SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 5 November 1907, Page 3

SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

VESSEL TURNS TURTLE IN HARBOR. AN EXCITING RESCUE. Rceived Oct. 4, 9.59 p.m. Sydney, November 4. The barquentine Kate Tatham, lying in the Newcastle harbor, empty, preparatory to loading coal for New Zealand, was caught by a sudden squall, which caused her to heel right over. The hatches became displaced, and water rushed into the vessel, which began to settle down on the bottom of the harbor. The captain and crew were having morning coffee at the time, but managed, with one exception, to clamber on to the rails on the starboard s de, which was abjve water, and were rescued by a boat. The exception was :i youtli named Reffs, who had a sensational experience. He w.is coming up from below when the eapsize occurred, and the suction drew him into the hold. A stratum of air existed between the water in the bold and the vessel's side, and he managed, with a piece of floating t'mber, to keep up "tapping" on the side of the vessel. This attracted the attention of his companions, and carpenters cut a hole in the liarquentine's decking, and rescued Reffs, after two hours' imprisonment.

Received Nov. 5, 0.37 a.m. Sydney, November 4. The representative of the Underwritlefrs' Association left to-night to supervise the raising of the Kate Tatham. < [.-