THE AEON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 229, 21 September 1908, Page 2

THE AEON.

WRECKED OFF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. .MAILS SAFE. By Telegraph.—l'resß Association. Auckland, Saturday. The Pacific ciMu reports tliat Ihe Aeon, for which searck Had 'been made lor sonic tune, was wrecked oil' Christmas Island, in Uie Pacific Ocean. Of 488 bags of mails 150 wciv savwd. TJiey will probably be forwarded by the steamer Manuka. Wellington, Saturday. The Secretary of Uie Post, Ollice nas received a caible, forwarded by the superintendent at Fanning island, as follows:—The Aeon was wrecked at Christmas Island. JLTie Manuka will probably pick up 150 bags of New Zealand mails which are reported to be safe. The cable superintendent at Doubtless Bay Urns received the following from the Pacific Oablc Company's superintendent at Panning Island:—The Aeon was wrecked at Christmas Island. The officer reports that of the total of about 488 bags of mails, 150 were saved undamaged. The Manuka will probably pick thusc up on the 24th inst. The Postal Department has received word from its agenU at San Francisco tlhat the Aeon had 14 bags of mails for New Zealand.

DETAILS OF THE WRECK. SURVIVORS REACH FANNING ISLANa Suva, September 19. The Aeon was wrecked on July 18 off Uie south-east point of Christmas Island. All bands, some fifty, including four ladies and two children, also 500 mail bags were saved. Amongst the cargo were oil engines for the launches, one of which was fitted into the boat as an auxiliary. Four men started for Fanning Island but encountered bad -wcatlhcv, and the boat was damaged. They returned to Christmas Island and re-fitted and sailed again last Wednesday and arrived at Fanning Island to-day with the captain and second officer and two engineers on board. The people camping on Christinas Island are getting water from the shin and have six months' rations, including two sheep. A house has been built for the ladies. The Aeon' is a total wreck, and Hie lower holds aiv full of water.

HEAVY WEATHER AT TIME OF THE WRECK. PICKING IP THE CASTAWAYS. Received 20, 4.40 p.m. Sydney, September 20. Heavy weather prevailed at tire time of the wreck. It i s feared that salvage operations will be useless. The boat took four days to reach Fannin" Island. " The Manuka is due at Fanninn- Island on Tuesday, and will be instructed to pick up the castaways. PLENTY OF WATER. CONSIDERATION RIB LADY PASSENGERS.

LAND ALL BARREN ROCK. . A LUCKY PENNANT. Received 20, 0.40 a.m. Sydney, Last Night. A Renter message received to-day states that the Aeon's passeiu'crs i.iclude the Rev. -Mr. Patrick, withliis wife and two children, a nurse, and servant, wlio was going to Pagopngo as chaplain; and Mistress Riddle, who was going to join her husband, Lieutenant Riddle, at Pagopngo.

Wells near the scene of tho wreck, yield plenty of brackish water, but drinkable. A small quantity of fresh water brought from the ship was reserved for .Mistress Patrick. The onlv ease of milk was also kept for her anil her children. There is plenty of ten, coffee, and cocoa, but no sugar. The land is all "barren rock, there being no shelter from the sun till tents and houses are erected. The ladies' boots arc worn out. Cases of rubber' shoes were found and cut down for the ladies' use.

On .the second attempt to leave the island, the ladies made for tho boat, for luck, a Southern Cross pennant with the motto "Lone." THE INSURANCES, Received 21, 1 a.m. Sydney, September 20. ' The Aeon was insured in London of-' iiccs for £50,000. The cargo, valued at ;£IOO,OOO, is understood to be lately insured. "

LIST OF THE OFFICERS.

Auckland, Last Night. The officers nf the Aoon consisted of lapram Ijotfiiio, wlios»> pamnd linn; ]). Thomas, chief officer; A. S. Lock, second officer; M. Lancastor, third officer; J. Mirrott, chief 'engineer; H. Irving, second engineer; W. A. Thornton, third engineer; M. Hastie, fourth engineer. Tlie crew consists of •10 men, believed to be mostly white although ffiioro atv Oliinosc aboard. niere arc also several passengers, two American naval officers and their wive« who were bound for thl! United States naval station at Pago Pago, Samoa, whence they were to proceed from Apia.