TOTAL LOSS OF THE FLYING VENUS ALL HANDS SAVED. GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE CREW. NINE HUNDRED MILES IN AN OPEN BOAT. (From Our Samoan Correspondent.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 420, 16 November 1889, Page 4

TOTAL LOSS OF THE FLYING VENUS ALL HANDS SAVED. GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE CREW. NINE HUNDRED MILES IN AN OPEN BOAT. (From Our Samoan Correspondent.)

On Tuesday morning, October 15th, a boat arrived in Apia harbour, bringing information of the complete wreck of bho English barque Flying Venus, of Liverpool. This vessel, which was about 37 years old, will be well remembeied by those of our reiders who lecollecfc the old Calcutta and colonial trade ab the time when the Ureat Britain was the favourite vessel of the day. From the particulars to hand, it seems that the Flying Venus left Poib Ludlow, Puget Bound, on July 18th last, with a cargo of lumber, and cleared Port Townsend a few days later. The cargo of lumber on board was the duplicate of one which was lo&b during last year somewhere about tho same locality in the new ship Derby Park. The Flying Venus, although old, was a strong and well-found barque of 1,660 tons register, and was owned and commanded by Mr John Kerr, who is also wellknown in colonial shipping circles a* the at one time captain ot the old White Star. Besides the captain, there were on boaid E. Urell, first mate, F. Noil&on, second mate, a crew of eighteen and four passengers (a Mr Barn&table with his wife, son, and daughter), theie being on boaul 25 souls. The

FIRST PART OF THE YOYAUE was monotonous, only one vessel being sighted alter leaving Pugob Sound. It seems another &hip had left Poib Townsend on the same date as the Flying Venus, bound for the same port, Melbourne. In all probability the one has reached her destination ere now, whilst the other lies bioken and scattered among the treacherous coral shoals and islets of the Pacific. Beautiful weather and fair winds prevailed for the first six weeks of the voyage, and all on board were congratulating themselves on their good luck, until, when within six or seven degrees north of the line, contrary winds sprang up and drove the vessel to the westward, which, assisted by one or the strong currents that are prevalent in these latitudes, sent the vessel out of her course somewhat. For ten days these contrary winds prevailed, without any land being sighted. Being well aware of

THE DANGERS OF THE LOCALITY, an anxious and careful look-oub was kept, and on the morning of the 7th September, land (Penryhn Island) was sighted. Three hands were sent alott by the captain to watch for the reefs and shoals which abound in the vicinity of Penrhyn. The ship, which at the time was in charge of the second mate (Neilson), was going alone: within sight of the island at about live knots an hour, when she -went hard on a hidden and unknown rock, and in less than an hour was a complete wreck. She was at the time drawing twenty-fom feet, and thereof on which she was steeied is twenty-one feet under the su-face, and without any break or swell to denote its existence. The forepart of the ship was driven on to the reet with great force, and the afterpart hung- over in deep water. The shock was so great that the captain deemed the vessel to be in danger of immediately breaking up, and ordered out the boats. The ship v, as rolling very much and bumping heavily, when the masts broke off short, causing the vessel to steady herself, so that the crew weie enabled to get out the boats : even then this was a difficult matter on account of the bumping and rolling of the vessel. In getting out the boats

SEVERAL OF THE CREW WERE INJURED, bub none seriously. Just after the vessel struck one of the men who was at the time aloft, an A.B. named Jas. Carroll, fell headfirst on to the deck, but, to the astonishment of his shipmates, was able, although stupefied by the fall, to get into a boat. He was on shore for more than a week before he realised hb position, and could understand the narrow escape which he had, bub is now apparently none the worse. The crew behaved very well, and carried out the captain's oiders with coolness and precision. Both crew and passengers were safely in the boats twenty minutes alter she struck. Scarcely anything was saved, however, on account of the great danger of allowing the boats to remain near the doomed ship, which was momentarily expected to break up. The diotance from where the vessel struck to the shore is about Jive miles, but before a quarter of that distance was covered the ship broke in half, the forepart clinging to the reef whilst the afterpart was tossed about by the waves until the following day, when it floated in close to the island and

GROUNDED ON A JPUEF. Jfc was impossible to reach ib with a boat on account of the heavy surf, although afterwards some of the natives managed to swim off and reach the wreck. A large quantity of lumber was thrown up on the beach, where it now lies. The boats containing the shipwrecked people reached the shore in safety, where they were met by Mr Wonnton, the only resident white trader, who received them very kindly, and did all he could with the limited means at his disposal to entertain them. They speak very highly of his kindness, also of the kindly manner in which the natives treated them. They then for the first time learnt of the fate of the Garston, the Rapid having been at Penrybn a week previously in search of the captain and boat's crew of that vessel which reached Wallis Island. After the crew of the Flying Venus had been four weeks on I'enrhyn without seeing a vessel, the supply of provisions on the island began to run short, and the captain got ten ot his men to volunteer to go to Samoa, 900 miles distant. They obtained from Mr Wonnton a small lifeboat which formerly belonged to the Derby Park, and started on their perilous voyage. The prospect was rather a Eerious one —

900 MILES IN A SMALL OPEN BOAT only 24 feet over all, with two tins of biscuits, some water, and cocoanuts ; bub, nothing daunted, the men went on their way bravely. On Sunday, the 7th October, they reached the island of Manahiki, wheve they were most kindly received by the natives and by them furnished with some welcome additions to their limited supplies of food. Whilst there one of their number, named Goldspring, an A.8., either tired of hie perilous journey or pimtten with some damsel on the isle of beautiful women, refused to go any further, and bj' his own i desire was left behind. His comrades proceeded on their way, and for the first few days had good weather. During the last three days Ihe wind rose and they had to encounter a heavy eea, but the little boat, which behaved splendidly, withstood the wind and sea, and after steering a direct course of 846 miles they

SIGHTHBD THE ISLAND OF UPOLU at sunset on Sunday, the 13th, and landed on the following day, the 14th. They were, on landing, very kindly treated "by the Samoans ; and on the following day, having heard that the Lubeclc was in port, pro ceeded to Apia, hoping to catcli that vessel and have the wreck reported. In this, however, they were unsuccessful, as the Lubeck had gone before their arrival. Tho names of those who arrived in Apia are :—: — E. Urell, first mate ; F. Neilson, second mate ; A. Attberg, steward ; VV. Rapke, boatswain ; Fetting, sailmaker ; F. Turner, apprentice ; and H. ISTassun, Jas. Carroll, and R. Nadjie, A.B.'s. The men all looked in the best of health, ana did not appear to be at ail injured by their long and anxious trip. They speak very highly of Che treatment they received both from whitoa and natives ab Penrhyn. Manahiki and Samoa. They immediately reported the wreck to the British Consul (Col. de Coetlogon), who, recognising the need for at once sending assistance to Captain Kerr and his companions, chartered McArthur and Co.'s schooner Daisy, which vesael left on the following day with a supply of provisions and instructions to bring the castaways, if still on tho island, to Samoa. Mr Urcll, the mate ot the vessel, states that the reef on which they struck is neither on the chart noi mentioned in the sailing directions. It is covered with 21 feet of water, and is about five miles from the coast, on tho noi th-eastern side ot the island. The wreck was sold by auction by her owner (Mr Kerr), and realised 205 dollars, Mr Wonnton, of Penrhyn, being the purchaser.