SUNDAY ISLAND WRECK.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1921, Page 3

SUNDAY ISLAND WRECK.

THE COLUMBIA RIVER. A HAZARDOUS VOYAGE. j: „ J FOURTEEN DAYS IN OPEN BOAT. Seven members of the crew of the Columbia River, a five-masted wooden schooner which was wrecked on Sunday Island at 4 a.m. on September 8, while bound from Auckland to Portland, arrived at Auckland by the Niagara on Friday. Six members were left behind on Sunday Island, and H.M.S. Chatham left Suva last Monday to rescue them. A story of hardship and endurance was told by Captain N. Murchinson and men of the Columbia River, who made the trip from Sunday Island to Suva, a distance of 750 miles, in 14 days in the ship’s lifeboat, says the New Sealand Herald. Leaving the wrecked vessel on September 11, by means of sail and oars they at first thought of making for Auckland, a distance of 500 miles. Fear that they would be blown from their course by westerly gales caused them to change their course and to make for Tonga. Realising, however, that there was no wireless plant in Tonga, the captain decided that it would be better to go to Suva, where they would be able to get into touch with the owners of the ship by wireless. However, after 24 hours in the boat the captain again changed his mind and once more decided on malting for Tonga. Shortly after deciding upon this course they were compelled to heave to for the best part c-f three days owing to a north-east-to-north gale springing up. Their position became so serious that two sea anchors had to be used to keep the boat from drifting, and oil was poured into the sea. No sooner had the gale subsided that a two-days’ calm set in. The sails were then of no value to the crew, and the men took turns at the oars, which proved of little avail owing to the prevalence of what the captain called a “lumpy sea.” When they reached latitude 22deg. 30min. south they ran into south-east trade and then came along under sail to Suva, which was reached on Sunday afternoon, September 25. VESSEL STRIKES CLIFF BOW FIRST. Referring to the wreck of his vessel Captain Murchinson said that after leaving Auckland on September 6 they made good time before a south-east - breeze, and at noon on September 8 ho expected to make the Esperanto Reef, but he found that the ship had gone to leeward, and at 4 o’clock in the afternoon she was 30 miles west of Curtis Island. At 4 o’clock next morning Captain Murchinson said he was called by the second mate, who said the ship was alongside fin island. He went on deck, and within five minutes the wreck occurred, the ship striking a cliff bow first. At daybreak a line was run ashore and provisions from the ship placed on the land. Parties were sent out to search -for any sign of human life on the island, but none was discovered. They came across- a great many goats, which were quire tame, but these appeared to be the only live things about, apart from seagulls and other birds which frequent such places. The prospect of spending six months or more on the island did not appeal to Captain Murchinson. who said that it would have been quite all right so long as the ship remained in her position and they could get fresh water. Accordingly, ; on Saturday, September 10, he called > for volunteers from among the crew to accompany him in the lifeboat, which ‘ was 22ft." long by 6ft. broad and 2£ft. deep, in an endeavor to get assistance. Seven men volunteered, and the having been provisioned, they set out as stated on the following day, and 14 days later reached Suva, after having bail a most trying experience.

PERILOUS TRIP IN SHIP’S BOAT. - Robert Middlemiss, one of the able seamen who reached Auckland last* week, and who is going to relatives at Te Puke, said when the ship struck he was awakened by all hands being piped on deck. In the faint light of the dawn be saw the ship in the surf at the foot of towering cliffs, rising sheer to a height of seven hundred feet. The second mate, who was in charge of the watch when the vessel struck, jumped from the end of the jib-boom with a light line and made his way through the surf to the rocks,,where he. hauled in a wire from the ship, and made fast to a large pinnacle of rock. The wire was heaved tight by the crew and a bos’un’s chair with an endless fall rigged on it. By this lime, the daylight, enabled them to observe their position clearly. The captain decided to leave in the ship’s boat for Suva, and called -for volunteers. The lifeboat was provisioned with a large stock of tinned meat, biscuits and tinned fruit. Embarked upon their perilous voyage, the mariners kept an anxious eye to the weather. For three days a strong gale blew, raising a heavy sea which broke aboard the boat. They hove to for three days and rode ’on two sea anchors, meanwhile pouring oil on the water and bailing continuously. During the voyage three men watched and three slept' - in watches. The continuous glare of the tropical sun on the water and the intense heat 'and anxiety made the men somewhat light-headed, and affected them so that upon arriving at -Suva after 14 days ■sailing, they were unable to stand up. and broke out in salt-water boils. The crew was taken on board the H.M.S. Chatham and cared for by the sailors, 'of whose kindness the shipwrecked men spoke very highly.