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BURNED AT-SEA

FATE OF THE ARYAN I SURVIVORS REACH WELLINGTON | NO TRACE OF MISSING BOAT' Details of the burning of tlie-barque Aryan, which was abandoned 300 miles east of Clint-ham Islands on Christmas Eve, came to hand on Saturday evening, when the Government steamer Hinemoa, in command of Commander Hooper, R.'N.R., returned to Wellington after having made a fruitless scaich for the barque's missing boat. Tho Hinemoa. left Wellington on the night of January 2, and she. brought back from the Chathams the'crews of the two boats which landed at Kaingaroa 011 December 27. Although .she made a thorough search, both going and. coming from tbe Chathams, not a trace of tho missing craft was seen by the Hinemoa,' and it is feared that she must have foundered.

. The names of . those who returned by the Hinemoa were: Hialmar Larsen (master), Patrick Ryan (second mate), J. Joncson (bo'sun), Henry Stiffensen, Hjalmar Ludvigsen, John Mcissnersen, Gustav Liong, Henry Silverleaf, Emil Andersen, Francis Montague Mills, Charles Vandsrsluys' (cook), Mrs. I'\ L. Vandersluys (stewardess).

The missing boat contained the fob lowing:— . Charles Graham (first- mate). . Master Henry Dill. Sidney Mowbray Barraud. James Elo. Jack Wilson A. Danielso-.i. ■Harold Trovilt. John F. Lindol. Story of the Fire.

A vivid story was told by members of tlio Aryan's crew who were inteiA viewed by a Dosunion reporter. The vessel left Wellington -on December 18 with a full cargo for San Francisco, comprising pelts, tallow, flax, etc. Everything proceeded well until a quarter to two on. the morning of December 24, when Mr. Qraliam, the mate, who was on watch at the time, noticed volumes of smoke issuing from the ventilators over the poop. A moderate sea was running, but there was not a great deal of wind. All hands were immediately piped on deck, and the pumps were manned. Tlife fire was located in the main : hold, • and holos were cut in the dock tbr'ugh which hoses were run to play c the Hames. Both, hand and steam pi ,nps were sot going at full pressure, nnd groat volumes of water were poured on to tho seat of the fire. . For about nii'o hours the crew fought valiantly against tho outbreak, but all their efforts were without avail, and tho flames spread rapidly in all directions.

Nevertheless, well knowing their peril, all hands worked and. toiled to try to hrmg tho fire into subjection, 'but the flames became masters of the situation; the-sails and ringing eanslit alight, and it became apparent that nothing further could' be done but to abandon tho ship. By this time, the hatches had fallen in nnd the Aryan was little more than a shell of raging nnd roaring flames. The tallow and flax burned fiercely, nnd tongues of strident fl.nno shot high into tho air; Sinolco was belching forth from every quartor, and the heat beeamo unbearable. About 11.30 Captain Larson decided that it was no use remaining .on board any longer, and nocoivlinelv ho issued orders that the ship should bo abandoned. Three boats were launched; and wished «lf from the side of the ship. In the first boat wore Captain T.arsen, T. Tcodorson, G.\Ljong. John Meissnersen, Joe Bmldik, Chnrles Vandersluys ,(cook\ Mrs. F. L. V.nndorsluvs (stewardess}, Francis Montague Mills., and Henry Stiffensen. The first mate's boat, which was the largest arid finest of the three, was manned' hv Charles Graham (mate), Henry. Dill, John F. , Lindol, .Times Klo, Atylrew Danielson, Jack Wilson, Harold Trovilc. ind Sidney Mowbray Rarraud. The sceond mate, Mr. P l*vnn, hp'l with him in hie boat T -— Silverleaf, Hialmar Ludvigsen. Emil Andersen, ami ,T. Jonesen (bo'siinV The second mate's boat was the smallest of the three.

Masts Fall With a Crash. Ten minutes after the boats had loft thfe ship, tho Aryan's three huge masts, about tho spars-of which tho {lamps leapt and danced wickedly, fell overhoard with a mighty, resounding crash, and broke into i?reat fragments. The outlines of the sliiji could scarcely bo seen 'now owing to the density of the smoke and flames. However ""the boats stood by until 4 p.m., when 'retain Larson instructed them to hoist sail and sot a course for the Chathams, which lav some 300 miles to tho westward. Tho Arvan was then in approximately latitude Jo south. Wi. tude 171.10 west. The three boats kept pretty well together until • dilsif. when tlie missing boa.t"was last spoken. At 4 o'clock on Christmas morning, ■before the sun had risen. TV Mare the doomed vessel could still he descried. It was estimated tliat she was tlion 87.t0 90 miles away to the eastward. As the. dawn paled into brightening day the reflection on tho horizon disappeared. During tho night tho boats had separated a good deal, and in the morning the mate's boat was missing altogether. At the time no greali anxiety was felt regarding her, for the mate had been fully instructed as to what course to steer. The sccond mate's boat wandered from the track also; but she was picked up by the captain's boat after an interval of about three hours. That night the wind blew up hard from the south and a nasty cross sea rose. Tho boats had a pretty severe handling, and it is possible, that tho mate's boat went down during tho storm. Tlie other two boats managed to keep in company fairly well for the remainder of the voyage, however, and at 11 p.m. on December 27 Captain Larsen and the thirteen survivors landed at Kaingaroa. v Survivors Treated Woll.

During their £tay' at the Chathams, the crcw were accommodated at Mitchell's station, and everything possible was done for them. They all pay glowing tributes to the kindly treatment which they received from the residents at the Chathams. "In fact," said one of the sailors, "wo. could not have'been treated finer." As the men had no time to collect any of their effects before they left tho ship they landed at the Chathams in only what they wero wearing when the vessel was abandoned, but the people at the islands quickly and wilLiugly supplied anything that was needed in the way of clothing. iJr. Sidney Barrnud, who is among those missing, was very well known oil tho' Wellington waterfront as the shipping and Customs clerk for Messrs. Levin and Co. He shipped on the ves : sel as a deck hand in order to undergo a health-recruiting trip. Mr. Vandersluys, who signed on the articles .as cool;, was formerly ser-geant-major in charge of the military guard on tho Wellington waterfront. Mr. Francis Montague Mills, who is among the saved, belongs to New Plymoutfi.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190113.2.74

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 92, 13 January 1919, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,102

BURNED AT-SEA Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 92, 13 January 1919, Page 6

BURNED AT-SEA Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 92, 13 January 1919, Page 6

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