COMPLETE WRECK

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10693, 14 August 1912, Page 5

COMPLETE WRECK

SHIP DRIVEN ASH3RE IN tHSS STRAITS

THE CAPTATN :

;wned

August 13, 11.35 a.m.)

•MELBOURNE, August. 18

A 'fishing smack has arrived- from Hummock Island, Bass Straits, with twenty-one members of tho crew of ■tho ship G. W. Wolff. The vessel was on a voyage from Buesnos Aires to Newcastle in. ballast, vind it is reported she was driven ashore during a heavy gale on Wednesday morning'. Ciptain Thomas wfiS 4rßwiietl. At tho time of sighting mi& there -was a strong wind and heavy adverse -'tide. Tho galo became worse and the .-ship was unable to weather the land ;ahcl drove ashore stem on. .BREAKERS PLAY HAVOC. .rßig'breakers soon began to play ' havoc. The vessel was pounding heathe mainmast snapped and 'fell overboard. Shortly after the r 'foremast went, then the mizzenmast. "The crew donned their lifebelts as 'the ship was showing signs of a gen- - oral"breaking up. The second mate, Pultgke, and three - men many times were driven back " hadly bruised, but they managed to ' cross severity yards of broken water - to the shore and secured a line.

FIRST MATE'S NARROW ESCAPE

Twenty-one members of the' crew then crossed to the land safely. The first mate, Jenkins, had a narrow es- - cape. He was swept oft* the lino, but a- seaman dived and rescued him. LAST SEEN OF THE CAPTAIN. It was then discovered that the captain was missing. He was last seen ■ going below, it is supposed to secure ■ the ship's papers. Meantime, the main deck opened, the vessel parting in two. There was no sign of tho captain, though the coast was searched. The survivors saved only the clothes they were wearing. They made their way across the island, where a smack was anchored. They were taken ■ aboard and well treated. Before they left the island the wreck had completely disappeared. Mrs Thomas's father, two brothers, and now her husband have been ■ drowned at sea. v • The G. W. Wolff was an iron ship •of 1600 tons. She was owned by the G. D. Wolff Co., Ltd., (Simpson 13r05.), and was built in 1878 by Harland and Wolff. Her length was 257.1 • feet, breadth 35.3 feet, and depth ' 23.2 feet.

THE CAPTAIN'S DEATH

received Last Night 10.30 o'clock. )

MELBOURNE, August 13. . Tfc is stated that Captain Thomas was last seen on the poop. His face \v:s covered with blood. It ir- surmised that he was struck hy falling gear and knocked overboard.