DANGERS OF THE DEEP.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10040, 10 May 1910, Page 5

DANGERS OF THE DEEP.

BARQUE LOCH KATRINE. FALLS IN Willi'A VIOLENT HURRICANE. By Telegraph—Pm< Association. MELBOURNE, May 9. Eight of the boat's crew of the barque Loch Katrinp (recently re-, ported as having been sighted dismasted by the steamer Tasmania) have arrived by the steamer Tasmanic. The Loch Katrine fell in with a violent hurricane a"; the eastern entrance to Bass Straits four days after leaving Melbourne. The boat in which the men left the vessel was the only one not smashed by falling masts. Mr Smith, chier. officer, and Mr Marshall, second officer, and five seamen formed the erew of the boat. When they left the Katrine, she was drifting approximately about ten miles j< r day in a circle near latitude 39 devices south, longitude 152 degrees east. The Katrine left port, on 23rd April, and when the gale came on in a periect frenzy the ship strained: heavily, and the captain made for the open seas.- Off Cape Howe a squall of tremendous force struck the ship. She heeled over and the main topmast carried away, leaving only the main lowermast and main-yard standing.

It was a wicked night, and the crew worked desperately to clear the wreckage. Then the lower mainmast snapped off three feet from the deck. The rolling of ths vessel was ter-~ rific, and the mainmast, rolling over the side to starboard, threatened to bump through the side of the ship. In its fall it'carried away the lee fore braces which sustained the yards of the foremast, aud the yards, swinging round likD teetotums, became unmanageable.

Before the crew could get rid of the fallen mainmast the fore-top-mast came down. Next morning the mizzen-top crashed down after the wreckage, and the vessel was left with only the mizzen-lower mast standing 1 , the foremast having tumbled on the deck, smashing the deck-house. The pumps were smashed, and foar boats were destroyed. The weather began to moderate on 28th April, and efforts were made to sail the ship. Canvas was rigged on the mizzen-lowermast, and a gaff was rigged in place of the foremast, but they could not get steerage way.

On the second day of dismastment they sighted a ship, but failed to attract its notice. The captain and chief officer decided that tne only thing possible was to send off the remaining boat.

Volunteers were called for, and ali hands volunteered; The boat lefl with ten days" provisions to make land, 150 miles away. > On May 6 they sighted Gabo Island, and they were afterwards seen by the Tasmania and picked "op.