11a
["No Tidings", The West Australian, Monday 01 April 1912, page 7]
...
WRECK OF THE CROWN OF ENGLAND.
THE CAPTAIN'S STORY.
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES.
Whim Creek, March 31.
Captain Olsen, the master of the Crown of England, was interviewed yesterday, and gave a graphic account of the wreck of his vessel.
On Wednesday, March 20, Captain Olsen said, a fresh gale of easterly wind was blowing, with a cloudy sky, and as the day wore on the sky became heavier and more overcast. On the following day there was a strong gale, with a rough sea, which later developed into a hurricane. At 11 o'clock the ship, which had out three anchors, started to drift toward the middle of Depuch Island until she got into four fathoms of water at low tide. The mate cleared the lifeboat at half past 7 o'clock in the evening. At that time, the wind moved to the north east, and the tide started to come in.
The ship drifted more and more towards Depuch Island, and the incoming tide with the wind caused the ship to bump heavily. At 7 o'clock every man aboard was provided with a lifebelt, and was asked by the captain if he wished to go ashore, but as it was very dark, and the sea was very rough, the men thought it better to await daylight, as it would then be low tide, and they expected to be able to get ashore easier. At 8 o'clock water could be seen coming into the hold. During the night the wind moved round gradually to the north-west. It had increased, and was blowing with terrific force, while a tremendous sea was running. At a quarter-past 11 o'clock the sea was so mountainous that the men, who until that time had been in the messroom, thought that it would be advisable to come up on deck and get in the rigging, but before leaving each man was given a small line with which to make himself secure in the rigging. At this stage Captain Olsen advised the men to remove clothes, but they declined, he himself being the only man to do so. The boats, chart-house and everything loose on deck had by this time been swept overboard. The men remained in the rigging for two hours, and then the masts began to move. They clambered quickly down to the deck, and as the last man reached the deck, all three masts snapped and went overboard. The ship broke in three pieces, and the middle part in halves. The men were all on the after part of the ship, which was sinking further as each wave came over her, with the result that some of them were washed overboard with every sea, while a few jumped into the water. When Captain Olsen left the wreck only two men were on board, and they said that they would not leave before he did. A heavy sea had torn the lifebelt off him, but he managed to get ashore, and had to sit from 2 o'clock in the morning until daylight in the wind and cold without any clothes. It was too dark to move, moreover, the wind was too strong to stand up against, while the rain and sand were beating in his face. At daylight on Friday the ship was seen to be a total wreck. The wind, although it had slackened, was blowing a gale from the north-west, and the sky was still cloudy.
Captain Olsen assembled those of his men who had reached the shore, and they could then see the two men who had stayed on the wreck. These were got safely ashore, although they were utterly exhausted, after their terrible night's experience. On counting the men eight were found to be missing, and a thorough search was made of the island, but no other men were found alive.
The bodies of the men who were drowned were washed ashore during the day and the following morning. As the survivors were worn out as the result of their terrible night's experience, they could not do anything more than lay the bodies of the dead high up on the beach. In the afternoon the assistant wharfinger came out in a lugger and took off the bodies of Maginnis and Hill and two of the sailors of the Crown of England.
After the ship smashed Captain Olsen had a terrible experience in the water. After diving into the sea three huge waves caught him and washed him under. As he came up he was fortunate enough to get hold of a spar, but was washed under again. He managed to get the spar under his body, and after several vain attempts to reach the shore, during which he was tossed about like a cork, he was thrown ashore, badly cut all over the body.
Captain Olsen expressed sincere thanks for the manner in which he and the surviving members of his crew had been treated by the general manager of the Whim Well Copper Mines (Mr. Sleeman) and the members of his staff, and the townspeople generally. He said that they could not have been in better hands. He also wished to thank Captain Erikson, of the Concordia, who assisted him nobly on the island, giving all the help he could in his own distress.
THE DROWNED.
The following is a list of the men who lost their lives:-
Hall Newton, 29, single, Hampstead, England, A.B.
Carl John Johansen, 52, single, Stavanger, Norway, A.B.
Ivar Slandin, 45, single, Gottenberg, Sweden, A.B.
Olav Sevaldsen, 42, single, Tronsa, Norway, A.B.
Hans Gron, 35, married, Christiana, Norway, steward.
Karl Gron, _, single, Christiana, Norway, cabin boy.
_ Johnson, 52, single, Marehan, Finland, sailmaker
Andreasen, 55, married, Sandern Tvedestrand, Norway, second mate.
All the bodies were recovered.
THE SURVIVORS.
The survivors are:-
Captain M. Olsen, 38, married.
M. Holst, 37 married, first mate.
H. Eredsen, 42, single, carpenter.
S. Matson, 33, single, A.B.
A. Sander, 22, single, A.B.
O. Kolinim, 22, single, ordinary seaman.
E. Kymalinim, 22, single, ordinary seaman.
T. Randin, 18, apprentice.
T. Oslesen, 18, apprentice.
T. Torensen, 17, apprentice.
BURYING THE DEAD.
SERVICE AT DEPUCH ISLAND.
Whim Creek, March 31.
The sad work of collecting the bodies of those who were drowned and choosing a site for the graves was undertaken by Captain Eriksen, of the ship Concordia. He, the chief mate, and the crew were indefatigable in their labours. Captain Olsen, of the Crown of England, was too weak after his exposure to carry out the work. All the bodies laid in the graves were identified by Captain Olsen. This was not an easy matter, as some of the bodies had been so battered that they were hardly recognisable. The service was conducted in a solemn and impressive manner, and a hymn was sung at the graveside: At the conclusion of the service, Captain Olsen said a few words, and Captain Eriksen sprinkled earth on each body. A large tarpaulin sheet was laid over the bodies, the graves were filled in, and a sign was erected to show their position.
WRECKED LIGHTERS.
SURVIVORS' NARRATIVES.
Whim Creek, March 31.
The survivors from the lighter Clyo and Enterprise, which were wrecked, have, related their experiences.
On Wednesday, March 20, the Clyo was unloading ore into the ship Concordia, and at night anchored at the Depuch anchorage. The sea was very rough. Messrs. Maginnis, Hill, and Thompson boarded the lighter at about half-past 5 o'clock that evening. On Thursday the lighter remained at Depuch Anchorage, and terrible seas were running, with a high hurricane. At about 5 o'clock in the evening the anchor was let go, in the hope of drifting ashore, hut the Clyo struck a bank about 100 yards from land. This was at low tide. As the tide came in, breakers constantly swept over the boat, which sank at about 7 o'clock. At that time all hands were safe in the rigging. Two hours later, Maginnis was struck on the head by some part of the rigging, and was apparently rendered unconscious, for he fell into the sea. Hill, after calling out, "Good-bye," made an attempt to swim ashore, but he was apparently caught in the currents, which are very strong here. Thompson was not seen after dark, but it is thought probable that he suffered the same fate as Maginnis. His body has not been recovered. One of the crew fell into the water, but he managed to secure a floating spar; and, with the aid of this, was washed safely ashore. The other two members of the crew hung on to the rigging all night, and were rescued at daylight on Friday, utterly exhausted after their terrible night's experience. The Clyo is now showing her deck at low tide, but so fan as can be seen she is a total wreck.
The lighter Enterprise was engaged in the same work as the Clyo. She let go the anchor at about 3 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, and was washed on to a rock. One of the crew, named Scordis, a Greek (not Valainis, as mentioned in a previous report), swam ashore with a line. After a severe struggle, he managed to get ashore safely, and made the line fast on Depuch Island. In this way all aboard, including six passengers and three of the crew, were saved. They consider that the brave act of Scordis is deserving of recognition. The lighter was smashed to pieces.
The lighter Steady was engaged on Tuesday, March 19, unloading overcarried cargo from the steamer Paroo, and had proceeded to Depuch Anchorage. She was unable to leave there, on account of the weather, and was lying about 50 yards astern of the Clyo. She had on board a crew of three and four passengers. The anchor was let go at about 9 o'clock on Thursday night, and was washed high and dry on the beach, all hands being saved. The lighter was knocked about considerably, and little hope is entertained of her being made seaworthy again.
Mr. E. P. Maginnis, 37 years of age, was the wharfinger at Balla Balla. He was married, and leaves a widow and child. His body was recovered. Mr. Thomas J. Hill, a single man 32 years of age, was the licensee of the Federal Hotel at Whim Creek. His body was recovered. Mr. R. M. Thompson, a single man, 28 years of age, was the engineer of the Clyo. His body has not been recovered. John Pechalis, a Greek, 35 years of age, was a sailor on the Clyo. His body was recovered. Mr. Hill was to have been married in a month's time. Mr Thompson was a son of Mr. R. D. Thompson, now of Melbourne, a well-known mine manager in the early days of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. He had only been here a few weeks, but he had made many friends.
A SENSATIONAL TRIP.
LUGGER REACHES DEPUCH ISLAND.
Whim Creek, March 31.
On the afternoon of Friday, March 22, Messrs. Hugh McDonald, Richard Thorley, and Armytage, Captain Eriksen, of the Concordia, J. Morton, Carlson and Vallianos went out in a lugger, although the wind was still blowing a gale, to ascertain what had happened at Depuch Island, as up to that time no news whatever had been received. They asked the Japanese and Malay crew of the lugger to sail the boat, but this they refused to do. They were then told to get off the boat, and all were sent ashore but the diver and tender, who, however, refused to assist in the sailing of the boat. When the lugger got to the mouth of the creek the diver and tender wished to return in the dinghy, but this they were not allowed to do, and they remained in the cabin practically the whole of the journey. The lugger had to tack all the way out, and during the passage the jib-boom became unhooked. Mr. Thorley pluckily managed to secure the jib-boom again after three attempts, during which time he was almost completely submerged in the water. On arrival at the island the first bodies seen were those of Messrs. Maginnis and Hill, lying within 15 yards of one another. About 100 yards further west the bodies of the second mate and the steward of the Crown of England were found. The bodies were placed aboard the lugger. On the return journey the lugger got stuck on a bank and was there for nearly four hours, the seas continually washing over her. The lugger arrived at Balla Balla Jetty a little after midnight, and the bodies were brought ashore.
...
11b[Storm on N.W. Coast - Ships 'Crown of England' and 'Concordia' wrecked, Western Australia Police Department, State Records Office of Western Australia. Cons 430 Item 1912/1727, "The Shipping Disaster at Depuch Island", Police report, F.H. Growden, P.C., Whim Creek, 4th April 1912]
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I beg to report that during a terrific gale on the morning of the 22nd ulto., the Norwegian Barque Concordia and the Norwegian Ship Crown of England, which for sometime had been receiving bulk Copper ore from Whim Well Copper Mines, at Depuch Island, parted with their anchors and were driven on to Depuch Island.
The Crown of England, under the command of Captain Martin Olsen, after parting with her three anchors, was driven on to a rocky point on the Northern shore of Depuch Island at 2 A. M.
There was over a thousand tons of ore in the holds, and in a marvellously short space of time from striking she was simply smashed to pieces on the rocks and the crew precipitated into the sea, eight of them losing their lives. Some idea of the violence of wind and water may be gained from the remarkable escape of the first mate Mathias Holst who was carried over the starboard bow by a tremendous wave into the raging sea, only to be caught by a second wave and hurled back clean over the top of the doomed vessel, and dropping into the water on the other side was caught up again by a wave which landed him high on the rocks of Depuch, and from where he made good his escape. Captain Olsen estimates the velocity of the wind at fully a hundred miles an hour.
The barque Concordia under the command of Captain O.E. Ericksen, containing about 1500 tons of ore, parted with three anchors and was driven ashore at 3 A.M. on a sandy beach on Depuch, in close proximity to the Crown of England, and striking the bottom remained firm and fast. No lives were lost in this vessel.
The Whim Well Copper Mining Company's schooner Enterprise and lighters Clyo and Steady were also driven ashore on Depuch Island during the same night.
The Enterprise went ashore at 4pm on 21st with crew and two passengers. All these men succeeded in getting safely to land by the aid of a lifeline, which was taken ashore by one of the crew under tremendous dangers and difficulties. By daylight next morning the Enterprise had been smashed to matchwood on the rocks where she struck.
The lighter Steady went ashore about 7 P.M. on the sandy beach close to the spot where the Concordia grounded. This boat had on board a good many passenger including several witnesses in the case Rex V Seleno and Cappelli, who were awaiting the arrival of the S. S. Bullarra to secure passages to Roebourne and elsewhere. All hands got safely to land.
The lighter Clyo sunk in shallow water close to the spot where the Steady went ashore, at about 9 P.m. and all hands took to the riggings, clinging on until most of them were either exhausted or injured by flying ropes and spars and dropped into the water. Four men lost their lives off this boat.
During the same night a pearling lugger named Clara foundered on the Southern side of Depuch Island. One of her crew of six Japanese and one Malay, was lost, the others got ashore on the mainland after about four hours in the water.
The names of the survivors and deceased of each boat are as per attached lists.
On the day of the 22nd, eleven bodies were picked up on the shore of Depuch Island. They were terribly battered about and almost completely divested of clothing.
The Clyo victims included Thomas James Hill, Licensee, Federal Hotel, Whim Creek, who was on his way to Roebourne to attend the Supreme Court sitting; Edward Peter Maginnis, Master Mariner and Wharfinger in charge at Balla Balla; Robert McGregor Thompson, Mining Engineer, W.W.C. Mines had only recently arrived. And one Greek sailor named John Pitsikas. These bodies, with the exception of R.M. Thompson, which has not been recovered, were removed to Balla Balla and were there buried with two victims from the Crown of England, Christian Plavis Andriasen and Hans Gron by order of Mr. H.R. Sleeman J.P.
Six of the Crown of England victims were buried on Depuch Island by Captain O.E. Eriksen of Barque Concordia and Capt. Martin Olsen of Ship Crown of England, without Coroners Order of Burial, owing to the advance state of decomposed state of the bodies.
Namely--
Karl John Johannesen.
Evar Floden.
Olaf Sevaldsen.
J.E. Janssen.
Hall Newton.
Karl Gron.
Constable Cussack, Dr. Shelmerdine and myself arrived at Depuch Island from Cossack with the Police Cutter. We anchored along side the stranded Barque Concordia and went aboard, finding all well.
The following morning we inspected the graves of the deceased sailors, and also made a fruitless search for the missing body. The masts of the Lighter were visible and at low tide Const. Cussack and I boarded her and searched the holds but found no traces of body. The boat was badly smashed about from the violence of the water. Her decks had been carried away, canvas blown to peices[sic], and riggings dashed to peices, in fact, she is a complete wreck, yet did not touch the rocks.
The Steady was high and dry upon the shore about fifty yards above usual high water mark, and apparently badly damaged.
The schooner Enterprise was piled up on the rocks like a heap of firewood.
The Ship Crown of England had evidently struck one of the most rugged points on the Island and was lying there just a mass of shattered timber and iron, being torn and twisted and smashed to atoms.
The barque Concordia was standing in about two feet of water at low tide, and was badly buckled and bent about keel and rudder, having evidently come into contact with some rocks, she had also lost all her anchors.
The following survivors were then taken aboard the Police Cutter and place ashore at Balla.
Rupert Love. William Kelleher. William Chapman. Charles Turner.
Thomas Graham. Asala Khan. George Nagel. Charles Kruger.
Torolf Aslesen. Charles Marshall. Michael Sheehan.
On arrival at Balla Balla it was ascertained that a Pearling Lugger had been wrecked on the Southern side of Depuch during the gale, namely Clara, and that two of the crew, Nagga Nitsia and Yama Coca, had reached Balla.
We at once secured these two Japanese and proceeded in search of the remainder of the crew. At 6 P.M. that evening we picked up three survivors from the lugger Clara about eight miles from Balla Balla. They were Japanese, who, had succeeded in getting ashore on the mainland, and after wandering about for two days without food had picked up a dinghy and rowed toward Depuch. They had not a stitch of clothing and were rowing with the aid of deal boards.
Constable Cussack took these men back to Balla while I proceeded in search of the one who was still missing, in company with a beachcomber named Fisher who had accompanied us with his boat.
Fisher and I searched the mainshore between Moor and Depuch Island and Moor and Sherlock Island, also the Island as well. Wreckage from the Lugger Clara was found on the shore near Sherlock Island, also the Island as well, but no trace of the missing Japanese sailor, and it is presumed that he sunk with the lugger, as he refused to put on a lifebelt, and remained below, and it is said by the survivors, went down when the vessel foundered.
The five Japanese suvivors[sic] from the lugger Clara were eventually put on board a lugger for Hedland. The sixth, a Malay reached Roebourne per foot.
The survivors from Ship Crown of England had been landed at Balla Balla on the 23rd. and were safely housed and cared for.
...
The only personal effects that were saved were those of Thomas J. Hill, R. M. Thompson and E. P. Maginnis. These were handed over to the Father, Brother and Widow, respectively.
There were no effects belonging to any of the dead off Crown of England, all bodies being practically naked when found.
...
[signed] F. H. Growden
P. C. 735.
[Attachment: Survivors and Fatalities]
Crown of England
Survivors.
Martin Olsen, Captain,
Matthias Holst, First Mate
Hans Bredisen, A.B.
Albert Sander, A.B.
Frederik Matson, A.B.
Oscar Kolenen, A.B.
Emile Kymmalinen, A.B.
Torolf Allesen
Jerge Randen, A.B.
Torbjorn Toresen
Fatalities
Christian Plavis Andriasen, II Mate
Hans Gron, Steward
Karl Gron, Cabin Boy.
Karl John Johannesen, A.B.
Evar Flodin, A.B.
Olaf Sevaldsen, A.B.
J. E. Jansson, Sailmaker.
Hall Newton, A.B.
Barque Concordia
Survivors
Ole Edwin Eriksen, Captain.
The Cristopherson, First Mate.
Olaves Andreasen, Sail Maker.
Korpela, Carpenter.
A. E. Anderson, Boatswain
Karl Olsen, Steward.
Karl Nilsen, A.B.
G. Webster, A.B.
Edwin Svensen, A.B.
S. Sevstrom, O.S.
A. Madsen, A.B.
James Byron, O.S.
Felix Arviller, O.S.
Werner Kray, O.S.
Matthias Myrset, O.S.
Charles Marshall, Engine Driver.
Fatalities
nil.
Schooner - Enterprise
Survivors.
Nicholas Pappastatis, Skipper.
Angelo Peter, Sailor
Nicholas Angelo, Sailor
John Salakas, Sailor
John Scordese, Sailor
Isaac Timmins, Passenger
Asala Khan, Passenger
Fatalities
nil.
Lighter Clyo
Survivors
Con Celezis, Skipper.
George Carlos, Sailor
Dimmitris Chandros, Sailor
Fatalities
Edward Peter Maginnis, Wharfinger.
Thomas James Hill, Licensee
Robert McGregor Thompson, Mining Engineer
John Pitsikas, Sailor
Lighter Steady
Survivors
Harold Olsen, Sailor
Karl Larson, Sailor
Nels Nelsen, Sailor
Rupert Love, Passenger.
William Kelleher, Passenger
William Chapman, Passenger
Charles Turner, Passenger
Thomas Graham, Passenger
George Nagel, Passenger
Charles Kruger, Passenger
Michael Sheehan, Passenger
Fatalities
nil.
Lugger Clara
Survivors
Nagga Nitsia, Diver
Hanga Warra, Sailor
Yama Cooa, Sailor
Soa Yooa, Sailor
Sa Sahki, Sailor
Fatalities
Shi Raata, Sailor.