WRECKS AT THE ISLANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8084, 14 April 1906, Page 2

WRECKS AT THE ISLANDS.

NUMBERS OF LIVES LOST. SURVIVORS AT AUCKLAND. PER MESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, April 11. The four-masted schooner County of Roxburgh (Captaia Healey) bound from Caldera (Chili) to Melbourne in ballast, was caught in a gale on February 6th, Tke crew of fourteen men have arrived hore by the Taviuui, For two days tko wind blew hard, and no land was in sigkt. On the Bth, at six o'clock in the evening, they were right off land, and were immediately " brought to" by a big wave that carried the vessel over the reef of the island of Takaroa (luamatus). Nine men got into a boat, which capsized, and seven of the men were drowned. Two were saved, owing to having life-belts. They were two apprentices, named Richardson and Sterling, and they did not know how to swiiu Out of tke men that remained on board, two, Henderson and Parson, were washed overboard. A third one, AVaguer, an expert swimmer, jumpod into the sea, and was drowned, Tke ten men lost arc Herd, Distil, Aklerog, Parson, Wagner (sailor), two Andersons and Weigner (sailors), Koch, and Cordis. The fourteen saved are Captain Hesley, Millar (first mate), Ockendon (second mate), Brown (third mate), Roberts (cook), Krahl, Hendrick, Sterling aud ltiehardsou (apprentices), Bradisto, Robson, Cease, Marshall, aud Harris.

They remained three weeks on the island, which was devastated; by the storm. They got their food from the vessel, and also fed the natives, until they were rescued by the schooner Jemuriaroha, which brought nine of them to Papeete.

Six of the men remained on the island with the captain and three of them arrived at Papeete on the 28th of March on the schooner Pakarover, and I two others on the Eranee Australe. The sixth man remained on the island, where he intends to marry a Pnamotu girl. Three of the crew went to America by the Mariposa, the rest J arriving by the Taviuni, The schoonor Tahitienne, commanded by Captain George Dexter, is lost. Captain Dexter remained for two days' on a raft before sinking in the waves, and Mr Sheves remained one day on another raft. The two men that were saved were five days on the raft before being able to land on an island. They say that numbers of big sharks followed the wreck, and the captain andsccond mate were eaten by them _as soon "as they fell into the water. It is reported that a mattrass and pillow belonging to Mr Edward Bonnifin, who was on board tho schooner Eimomo, lias been found. There is great fear that tho schooner has been wrecked near Rangiora Island, but up to the present there is no certainty about that. Tho schooner St. Michael started some timo ago for Marquesas Island, whera the Eimomo was bound to, for tho purpose of looking for this schooner, and she is not back yet.