THE LOCH FINLAS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2309, 30 September 1908, Page 3

THE LOCH FINLAS.

THRILLING TALE OF THE SEA

HEROIC CAPTAIN REFUSES TO LEAVE HIS SHIP.

United Press Association. Copyright

HOBART, Sopc. 29. \ survivor of the Loch Fin his wreck tells a thrilling story. ' “The barque,” 'he staes, left Adelaide on the 16th with a cargo of 30,000 bags of wheat. Heavy weather •was experienced,.and the vessel was hove to several times. Early on urday morning the ship was running close to the land. ’Orders were given to keep away. There was a strong wind from the west, and a moderate S “The first intimation that anything was wrong was the heavy bumping. The captain was below, the chief mate being in charge. Orders were given to get the boats out, the carnentei reporting that there was a lot ot water in the hold. The crew got excited and the mate told them not to fumy but to take things quietly. “Two boats were got out, but were smashed in the breakers. Seveiral men were thrown into the sea. One boat, with nine men in it, including the second mate, got clear. “The captain, who looked out of the companion-way after the vessel struck, went below again. The bo’usn asked him to come with the boat. He replied, ‘ho, lam going to stop here’; that was the last we saw °* “The first mate undertook to launch the port lifeboat, but injured himself, and I saw him subsequently in the ringing. He must have gone under with the ship, as also the cook and steward. , , , , , f “'The vessel disappeared about Halr-•an-hour from the time of “Our boat, which had no ours capsized. AVe clung to it and drifted away. We saw one man, Svensen m the ship’s gig, and another man float ing on a plank. These two passed toward Swan Island with the current. AVe drifted along the coast and several times were washed off the upturned boat. One by one the number decreased, and wc succeeded m getting one or two back. The second mate became delirious. Ate clrittecl about throughout the day, hoping against hope. “On reaching land we had „ieat difficulty. The second mute twice got away but I brought him back. Towards nightfall he became dangerous, and slipping out of a lifebuoy, threw up his hands and disappeared. “Some hours later when, only four of the nine were left clinging to the bait, we drifted into the breakcis. AVith great trouble wo managed to land, all being sovcrly bruised. mmevrjs the boat, and could not have J»ist ,d "15 STewl.m !.»» ‘f ft came to be so near the coaeL names of the survivois Search Reeder, Alvagren, and Boac.a. iboaicn is being continued for possible s ; vivors. One body has boon washed ,aS A r sum of £IOOO was spent in repairs to tho IjOcli Finla<> _ was lying at Melbourne. . when she left thero consisted ot Lonnen, captain; Bogan, mate, R . ers, second male; Petersen, stowaa , Maher, cook; Cowan, boatswain . Solberg, Svensen, Jenson, bagoi, Ranuti, Petersen, Brown, Lcger. ancl Philip, seamen; Lushington, Parke,, and Zachlison, apprentices; the tour survivors, and four others, who are boliovcfl to liavo loft the vessel at At C-lntahi Lonnen stated bis intention of making this his last voyage and settling down when he reached Lugland. .