AN ISLAND WRECK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16487, 28 February 1914, Page 13

AN ISLAND WRECK.

THE LOSS OF LA TOUR D’ AUVERGNE. EIGHTY DAYS ON A CORAL ATOLL. CREW BROUGHT TO AVELLINGTON. [Psr Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, February 27. Ah .'interesting, story of the wreck of the French barque La Tour D’ Auvergne was unfolded in Wellington to-day on the arrival of the crew from Tahiti by the R.M.S. Tahiti. Tlie wreck of tlio vessel occurred at Palmerston Island, one of New Zealand’s South Sea atolls, on the night of October 23, in a heavyfog, and the crew spent' eighty d..y3 on the Island. The sailors state that when the barqite went on the reef a repo was go ashore and made secure.:. Ad hands landed safely by means, of an improvised cradle. They saved a lew provisions and only the clothes and boots they were wearing at the- time. lhe boots, however, were doomed to. early destruction. To reach tho land it was necessary to walk across a long stretch of coral'. This cut through the footwear to such an extent as to make it practically.useless. On the island they were received by the, natives, who uo.o quite civilised, and from these they received a warm welcome and every assistance. The inhabitants had a small supply of flour which had just previously been brought by a schooner from Paucete. but there was not enough to go all round, therefore there was ho alternative for the shipwrecked crew but to subsist on coconuts and fish. There is no spring water on the island, but it rained fairly regularly, on an average about once a week, and supplies • were caught in lingo receptacles erected by the natives. Much water was needed, for the crew consisted of twonty-threo men. The second mate. Henri, who is in charge of tho eighteen men now in "Wellington, states that the crew wore exceedingly fortunate in that a severe storm blew many coconuts to tlio ground. They could never have climbed the coconut trees,- some of -which rose to a height of 60ft. Of .fish and coconuts there was a plentiful supply all the time. The crew suffered much from ta© terrific beat. It is much hotter at Palmerston Island than at Papeete. There were some very hard gales, too, and during one of these in December the ship broke up completely. Huts were erected out of portions of the vessel which were washed ashore, and here again the natives rendered valuable assistance.

Aft,or about a month of weary waiting the shipwrecked men were sighted by a vessel which was bound to Papeete, and from the Island port word of the disaster was sent'to Sydney. Tlie French warship Tieleo-happened to be refitting just at that time and tlie captain was informed of the plight of his fellow countrymen. As soon as possible he sailed for Palmerston Island, and taking the shipwrecked men aboard went to Papeete, in Tahiti. Captain Bucos. who was in charge of the La Tour I>’Auvergne, returned to France via San Francisco accompanied by the first .mate. Three others-obtained suitable berths on other vessels. FURTHER DETAILS. [From Our Corkxsfoxdent.] WELLINGTON, February 27. The -wrecked crow of the French barque La Tour IF Auvergne who arrived to-day from the Society Islands, express a longing to be back on -their native shores. They have very little to wear and Hot much money, so the end of their homeward trip is eagerly looked forward to.' Tlie big barque was wrecked in, a heavy fog on Palmerston Island, and for eighty days they remained on that tropie island, living on lisli and coconuts. On reaching Papeete those who did not get berths on vessels were attended to by tho French Government and a passage home was arranged for them.

j They were fitted put.with a _ suit of ; clothes not of a very substantial char- ] actor and a pair of light boots. ~cr.,; I rather shoes suitable perhaps-for Is- ' j land life but quite out of place for ' everyday wear ,in -a, citr. When tho , wreck -occurred they had two months „ par due to them and on this, they are f *. existing now. Arrangements have been made lor the through-passage to >'•-' France and the men will join a steamer at Sydney. L;. Palmerston Island, where the vessel struck, is a small coral reef island under New. ZeakmPs .control, to . th.e north-west of the Cook Islands. ' ‘ ! The barque, which was a steel vessel of 2196 tons gross register,, had - a part cargo of briquettes for Noumea.;!:: (New Caledonia) from France. She v , ; had discharged a portion of her cargo, .; at- Papeete and was sailing through' l ! tlio Islands for the Western Pacific 1 : . s when she struck. - r «.