AN EIGHT HOURS' SWIM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 18 October 1907, Page 4

AN EIGHT HOURS' SWIM.

A l-IJIAN .WRECK, Particulars of (he wreck of the cutter Tui Moala in the Fijian Group, and the death of the ltev. Colin ISleazard, are to hand from Sydney. The vessel, it transpires, was driven on to lvatafaga Reef, Eastern Fiji, during a stormy night. The vessel was nuclei- shortened sail, but a vicious squall dismasted her, and she was soon ashore. The captain orderd tlie aneluir to be let go, but the chain snapepd like cotton. The boat was lowered, anil the ltev. Mr Uleazard and the natives were put into it, but it swamped immediately, and all clambered back on to the stranded (-utter. MiHie.l/.ard refused a second attempt to clear in the boat, and so was put on the reel, with a life lino attached to the iutter. At his request, too. he startcil to swim ashore for help, with two natives, all holding on to spars for floats. The two natives soon dropped off, and were drowned. The younger of the two had been clinging for some time to the captainV back. The captain stuck to his task alone, and after being in the water swimming for eight hours, readied the leeside of the island of Katafaga. Search was immediately made for Mr Bleazard, but neither the missionary nor a vestige of the wreck could be found. The"missionary must have been washed away b ythe incoming tide. An attempt was afterward* made to recover his bag. which contained iOI) in cash. The deceased clergyman was a minister of the Methodist Church, and had charge of the Lau Mis>ion district. Mr Blea7ard resided .11 Samoa for 10 years, and went to Samoa four years ago.