SHIPS LOST.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1921, Page 5

SHIPS LOST.

TWO VESSELS FOUNDER. GALE ON AUSTRALIAN COAST. SEVERAL DROWNED. SIRVTVORS’ TERRIBLE ORDEAL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, June 27. Two cqastal steamers, the Fitzroy and Our Jack, have been lost and heavy .oss of life is feared. The Fitzroy foundered off Cape Hawk with a crew and passengers of 30 on Board. Three bodies have been washed ishore. Our Jack foundered at Port Stephens. Nine men were rescued by the Brundah. Boisterous seas prevailed on the north coast on Saturday and Sun. lay and the south-east wind reached the rorce of a gale. Owing to the stormy conditions on rhe north coast and consequent telegraphic delays details pi the wreck are neagre. Our Jack was a small cargo boat in charge of Captain Forbes and a crew of thirteen, so that four remain uhaccounted for. Three members of the crew of the Fitzroy (Ramsay, Jensen and Hansen) were washed ashore and rescued. The bodies of two other men (Daley and Carlton) were also washed ashore. It is believed three lifeboats were launched from the Fitzroy. One, containing eight persons, was recovered abandoned. It is supposed the three uirvivors and the two dead bodies washed ashore came from this boat. The fate of the other two is unknown. Captain Colvin remained on the bridge of the Fitzroy till the last momeat. It is hoped the other two boats escaped, and that owing to the heavy weather they were unable to land. Search steamers are out. A wire from Forster states that a fourth member of the crew of the Fitzroy has been saved and three bodies Washed ashore. There is no further news regarding the Fitzroy’s boats. In the absence of authentic details the theory is advanced that the steamers collided in the vicinity of Cape Hawke and drifted apart. One message states that the Bnindah took off Our Jack’s crew of nine. Another says the crew consisted of thirteen, who took to the boats before the steamer foundered. It is supposed that the Brundah secured one boat. The other, containing four, is still missing. Latest reports say that the se(i continues rough and searching is difficult. Large quantities of wreckage are coming ashore. The Brundah brought Our Jack’s survivors to Sydney. When the Brundah approached the sinking vessel the crew were alongside in a lifeboat, which a big wave capsized before sha could reach them. They managed to drag out nine of the crew, which it is now stated numbered fourteen. Five, including the captain, were drowned. Four of the survivors, who were injured, were taken to the hospital. The fourth survivor of the Fitzroy was the bdatswain, who swam ashore. There is no news of the missing boats.

FURTHER DETAILS.

COLLISION THEORY DISPELLED. MANY STILL MISSING. Received June 27, 7.55 pm. Sydney, June 27. The story told by the Our Jack’s survivors dispels the theory of a collision with the Fitzroy. The Our Jack was en route from Camden Haven to Sydney, timber laden. She struck a gale and heavy seas during the night and commenced to leak, and early in morning the engineer reported that the water had beaten him. As the vessel was sinking it was decided to abandon her, and thus ■was done with great difficulty, owing to the dangerous sea. They got a lifeboat afloat for an hour before the Brundah arrived. Th? boat was knocked about helpless, and was several times overturned. The crew were badly exhausted, and some dropped of were washed off. The Brundah. by splendid seamanship, was got alongside. It was a difficult

task transferring the spent survivors to the Brundah in a raging sea, four a receiving injuries in the transition. The Our Jack was still afloat when the Brundah left the scene. The names of X’ne Our Jack's drowned are: Captain Torbes, Seamen Wirkman, Neilsen and Erikson. Cook C. Hillston. It ifi believed the Fitzroy’s passengers numbered thirteen, and the crew thirteen. No connected story of the wreck is available yet. The survivors had a terrible time knocking about for hours in the rough sea, and were in a greatly exhausted state. They noticed one of the other boat? bottom upwards, and it is surmised the occupants, numbering about ten, perished. Boatswain Johansen, wearing a lifebelt, was washed ashore, and lay for several hours exhausted before he was able to walk to the township and report the wreck.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.