THE WRECKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1921, Page 5

THE WRECKS.

DISASTER OFF AUSTRALIA. SEVERAL STILL MISSING. SURVIVORS’ MARVELLOUS ESCAPE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—-Copyright. Sydney, June 28. The latest news from the wrecks is that the timber cargo of the Fitzroy shifted and could not be righted, and in consequence water entered the engineroom, preventing the supply of steam to the donkey engine. The vessel capsized without warning, precipitating all aboard, to the number of thirty, into the water with the exception of the four survivors. The bodies of two seamen have been recovered. The remainder are missing. Our Jack sprang a leak and compelled the crew to abandon her. The survivors of both vessels narrate graphic stories of thrilling escapes. Carl Jansen explained that, early on Sunday morning, the timber shifted in a heavy sea and washed the cattle on deck to the port side. All hands were called out, but owing to the sea invading the engine-room and stokehold they were unteble to work the steam winches. The Fitzroy took a havy list to port and turned over and sank. He climbed into a water-logged boat which had , broken adrift from the ship, and drifted about all day, trying to reach the shore. He arrived in the surf at 4.20, but the suffeting was too severe for the boat, which capsized, necessitating his swimming to shore. Two boys in' the boat were alive, but unable to stand the surf and died on reaching shore. A THRILLING STORY. Olaf Johansen relates his remarkable escape. He w’ent down four fathoms. On rising he saw a ladder and oar and proceeded to have a rest, but two pigs tackled him, endeavoring to push him off. Eventually he left the ladder to the pigs. He next encountered an upturned boat with the second officer and chief engineer clinging to it. Having unsuccessfully attempted to right the boat he continued to swim ashore. A cow, swimming wildly, approached and endeavored to hang on to him, but he beat it off and swam on and reached the shore. Darkness then set in and he rested on the sand and then walked to the home of R. Walker, agu-nt for Allen Taylor and Company. He had been in the water over thirteen hours. Mr. Walker declares that Johansen’s nerves .were amazing. He strolled into the house, despite his terrible experience, as if a shipwreck was an everyday occurrence. FURTHER RESCUE UNLIKELY. It is possible to hope that a passing vessel may have picked up the Fitzroy’s missing boat, but it is considered not very likely, in view of the heavy sea running at the time of the disaster. The missing include Captain Colvin, the officers, engineers, two lady passengers and the stewardess. The survivors state that everybody displayed the greatest coolness and there was no sign of panic. When the Fitzroy’s deck cargo and timber shifted the cattle became panic-stricken and made the position more desperate ar.d the launching of the boats difficult. .When she capsized human beings and cattle were thrown into the sea together amongst heavy logs, ar.d there is little doubt that numbers were crushed and maimed amongst the timber md maddened animals, and lost their lives in this first fierce fight for life. The search along the coast and sea for possible survivors continues. The warship Marguerite is assisting. Much wreckage and many dead cattle have been washed ashore, but there is no further sign of survivors or bodies. INQUEST ON VICTIMS. HELPLESS PASSENGERS. Received June 28, 10.30 p.m. Sydney, June 28. An inquest, was held at Forster concerning the deaths of Daley and Karlson. One of the Fitzroy’s crew gave evidence that all the passengers were fold what to do, but they seemed unable to grasp what was required of them. Local seafarers/at Tiree consider it is unlikely that any more bodies will be washed up at Tuncurry, as the trend of the current is noth ward just off shore. Wreckage from Our Jack, smashed to matchwood, was strewn along five miles of the coast.