AN OCEAN TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 80, 30 December 1918, Page 6

AN OCEAN TRAGEDY

BARQUE ARYAN BURNED

FOURTEEN PERSONS LAND

AT CHATHAMS

ONE BOATLOAD MISSING

On Saturday morning the Secretary of the General I'ost Uthce received the following wireless message troin tlie Chatham islands:—

"Eeported barque Aryan, hound Wellington to San Francisco, burned 300 miles cast of Chatham islands, and abau(luned on Christmas evening. Captain Larsen and thirteen of crew, in two boats, landed at Kaingaroa 11 p.m. yesterday (Friday). Une boat, first 'and second mates and sis men, still at sea. Local Customs olucer endeavouring send out launch to search. Weather favourable."

The agents of the v»ssel, Messrs. Levin and Co., received the lcllowuig telegram from Captain H. Larsen, master 01 the abandoned vessel:— 'Aryan burned at sea. Two boats landed C'Jiathams. One boat still out."

Lloyds'_ agents, Messrs. Dalgety and Co., received a message whicli read:— "Ship Aryan burned 300 miles east of Chutnams, Christmas evening. Captain and thirteen men landed Cuathams. One boat out." The Crew. The crew of the Aryan, when she left Wellington on December 18, consisted of 22 persons, most ef whom are foreigners from Northern Europe, as follow:—H. Laraen, master; V,. Ityan, boatswain; A. 1/amelson, carpenter; IL Trovik, -able seaman; J. Lindal, able seaman; J. Janeon, able seaman.; H. Lundgren, ■ able seaman; H. Dill, able seaman; J. IJcisuierse'u, able seaman; J. A. Benedik, able seanian; T. Trudorsen, able seaman; G. Ljung, able seaman; H. Silverleaf, abft seaman; C. Graham, able seaman;>.]j, Anderson, able seaman; J. Elo, able seaman; J. Wilson, able seaman; H. Steffen6on, ordinary seaman; l< 1 . Ji. Mills, deck hand; S. Barraud, deck hand; 1 ,, . L. Vandsrsluys, stewardess; C. Vandersluys, cook.

The official crew list included SergeantMajor Vandersluys (formerly in ciarge of the military guard on the waterfront) and his' Wife, Mr. Kuowles (of Taranaki), and ill , . Sid .Barraud (of the local office staff of Messrs. Lcvia and Co.), who signed on the articles in order to make tlio trip. .There is a good deal of anxiety as to whether they are amongst those who have'landed at the Ckathaius, and a wireless messiige of inquiry was sent. The answer was that it was not yet known who vere amongst the survivors, as the two boats containing them had landed on the bpposite side cf the island to that on wnich tho wireless station was situated.- A relief expedition was setting out on horseback across the island, and was not expected to return until Sunday night or early this (Monday; morning. The Aryan was a wooden vessel of 19,19 tons net, 2124 tons gross, and was built in 18S3. She arrived in Wellington from San Francisco on October 10 hist, with a general cargo, including 30,000 cases of oil.' She left Wellington on December 18, with HOO tons cargo, the major prtrt of which was hemp, consigned by Messrs. Levin and Co., A., S. Paterson and Co., and J. Burns and Co., Auckland; 870 casrs of tinned meats, a quantity of tallow, consigned by Messre. Fletcher and Co., Auckland, and some pelts. The owiier of the Aryan is Mr. L. A. Pedersen, of Sna Francisco. What insurances (if any) he has on the vessel are not known here. This was her first trip to £<ew Zealand. She was one. of the largest American sailing ships that have visited Wellington, and created considerable interest as she lay discharging at Queeu's Wharf.