THE AEON WRECK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 239, 2 October 1908, Page 3

THE AEON WRECK.

ARRIVAL OF THE CASTAWAYS. INTERESTING NARRATIVE. Suva, October 1. Fifty-four of the Aeon's cutaways, including thirty-liv e Chinese, have arrived- at Suva by (be Jlanuka, ali well.

The Aeoa struck on the night of July 18. The captain estimated that he was twenty miles clear of danger. He attributes the accident to the influence of the currents. Life preservers were supplied uiirt the boats were got ready. The crew and passengers behaved splendidly The captain took soundings and decided to wait till daylight. No one was able to sleep, all waiting to take to the boats if it should be necessary. Daylight showed that they were three hundred yards distant from a desert island. A boat under th e first, officer went ashore and secured a cable to enable the boats with the passengers to land. Ladies and children went first. All hands spout the day exposed to the sun and without food. Thrtv canvas twits were erected for the ladies.

the officers and the crew respectively. Then a supper, with plenty of tinned meats, biscuits and t«a, was served. There was no living thing on the island, not even a mosquito. A condenser was rigged and this supplemented the local supply of wa-

tcr. which was strong with lime. Fine weather with strong south-east winds prevailed. The party built eight tents. A hospital was built for Mrs. Patrick, to whom a baby girl was born 21 hours before the Manuka arrived. A I trained nurse and every convenience were provided at the confinement. | The Aeon is high and dry, broadside on to the sea. Only smail damage has been done to the two million feet of timber on board. The general cargo in the 'tween-decks is uninjured. The Manuka also brought five 'Hundred bags of the Aeon's, mails. The Aeon ran smoothly on to the coral rock at Christmas Island. The night was very dark and the current strong. The engines were kept running astern for an hour and a half, hut the wind swung the steamer broadside on.

I The Manuka arrived on September I 22 and found the castaways all weli. I They were delighted at succour coming so soon. j The skilful manner in which the Ma. , "iuka was handled by Captain Jfarrisby a: 1 his officers—standing all night off th" dangerous shore with a sir on" curiv.it running, and embarking the passengers and mails without tlve slightest mishap excited great admiration strong the passengers. They passed a re olntwn of commendation. * The passengers embarked safely after 7 p.m.. despite a jumping sea," which made the conveyance of '.Mrs. Patrick and the baby especially difficult, j The Aeon lies on an even keel, but j her recovery is hopeless. Her bottom is knocked out and she is full of water. <Siven good weather, much of the cargo could be saved. The American supply ship Solace is to kins the Aeon's .saloon passengers /to San Francisco. The Solifee will rejoin the fleet at Honolulu.

THE CAPTAIN'S STATEMENTS. CAUSE OF THE WRECK, 1 A WOMAN'S ACCOUNT. • Suva. Thursday. Captain Downie was interviewed this aflernoon, but was reticent as to the cau-e of the disaster, attributing it,» however, to the strong current. "We were," lie said, ''four weeks fitting aa engine in the life-boat. On August IT we. started for Fanning Island, myself, the chief engineer, the second mate, and tile third engineer. The engine broke down the first day and the jib and rudder broke Having no sails we drifted about until the current carried us bju*k to Christmas Island, effecting a landing next morning, six miles from camp. We set to work re-fitting the wat with sails, and. though the engine broke down often, the sails kept us going until we reached Fanning Island on September 18. The Manuka picked us up on the 22nd and proceeded to Christmas IMaud to succour our castaway companions. The Manuka was unable to anchor. With difficulty all were "Ot aboard by noo n of the 24th. No one* was left in charge ot the snip, wJiicli is not broken."

the Judy passengers states:' *t was a dark night when the wreck owurred and great confusion prevailed. The Chinese grabbed ail the lifebelts and did nothing for anyone but the captain. The boats could not he low-. ni first ' OW ™S to " a pan'c among the Chinese. Th c captain keirt very corl, and finally all were provided wit a belts None dared to go below, and waited on the deck till daylight, when we rejoiced to see land, thou-% it was bare and desolate. It was miserable sitting on the rocks in the sun. Everybody did all they could for us. A case of preserved milk was saved and given to Mrs. Patrick and the children Jraally tne men built a hospital and she had all she wanted. When we knc-< tire steamer was coming, we all broke down and cried. It was such a relief! i atti»r what seemed an eternity of wai*i ing»."

The Chinese looted the wreck. Th* caplan, ordered them off. Thev refused to do shore work. There was always a European guarding the Chinese who were armed with knives and pistols got from tn* car£«. . * Mrs .Patrick was confined t<r her bed wl.eu the Manuka arrived, and the bed wn-. lifted and placed in the boat, and hasted on to the deck. Life on the island was wearisome, an incident being tiie catehwp of a «