^r-t. The barquoutino Kate Tathaiw, lying in Newcastle harbour, empty, preparatory to loading coal for Ne Zealand, oaugbt a sudden equal!. v.'Uicli caused tho vessel to heal ridit over. One' of the cabins, P.o?ug unto the port bilge, acted as a Toller, and assisted to turn her over, ij-.j,, hatches became displaced, the water rusiied in, tjius causing tiie vessel to Bottle down to fU« of the harbour The captain and crew, who wei'6 having morning coilco, managed, «.j*h quo escehtiou, to olajuber on to V ‘tho rails on the starboard sjuo, which wero above water, and wore resenod by a boat. The exception was a youth named Beffs, who bad a sensational experience. Coming from below, svneu 'ho capsize occurred, tho suction drew him Into the hold, where a stratum of air existed between the water in tho hold and tho vessel side. Ho managed, with a piece ot floating timber, to keep tapping tho side of the vessel, and thus.attracted the attention of the carpenter, Tho carpenter then cut a hole in the barqnetiuo’s decking and rescued Kefls after two hours’ confinement.

Received 5, 9.44 a.m. Sydney, November 5.

Within ten minutes of the capsize boats arrived on tl*e scene from 10 German ship Hans lying ? iW Juiudrod yards away at North toa Tuq watchman on the Hans noticed tho disaster and gave the alarm with commendable _ alacrity. The crow turned out in night garments, lowered tho boats and pulled to the partially submerged barqimutiuo. Tho officers and crew ot the Kate Tatham were passed into the boat and a thorough search was then made for the missing sailor. J-he crow were taken to the ship Hans whore they were fitted out with clothes and subsequently conveyed to the Sailors’ Homo. When Bcff’s horrifying position was discovered there was no tittjß tc lose as tlio tide was' almost at its full height aud only about a foot of the above water, leaving but little air for the distressed sailor. Axesgweut to work with a will and in a, low minutes an oblong opening was cut in the deck -just below the bulwarks. Beffs was some distance from thp -vpertnro, but on being'called just managed with his wasted strength to creep along to the opening. Strong arms then pulled him through the holo and the crowd of onlookers gave encouraging cheers. The sailor with his face blanched from his two hours’ imprisonment in tho noisome air collapsed upon reaching tho open air, hut made a good recovery.