Wrack of the West Australian.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 208, 6 September 1904, Page 4

Wrack of the West Australian.

LOST ON A COKAL KEEl<\ EXCITING EXPEDIENCES. CHEW TAKE TO THE BOATS. The crow of the barijue West Ausytrol'iau, which was recently wrecked on the New Caledonian coavt, whilst on the voyage 10 SurpiUto island irom Wellington, arrived at Sidney on August 2V irom Noumea. The vessel left Wellington on July 21, and soon after was overtaken by heavy weather, during which the water tanks were washed l ovepbuurd. The vessel put into Noumea to replenish her supplies, and leit there on August 8, bound for Surprise Island, in the Chesterfield Group, to load guano for the DluiT (N.Z.). All went well until the following morning, wilien the barque struck on Campbell's Keef. Thp weather was fine at the time. Efforts were made to get the vessel oil, tout to no a\uil and the captain, af'ter consultation with the civw, decided to abandon thq vessel, as she wus a hopeless wreck.

The crew escaped from the wieck in two boats. The vessel was rolling heavily at the time, and the captain's boat struck her starboard bow on the ship's rail as she was being put into the water. Provisions were put in the boats, and at nine o'clock, live hours after the vessel struck, the crew left the ship. Captain and Mrs. iiai'bcr and seven men went in one, and the remaining six menbers of the crew took the other, which was in ohargtj of the first male, Mr. Cottier. After the men had been rowing for about half an hour the mate's 'bout had got a short distance ahead of the other, mid noticed the captain signalling to them to return to his assistance. They pulled back, a nd found that his b,oat was almost full of water, which made its way through the planks that had been damaged when the •boat was dashud against the rail. A seaman and an apprentice, were taken from the mate's boat to help bale out the water, which was iuuking its way into the boat so rapidly tliat two buckets had to be employc.il to keep her from lilling. On another start being made the captain gave instructions not to land at the large island that was in sight, as it wus inhabited by cannibals.

The two paities kept in company for the greater part of the night, but about three o'clock in the morning Mr Cotter discovered, that the captain's b|oat .had disappeared. The men rowed on, however, thinking the other would overtake them, but it did not. At last the men in the mate's boat .became anxious for the safety of the captain's boat. They burned blue lights, shouted and whistled, while rowing along the shore 0 f the island searching for them. Eventually a number 0 f 1 ghts were seen moving about among the trees, and while they were trying to ascertain if they were signals from the captain's party a bright light suddenly shot out from the shore and apparently reached to a smaller island not far distant. The mate's party .became alarmed at tf* signals and thought they were made by the cannibals mentioned by the captain. They waited a few minutes before changing: their tactics, but when the fires and lights became brighter the shipwrecked men concluded that a tribe of natives was about to attack them, and, fearing hostilities, they rowed away from the island. All that night tliey pulled as hard as they could, unid when daylight came they decided t 0 make for the reef on which the barque had struck, as the wind was favourable in that •direction.

Thoroughly exhausted, the mate's party landed to tl re southward of the spot where the vessel had struck. It was low tide, and as the men were played out by thdr exertions they pulled the boat over the reef into a small poo.l, and went to sleep in it. While they were resting there the wind increased an force, and it became so strong that they were unable to get away from the reef.

PROVISIONS EXHAUSTED. For three days the men remained in their boat, subsisting on small ■quantities of biscuits,, which they had taken from the 'wreck. At the end 01" that timo the provisions became exhausted, -and they were without fresh water. It was then decided to make another effort to get away from the reef, and alter struggling against the wind and strong current for several hours they succeeded iii reaching a small islund, where they landed. Armed \vith an axe, two of the men searched the island for food, while the remainder stood by tiie boat, ready to shove off and row away in the event of an attack by the natives. During the search a number at cocoanut trees were found and a large quantity of cocoanuts were gathered. The milk quenched the men's thirst, and us there were plenty of large shellfish scattered along the beach they satisfied their hunger.

When it was found that the island was uninhabited, ia camp was made on shore, and the party remained there f o r two days, during which time they made a sail out of a sailor's bag and an old weather cloth,. As soon as the sail was completed the men determined to make for New Caledonia. Tlhe boat was filled w-ith shellfish and cocounuts, and the voyage commenced. Sail was set, and the men left tho island bohind them, but the boat drifted to leeward, and the men got off their intended course- During the afternoon a landing was made on another small island, and here, among the rocks 0 n the beach, a pool of stagnant water was found. The water keg was filled, the water toeing strained' through a piece of rag. The men rested on the islaiuHhat night and the following night, but at daylight the following day again took to the boat. The wind was fair in tho direction in which the party wished to proceed, and gfcod progress was made. That day a small steamer was sighted. Signals were given, but it passed by without seeing the shipwrecked men. Until nightfall the ihoat was allowed to run before the wind, and then the party landed on a small island, which they took to bo the mainland. Rain, which had been faHiogi in showers for two days previously, descended in ui 51s 01 ptu[ uvnu oili pui) 'sj.uoj.io:) the boat and ajlowthe rain to soak through their clothing, as they were afraid to sleep 0 n shore. In the morning the men came across a fire, and thinking it was a cannibals' camp, the men rowed away. That day, which was the eighth since tho wreck occurred', was destined to Hie the end of their suffering, for while they were endeavouring to reach Noumea the steamer Saint Antoine hove in sight. Their signals were seen, and the men were taken on board the steamer, which hiwl previously embarked tho captain and his party. The captain had anchored his boat off the large island that was sighted from the wrecked ibanqiue, and when morning came, and no natives were sun, the plarty had landed. After a. short journey they reached a convict settlement, where they were hospitably received.