STEAMER TURNS TURTLE

Wairarapa Age, 10 February 1927, Page 5

STEAMER TURNS TURTLE

OFF NEW SOUTH WALES COAST NINE OF CREW MISSING. A MYSTERIOUS DISASTER. (Received Wednesday, 8.20 p.m..) SYDNEY, February 9. The steamer Galava, of 413 tons gross, foundered off Terrigal, about mid-way between Sydney and Newcastle, early this morning. Nine of tho crew aro missing. Three survivors, including the master, managed to reach the shore shortly before noon, having spent nine hours in the water. Captain Pearson, master of the ill-fated vessel, said the Galava had loaded a full cargo of coal at Canthorine Hill Bay for Sydney. He was asleep in his cabin when the mate rushed in and awakened him with the news that the ship had suddenly developed a heavy list and was in danger of turning over. Captain Pearson rushed on dock and sounded the .siren to awake members of the crew sleeping below, and threw down lifebelts to them as they emerged from the forecastle. It was then pitch dark. Only a minute or two elapsed till the Galava turned turtle and disappeared. Hu thought all aboard had lifebolts. Some also had planks and pieces cf the hatches. It was useless striking out in the dark, so he waited till daylight, when he found that the crew had been separated. He could see no one, so set out for the beach three miles distant. Shortly after he landed, he met two others of the crew. Captain Pearson could give no explanation as tc the cause of tho disaster. The sea was only moderate.

The tug St. Olaves was immediately despatched from Sydney to the scene of the disaster to search for survivors. The police from Terrigal also conducted a search in a launch. The collier Duekenfield on arrival at Sydney from Newcastle, reported sighting two bodies, one of which had a lifebelt around it.—(P.A.) TWO OF THE MISSING RESCUED. (Received Wednesday, 11.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 9. The tug St. Olaves picked up two of the Galava’s engineers in the breakers near the rocks at Terrigal. One of tho engineers was holding to a grating and the other was clinging desperately to a lifebuoy. The latter was in an exhausted condition. A fireman from the tug pluckily dived to his assistance. The bodies of Charles Lancaster, mate, and Louis Wilson, seaman, were brought ashore at Terrigab The five still missing are: James Christie (cook), Peter Stagnola (fireman), A. Brown, .L Hansen and Benjamin Gilt (seamen). —(P.A.) ANOTHER BODY FOUND. (Received This Dav, 1.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 9. The body of Christie was found at Terrigal to-night. The Duekenfield was unable to lowei a boat when her people saw the bodies reported earlier, as the sea was too choppy. She waited till dawn, but saw nothing as the ship had drifted too far.—(P.A.)