AMERICAN SCHOONER LOST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 189, 30 April 1918, Page 4

AMERICAN SCHOONER LOST

DETAILS OF THE DISASTER. Details have been received (says the Auckland "Herald") of the loss of the American schooner James H. Bruce, which was wrecked in tho Pacific while bound, laden with 591,289 ft. of redwood timber, from Eureka, a Califomian port, to Newcastle, New South Wales. The schooner, which left tho American port on February 3, struck at 2 a.m. on March 27 tho outer fringe of the Beveridge Reef, situated about 275 miles east of tho Tongan Group. At tho time she was run. ning before the wind at a very fast pacc, and struck without warning. For somo time therei was much confusion. Ropes camo adrift or broke, aud sails were torn across, contributing to tho general din by banging in the wind. According to a meinbor of the crew, it was apparent directly the vessel struck that slio could not last long, as she was fast on tho reef, and heavy seas were pounding at lier. The bottom must havo been ripped out, as planks from about the keel camo up alongside. The masts were sprung as if they would go by tho board at any moment. The master, Captain Olsen, had just completed a hasty examination, when an exceptionally heavy sea struck the schooner, which began to break up. The order, "Abandon ship!" was passed round, and tho eight men. on board managed, with much difficulty, to launch a boat. So hurried was their departure that the crew could not eavo any personal effects, and some wore clad only in thoir underclothes.

It took hours of hard pulling to clear the reef, continued the narrator, but thia was at length accomplished, after which they stepped the boat s mast, eet sail, and shaped a course for Niue or Savago Island, distant 130 miles west-north-west. About twelvo hours later the castaways sighted u sail, that proved to be a largo sailing 6hip, which took them oil boaixt. Captain Olsen found on tho rescuing vessel that his chronometers were a long way out and to this ho attributed tho disaster. A vessel which passed the Bevcridgo lieef three days after tho schooner was lost sighted tho wreck and reported it on arrival in port. While passing the rcet tho mizzou-mast of tho wreck was 6een to fall across tho poop, but the other three masts were still standing. Waves were sweeping right over tho wreck, which was lying on its starboard side. 'All tho sails had been blown lo pieces, and the vessel had a largo hole in her side. Altogether tho wreck looked as if it would soon bo broken up.