WRECK OF A BARQUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 255, 21 October 1908, Page 3

WRECK OF A BARQUE.

STRIKES A SUBMEUGED ROCIv' ALL THE CREW SAVED. Received 20. 9.13 p.m. Sydnev, Last Night. The crew of the British barque Fireshire reached Sydney to-day by the Island steamer .Muniar.i. the barque having been wrecked on Tabilewa Island, in the Gilbert Croup. The Fifeshire left Newcastle for Poitlaud, Oregon State of America, oil 2nd August, with a cargo of 20110 tons of coal. On the afternoon ot 21st August, when the vessel was bowling along with a fair wind, she struck a .submerged shoal to the leeward of Tabitewa with such force that the boat was carried over on to the s econd shoal, where sinremained bumping heavily. The weatb-r was fine at the time. The crew, twenty four a'l told. ! launched the boats and reached the ! island of Tebarabali. where they were kindly treated by the natives. Thence they were conveyed to Tarawa, when they boarded the .Muliiara.

The latest report i- that the Fire shire is Iving lirmk on the reef on .1.1 even keel! all her masts standing. There is apparently no hope of refloating her or securing any salvage.

The disaster is attributed to a strong southerly current. No break was visible in the reef to indicate danger. WRECK. AND CARGO HOLD. licceived 21. 0.50 a.m. Sydney, Last Night.' The l-'ifeshire was insured in a Home office for .CUOOII. The wreck and cargo have been sold for C 5 to a Sydney firm of Chinese Island traders. The captain attributes the wreck to striking an unchartered shoal unknown to masters of vessels trading to the Islands,