AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9059, 7 April 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph copyright.

A STEAMER CAPSIZES. I Received April 6, 5.13 p.m. I SYDNEY, April 6. The Illawarra Company's steamer Bega capsized during the night off , Tathra. It is believed that all hands have landed safely on the coast, but one passenger is reported to have died. LATER PARTICULARS. Received April 6, 9.36 p.m. SYDNEY, April 6. The Bega left Tathra at seven o'clock last night, en route for Sydney, with a large cargo, including a large number of live stock. Two hours after her departure, when four miles off land, she began to fill. It is believed that this was caused, owing to the cargo shifting. Gradually canting by the head sht; capsized. The passengers and crew, numbering altogether between seventy and eighty, succeeded in launching the boats and a raft. During the excitement a passenger named David Clarke collapsed and expired. Two boats landed during the night at Cuttagee. Later the raft was washed ashore at Wallagoot, after drifting for seven hours. At the time of the disaster the weather was fine, but a misty rain was falling, and there was a light wind. Relief was sent to thy shipwrecked, who were saved only in the clothes in which they stood. A relief steamer h&B been deI spatched from Bermagiln to pick them up, The Bega is ill charge of Captain Bishop, one of the Company's moat trusted officers. The steamer was loaded and manned by non-Unionists. On receipt of the news, the joint executive of the strike committee passed a resolution of sympathy at the Company's loss. ! '