The St, Paul Wreck.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 83, 28 March 1914, Page 5

The St, Paul Wreck.

STRUCK ROCK AND SANK.

TWENTY LIVES LOST.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright j [United Press Association.! Brisbane, March 27.

Further details of the wreck state that the St. Paul, hound from Noumea to Brisbane, struck a rock off Cape Moreton and foundered. Eleven were saved. t

The look-out man at Cape Moreton noticed the St. Paul altering her course, and signalled, “Do you’want a pilot?” H'e understood the reply to be in the affirmative, and despatched a pilot steamer, hut the vessel struck before assistance arrived, and filled rapidly. The master of the pilot ship states that when he was two miles off, the lights of the St. Paul disappeared. He increased his speed and soon heard cries of distress from the water. He lowered two boats and rescued eighteen, most of whom were clinging to oars and other floating wreckage. , Only two Europeans, both Frenchmen, were among the survivors, the others being South Sea Islanders.

Twenty were drowned. Their names are: Coree, the captain; Charhomeau, second officer; Hejerne and Royer, first and third engineers; Mrs Carter and child, passengers; Broise, ship’s storekeeper; and thirteen natives.

A SUDDEN CALL.

CAPTAIN’S HEROIC EFFORTS.

THE CHIEF OFFICER’S EXPERIENCES.

(Received 9.45 a.m.) Sydney, March 28. : After signalling Cape Moreton f the pilot, the captain of the St. Paul slowed down.

While awaiting the pilot, the steamer struck a rock, ripping off the centre starboard plates. The vessel filled rapidly and sank within four minutes.

The captain made desperate: efforts to save r Mrs Garter and her neice and succeeded in reaching the child and placing, it in’ a boat. ’ He' then went below to help the math, and was never kpi m hw r ; : Pi .0 ' seen again.

The * vessel. ‘an'd sank. The men died an heroic death. It is believed Mrs Carter and the others were below and had, no time to escape from their cabins. , The chief officer states that there was, no time to longer a, boat 5 although an ’eijfoijt \vaS' mad.e., He was just about to return to the captain on the bridge when he found himself in water. He was twice sucked under in the vortex, and coming to the surface grabbed a hatch -and was eventually rescued by the pilot boat.

The. scene of the wreck was infested with sharks.