The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-09
a DISASTER IN A GALE
Officers Displayed Heroism
and Perished With Sew
eraI Passengers.
DRIVEN TO HER DESTRUCTION.
Great Waves Swept the Lifeboats
Back on the Vessel After They
Were Launched.

LONDON, Enc, Aug. S.-A dispatch to
Lloyds from Sydney, n. S. W., announces
the loss of the British steamer Catterthun.
The Catterthun was a passenger steamer
and was bound from Sydney to Hongkong.
She ran on Seal Rocks, between Sydney
and Brisbane and became a total wreck.
The dispatch states that some of the pas
sengers and crew were saved, but some are
missing and it is feared are lost.
A Central News dispatch from Mel
bourne says that the vessel sank at 2
o'clock this morning. Soon after the
steamer struck it was found that she was
sinking and that there was no possible
chance for her. Orders were given to
abandon the ship. The boats were quickly
lowered, and every one safely reached
them and started for the mainland.
Only one of the boats had been heard of
up to this time, and the greatest anxiety
is felt as to the fate of others. The boat
with the survivors reached Forster this
morning and reported the loss of the
steamer. There were many Australians
and English among the passengers.
Cable dispatches from Melbourne state
that the Catterthun struck at 2:45 o'clock
in the morning and sank twenty minutes
later. The names of those who are sup
posed to have been lost are: Mel Shan
non, the captain; Mr.. Pinney, the first
officer; Third officer Leff1er, Chief En-
gineer Harper, Second Engineer Adams,
Third Engineer Wilson, Fourth Engineer
Westenholme Chief Steward Manning and
Surgeon Anderson Phipps, thirty Chinese
and eighteen Lascars.
The passengers who are supposed to be
lost are: Mesdames Matthias, Loring and
Smith, Miss Loring, Robert Frazer and
fifteen Chinese steerage passengers.
At the time the vessel struck a heavy
southwest gale was prevailing. When the
vessel hit there was severe shock that
could be felt in every portion of her. The
passengers were greatly alarmed and there
was much confusion. The captain reas-
sured them, stating that there was no dan
ger. He thought the steamer had only
been struck by heavy sea. The ship con-
tinued on her way, but before many mo-
ments had elapsed it was found that she
had a hole in her bottom and was making
water rapidly. She began to settle down
and took list to starboard
The fires under her boilers were soon ex-
tinguished and the vessel was then help
less. She broached to and the sea swept
over her fore and aft. Every effort was
made to lower the boats, but they were
baffied by the seas which swept them on
board after they had been swung out on
the davits. The port lifeboat was lost en-
tirely, it being washed from the davits.
Notwithstanding the dangerous position of
the steamer, which it was seen was doomed,
excellent discipline was maintained. Dur
ing an attempt to lower the starboard cutter
an immense sea broke aboard the steamer
and carried away the cutter. 1t also swept
from the bridge the captain and chief and
second officers and Captain Fawkes. The
last-named, having been unable to reach
his cabin to obtain a lifebelt, had bor-
rowed the captains knife and was in the
act of cutting the lashings OF small table
on the bridge when he was swept off into
the sea.
A few minutes later, after a very great
effort, the starpoard Hfeboat was lowered
and it picked up Captain Fawkes, who was
clinging to some of the floating wreckage
Only three other Europeans were rescued
These were Second Mate Tanfear, DIR. Cope
man and passenger name Crane, belong
ing to Melbourne.
Later dispatches say that the Seal Rocks
are ITO miles north of Sydney. The Cat
terthun, in addition to having general
cargo, had on board 1900 sovereigns.
Mrs. Matthias, wife of the captain of the
steamer Gala, trading between London
and Japanese ports. had been at Sydney
visiting friends. When the Catterthun
cast off her lines at the wharf yesterday
Mrs. Matthias niece was on the wharf cry
ing bitterly. She said to her aunt, "Oh,
auntie, you'll be drowned. 1 will never
see you again.
A dispatch from Melbourne received
this evening says that divers have left for
the scene of the wreck for the purpose of
attempting to recover the II, 900 sovereigns
in specie on board the steamer. The dis
patch further says it is now known that the
total number of lives lost in the disaster Is
forty-four, many of the Chinese passen-
gers and crew being saved. OF the Euro
peans on board only the four previously
mentioned survived.