SCANTY MENU

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 139, 29 June 1937, Page 13

SCANTY MENU

Presi Association.)

Coconut Milk, Fish and Turtles wrecked schooner's crew

(By Teleyraph—

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The story of the wreck of the anxiliary schooner, Makoa, on a Teef * off Hull Island, in the Phpepix group, the hazardoua swim of the crew to land and their aubpequent privations until they wero picked up by the Niagara c her voyage south and taken to Suva, wero rtlated by passengers on the liner when it arrived at Auckland. The Makoa, whieh was owned by the Burns Philp Company, was a tatai wreck, but no live? were lost, Gaptain Doughty, the first mate and 14 nativo membors pf the crew of the schooner gpent 26 days on Hull Island bpforo fhe arrival of the Niagara, which had beeji acquainted of their p|ight by the Burns Philp Company. The liner casne to within a few hundred yaTds of the reef and the survivors were rowed oqt from the shore in a small boat, An account of the wreck was given by Mr. William Kadison, a Los Angeles journalist, who, as a passenger on the Niagara, Was associated wifh the crew of the Makoa before they were disembarked at Suva. Mr. Kadison explained that the schooner had been anchored outside the reef near a nftive settlement on Hull, when.it was caught by a cross-wind and . blown on to the reef. In a very short time the battering the vessel received from thi heavy waves broke her up and the crew had no option but to swim for the shore, Although the presence of . sbarks was fpared all were successful. in reaching the beaeh. Mr. Kadison stated that the survivors were assisted by 40 aatives who were employed in a copra plantation at the sgttlenient, but until the Niagara arrived sopic weeks latgr , they wero obliged to endure many hardships, Qoconut inilk was-ysed for drink as np water was available, and for food the crew were largely depepdent upon fiph and birds. Some variety ih the jnenu was afforded by the captute Qfi several lnrge .turtles.