Cast Away in Mid-ocean

Feilding Star, 10 November 1897, Page 3

Cast Away in Mid- ocean

jPer PreßS Association/* Dunedin, November 8. Mr W. G. Neiil, American (.'onnul, has held an enquiry touching the wreck of the Commodore. The fact* elicited were tbat the Commodore was bound from Honolulu to Now York with a cargo of sugar. At noon ou the 3rd September the captain took his bearings and made himself out to be in latitude 2deg 19tniu S., longitude Js4deg 17min W., or thirty miles from Maiden Island, which be expected to sight. Ha gave instructions for the ship to be put about at 12 o'clock, considering by that time he would be in the vicinity of the island. At 20 minutes to 12, however, the ve«sel struck. The captain stated that he bad good observations at midday, when he made out by the chart be had 108 miles to run, nod by tbe patent log they had only ruu 76 miles up to tbe time of striking. The difference he accounted for by a strong current. All of those on board got safely ashore, but they lost their possessions save what scant clothing they bad on at the time of the mishap. Tbe second officer and seven of tbe crew proceeded to Melbourne by a schooner leaving for tbat port from Maldan Island, the remainder preferring to await passage for New Zealand, being of opinion that they would thus be able to reach America more quickly.