STRUCK BY A SQUALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8872, 5 November 1907, Page 5

STRUCK BY A SQUALL.

A VESSEL SUNK AT WHARF. SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF A YOUTH. Received November 4, 9.59 p.m. SYDNEY, November 4. The barquentine Kate Tatham, which was lying in the Newcastle harbour, empty, preparatory to loading coal for New Zealand, was caught in a sudden squall, which caused her to heel right over. One of the cables under the port bilge acted as a roller, assisting her to turn over. The hatch became displaced and the water rushed in. The vessel settled down to the bottom of the harbour. The captain and crew, who were having their morning coffee, managed, with one exception, to clamber over the rails on the starboard side, which was above water, and were rescued by a boat. The exception was a youth named Reffs, who had a sensational experience. He was coining from below-when the capsize occurred, and the suction drew him into the hold. A stratum of air existed between the watsr in the hold and the vessel's side, and he managed with a piece of floating timber to keep up. Tapping the side of the vessel he attracted the attention of his companions. Carpenters cut a hole in the barquentine's decking and rescued Reffs after he had been imprisoned for two hours. Received November 5, 12.37 a.m. SYDNEY, November 4. A representative of the Underwriters' Association left to-night to supervise the raising of the Kate Tatham at Newcastle.