FOUR MONTHS’ DRIFT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1921, Page 9

FOUR MONTHS’ DRIFT.

THRILLING SEA STORY. FRENCH SCHOONER STAGGERS INTO APIA. A thrilling story of the sea was told to a Wellington ’ Times representative by Captain Edwards, la-te harbormaster nt Apia at present residing in Wellington. ‘kfrn interesting arrival in Apia at the end of December last,” said Captain Edwards, “was the French threemasted auxiliary schooner Tqmarii Moorea, of 32 tons burden, which left Papeete on August 18th for Christmas Island. Her rudder was smashed in a heavy gala early 'in September, and the vessel running short of gasoline drifted westward. The captain died of dysentry on November 3Qth, and was buried at sea. The vessel finally made Nukunonu on December 17th and sufficient repairs to the rudder were effected to enable her to make this port. After repairing and taking in fuel supplies, the Tamarii Moorea left for Papeete. I ’went out with the Government launches six miles to meet the vessel which was then to leeward ot the port, and enabled her to terminate her. four months’ wanderings, during which so many trying experiences had befallen her. On several occasions the crew had only a gallon of fresh .water left and food and eneiM fuel alike were scarce. Three natives passengers were on the vessel, and in all there were nine souls aboard.

AFTER THE CAPTAIN’S DEATH.

“After the death of Captain Johan Summer, the charge of the schooner de-

volved upon’ Charles Olafsen, the first mate, and Michael Courson, the purser, both of whom did their best in the face of unpropitious ciceumstances. There were 150 eases of oil on board, as cargo, but this was consumed during the long vovage. There was an 80-h.p. Union gasoline engine installed on the schooner but eventually the batteries ran out and the engine was of little use. Christmas Island was never sighted, blit after drifting about until December 17th thev made Nukunonu, in tlieUnion Group! where the nittives showed them every hospitality. The clue of the island of Nukunonu .wished to report that they had had no visit fiom any vessel for over a year,, and that they were very short of provisions, and clothing, and'that they had no medi“"‘During her drift, the schooner touched at an island thought to be Phoenix Island, but no sign of hah tation was discovered on it by the voyagers. The schooner f«™’ei re ported that on September 9th, whde ttvinv signals of distress, she met a "masted barquentine schooner, probable an American, in Lat. 4 degrees N, Lon<r ltfS-30 W- and th£lt the . ba s‘ quentine proceeded without stopping to assist. DRIFTING TN. GREAT CIRCLES. “Michael Couron, the P'>”e r “ supercargo, was a captain rn the French Dian" five y»rs on the Western front !Xg tle y Greet War. He had some idea how to steer; and, alrcl mouths, he . a.Tip phronoan error of 15 minutes m the chrono meter which means a great deal navigation. The compass was also found to be two points out; and itzSeems that, before these errors were discovered the vessel had simply been going round and Xd in greai 'circles. The mate end Couron had to navigate on a little Ame rican windchart, on which Samoa appeared as a mere speck, and when sighted they were heading straight for the reefs at Upolu. When I went out to the schooner I found that they were right out of bread, meats, and anything of” that sort, and were living simply on the native food that they had picked up at Phoenix Island and Nukunonu. They had no idea where they.* were. Couron asked me what it was they were approaching, and he was much astonished when I told him it was Upolu.