DISASTROUS WRECK IN THE FIJIS.
Ihe Fiji Times of the 14th inst. gives the following particulars of the wreck of the Syria:—Considerable commotion was caused in town on Monday shortly after noon when it was known that a boat had arrived from the coolie ship Syria, then lying stranded in the neighborhood of Nasalai Point. At first it was stated the scene of the disaster was Astrolabe Reef, bnt on enquiry the following facts were elicited:—The Syria, a full rigged iron ship (of 1,140 tons, Benson master, left Calcutta on the 12th March with 480 coolies on board, bound for Fiji. Her passage was very good and a fortunate one. On Sunday her course was shaped for Suva, and as the night closed in the wind and sea rose, but all was supposed to be going well until about 8.30 o’clock, when breakers were seen to the leeward. An attempt was at once made to put the ship about, but she was then within the influence of the swell, and soon struck heavily and was carried up past the edge of the reef A very heavy sea was then running, which broke bodily over her, smashing in all her boats save one, and sweeping the decks. On sounding the carpenter found four feet of water in the hold, and it was plainly to be seen the case of the vessel was hopeless. About 11.30 o’clock the only sound boat was lowered, and her mate, engineer, carpenter, and another European, with three Lasoar r sailors, were despatched to Levuka to report the disaster and to procure assistance. With great difficulty they managed to get about five miles through shoals on a falling tide, and there had tu anchor for the night. In the morning they saw the main mast had gone by the board. They then continued their journey, and reached Levuka a little after noon. As soon as the disaster was reported steam was got up on board the Union Steamship Company’s Penguin, which was fortunately at the wharf, but some delay was occasioned in sending her off, as no one cared to assume the responsibility of giving orders,, and it was not until five o'clock that the steamer left, with Captain Cooks, Harbor Master, and Captain Barrocks on board, to see what it w»a possible to do in the way of rendering assistance. The Penguin returned to port rbout three o’clock yesterday, and the following is the narrative of her trip :—lt was dark when the vessel reached the neighborhood of where the wreck was supposed to be lying, and nothing could be seen of her, and the Penguin ran down to Suva with the news, and arrived there about midnight. It was then soon known that the news had reached there before her. The s. s. Thistle, which left Levuka early in the morning, arrived in Suva about 8.30 p.m., aud reported a wreck on the shore, and Dr Shaw, chief med’cal-officer of the Syria, had managed to get on shore, and had made his way to Suva for assistance. At the time the Penguin arrived preparations were almost completed for a start. The s e. Clyde had steam up, boats and punts had been collected, and.boats having been added from the Penguin the steamer with the lot in tow left to go up inside the reef. About 12.30 the Thistle was loading stores for Nukutau for coolies who were to be taken to that island. The Penguin left again for the wreck at 6.30 next morning, and found the stranded vessel on thq extreme point of Nasalai reef, about 20 miles from Suva, and 30 from Levuka. Had she been two cables’ length further out she would have gone all clear. The Penguin arrived abreast of her about 8.15. The foremast and foretopmast were then alone standing, with the foresail loose and set, apparently to help to drive the wreck higher and higher up. She lay on the edge of the reef in a fearful sea, which was breaking over her mast head. It was utterly impossible for the steamer to approach her, and even to go too close in. A s the Penguin left her foremast went by the board, and only the bare hull remained, and that showed signs of giving way amidships. About twenty-five or thirty passengers came to the weather side, and seemed to gaze on the passing steamer, but no sign to attract the attention was noticed. The wreck lay about three and aha f miles off the shore, but for three hundred yards inside her position was a seething and boiling surf, which none but a stout boat could make way through Between this and the shore it was comparatively still water, and jsbout half a mile from the vessel several canoes and one boat were lying, apparently to pick up anyone who might get through the surf. The Clyde, with her boats and punts, were passed off Nukulaabout seven o’clock. The breeze was strong, and she appeared to be getting along very slowly. After the Penguin had passed the wreck about two miles, Capt. Cromarty, grieved that he could be of no direct assistance, and only anxious to devise any means of aiding, decided to run back to Nukulau to see if he could tow up any smalt steamer or boat. When he got. back to Nukulau, the Clyde with her boat* was gone, apparently, through the back water, and the only vessel to be seen was the p.s. Cakobau.' This was signalled, and shortly after she appeared to come out and followed the Penguin, and then steamed back, and again got abreast of the wreck. About noon the tide bad fallen considerably, but in the meantime the wresk had parted amidships just aft the fore-rigging. The fore part lay at an obtuse*angle to the after part. There was a yawning rent visible in her side where her plates had collapsed, and not a soul could be seen on the wreck though all glasses on the steamer were turned to her so long as hops remained of distinguishing anyone. The Clyde and her boats were net in view, and could not have got up in time, and the canoes and boats which had been seen before had now disappeared It is impossible to say what the loss of life, if any, there may have been. The only thing of which those on board the Penguin are certain is that there was no one on the wreck when they passed at noon. Those saved ware on shore, and it can be buj: hoped in spite of the most grave misgivings that all have reached there in safety.
[by telegraph.] . Auckland, To-day, Later advices regarding the wreck of the Syria at Fiji state that all but three of th a Lascar ere v are missing, also 70 coolies. The vessel broke in two on the morning of the 13th.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG18840521.2.7
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1259, 21 May 1884, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,157DISASTROUS WRECK IN THE FIJIS. Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1259, 21 May 1884, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.