["No Tidings", The West Australian, Monday 01 April 1912, page 7]
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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.
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