Wreck on Victorian Coast

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 30, 8 September 1891, Page 2

Wreck on Victorian Coast

f ♦-i — TWELVE LIVES LOST. (PEE UNITED PBEBB ASSOCIATION). T^EjaoußNE, September 7. The barque Fiji, from Hamburg, has been wrecked sixteen miles east 6t Port Campbell, and 163 tables south* west of Melbourne. A party of gentlemen who were walking along the coast in the vicinity yesterday, discovered a man Iving in the scrub almost froven stiff. He, was torn and bleeding, and the only clothes he had on were a singlet and socks. Altogether he presented, a wild and unusual appearance. With -'some difficulty the man was restored to consciousness, and he then informed his rescuers that the vessel ran on the coast on Saturday night. There was 26 people' on board. He and another man swam for shore for assistance, but his companion was drowned. The barque only possessed one boat, and that was not seaworthy. The party immediately • went in search of the wreck and found the vessel 200 yards from tie shore. The crew were ranged along the deck with lifebelts on. The life saving apparatus reached the barque Fiji this morning. Fifteen of the crew landed safely, but 12 were drowned. The ship broke up within 10 minutes after Captain Vickers got on shore Among those drowned are Mr Brisbane, first officer ; Mr Lardman. third officer ; and Porter, an apprentice. The rest are seamen, whose names have not been mentioned. One man named W Ikinsou swam back to the wreck to assist his mates, and died of exhaustion, on board. This Day. Wilkinson, who was drowned at the wreck of the Fiji, did not belong to the vessel as it was reported, but was a local resident assisting in the rescue work. Much valuable time in getting the lifesaving apparatus to the scene of the wreck was lost through telegraphic interruptions.