CASTAWAYS RESCUED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1456, 17 May 1905, Page 2

CASTAWAYS RESCUED.

WRECK OF FRENCH BARQUE,

PERILOUS EXPERIENCES AND HARDSHIPS. ALL HANDS SAVED. BROUGHT FROM ISLANDS BY HINEMOA.

; (Peri Press Association.) Wellington, last night

This afternoon the Marine Department received a telegram from Captain Bollons, of the Hinemoa, which arrived at Port Chalmers from the Southern Islands :

“ Picked up crew of French barque Aujou, which was wrecked on the west coast of Auckland Islands on the sth February, when bound from Sydney to Falmouth, wheat laden. All hands were saved, twenty-two in number,” The Anjou was a stefel barque of 2069 tons gross register, and was built at Nantes -iu 1899. She is owned by Raonl Gillon, of Nantes. Her principal dimensions were : Length 263 feet, beam 39 feet, depth 22.6 feet.

Dunedin, last night. The Government steamer Hinemoa arrived at Port Chalmers from her southern islands trip at 2.20 p.m. On Sunday, the 7th inst., the Hinemoa picked up at Carnby harbor, Auokland Islands, the captain and twenty-one of the crew of the French iron barque Anjou, from Nantes. She had 2700 tons of wheat, and was bound from Sydney to Falmouth. She left Sydney on Sunday, January 22, and was wrecked at Cape Brisoow, Auokland Islands, on Sunday, February 5. All hands were saved. On the Hinemoa's arrival at Norman’s Inlet, a message was found written in charcoal on the rafters of the depot, giving information that the castaways would be found at Camp Cove. It appears the crow took to the boats on the morning after the wreck, and arrived at Carnby harbor at about 5 o’clock. The orew stayed there for three months till rescued by the Hinemoa, They lived on shellfish, sea birds, a few seals, etc.. No fish were to be found. The ship's papers were Baved, but the crew had not got much clothes on at the time of the wreck. They speak very highly of the provision made by the New Zealand Government for castaways. They were very despondent, but in good health j all the time. They were naturally over--1 joyed at the rescue. i The ship struck at 8.30 p.m., and the \ bands remained on deck, washed by the | seas, all night. I The captain’s name is Le Tallei. | The castaways had bad and wet weather : all the three months of their etay on the f island. They slept in the Government 1 depots. All the ground is of a peaty character, sodden from continuous wet, making the surroundings very miserable. The only fine day experienced was on Monday, the Bth instant, when the Hioemoa continued her usual south trip. The men camped at the pla’ce where the Compadre’s crew had stayed. They did not expect to live for more than a few weeks, so desolate was the place. After a few days they struck the Government depot, whare they obtained provisions, c iotking, blankets, etc. When leaving the ship the biggest boat “ad been well provisioned with pork, bis°uits and water, but immediately sank on beiDg launched. The men wanted to take to the boats at once, but the captain pointed out the folly of this, and with great difficulty prevailed on them to wait

{ for daylight, when the other boats were [ got out and proceeded coastwise to Carn- | ley harbor. All arrived safely, but ex- | hausted, and all were soaked through, I being only partially dressed. That night I was spent lying on the wet shore, without I fire or food except raw mussels. Captain Bollons, his officers and crew | are of opinion the Anjous’ crew were for- ' tunate beyond all possibility of expectation on account of the nature of the coast. The crew of castaways show signs of the exposure and hardships, all being very frail, no doubt owing to the excessive wet and want of sun. They suffered from

i dysentery for the first week. I Nothing is known as to the insurances, j The vessel struols a rock with her jlbboom. f The bow hangs on, while the stern lies in deep water, and directly the seas get into the hold the probabilities are that she wil drop off into many fa.thoms of water. The spanker boom was all that was picked up by the Hinemoa as it followed the course of the boat. FURTHER DETAILS. ALBATROSS, SHAG, AND MUSSELS

(Per Press Association,) Dnnedin, last night,

The officers and crew of the Anjou com prised Captain Le Callec, M. A. Mevacb (first officer), M. D. Varaine (second), and 16 of a crew. On the first night of landing they had to lie out all night in the pitiless rain

When day broke they made search, and j ’ l found the boat bouse at Camp Gov©j Where they found temporary atbeVtar. They Vj caught an albatross and cook**“tecn 'an “ empty, tin they found. Cel on albatross, shags, and mussels. * They attempted to get back to where tho ship - struck, but were prevented by the weather. After being in camp at tho Cove nine days they found the Government depot, ij and obtained biscuits, tea, eti, ■ ; The conduct of the crow on the ieland was excellent. Ihey were cheerful and obedient, and made the best of everything. Among those on board the Hinemoa were the Misseß Mills, daughters of the ii Minister for Customs, and they did everything possible for the crew.

On lvaohiog Port Chalmers they were met by Mr John Mill, aoting for the French Vice Consul, and supplied with money for comforts. The Vico-Consul has commuDioatedwith the Consul in Auckland as to the disposal of the crew. The officers and men remained on board the Hinemoa to-night. They are again unfortunate in the weather, as rain set in about 5 o’clock and came down very heavily.