FATE OF THE AURORA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 76, 22 December 1917, Page 13

FATE OF THE AURORA

FORMER POLAR EXPLORATION VESSEL, v The theory advanced a few days ago that tho auxiliary .schooner Aurora, long overdue at tho West Coast of South America from Sydney and Newcastle, had foundered with all hands, has heeu strengthened by the finding of a. lifebuoy belonging to tho vessel off the coast (states the Sydney correspondent of tho "Age," in one of last week's issuos). On Thursday the North Const S.N. Co.'s steamer Coombar arrived in iisrt., and Captain D. Petrio reported having'picked up the lifebuoy on tho run from Richmond River to Sydney, 0} miles from Hacking; Point lighthouse. There is no doubt that the buoy belonged to the missing Aurora, the lettering '"'S. Y." "Aurora" in black being quite distinct, with what appears to he "ITAE" painted underneath. 'The lopes attached to the buoy are in a good state of preservation. but the sjde of the buoy—that portion- bearing the ship's name—is covered with small barnacles. A couple of weeks previously Captain Pctrie reported passing a quantity of wreckage off the Solitary Islands, and this Itaisam, it is thought, may have also come from the missing vessel. Following is a complete list of the crew:— Master—'R. J. Reeves. New Zealand. Chief officei —W. A. Entwistle, New Zealand. Second officer—E. 0. Baker, Victoria. Chief engineer—J. A. Knowles, New Zealand. Sccond engineer—J. R. Austin, Brisbane. Third mate—C. Blattmnn, Newcastle.. Firemen—C. Fagan, Scotland; F. Jliirkev, Scotland; and D. O'Connell, Newport. Steward —AY. B. Driscoll, New Zealand. *~\ Wireless operator —T: A. Kain, Now Zealand. Cook—J. E. Derlcs, Helioreolnnd. Boatswain—-T. Paton, Scotland. A.B.'s—Clias. Colo, London; H. S. Olark, Newcastle; J._ Manning, England; W. Cummings, Ireland; and J.-Lymingtoii, Scotlaud. Trimmer—F. Adair, Scotland. Boys—A. B. Cherfion, New Zealand, and H. F. Logan, Now Zealand.