AN ISLAND WRECK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 35, 11 February 1892, Page 5

AN ISLAND WRECK.

BRIGANTINE KYKO LOST.

ALL HANDS SAVED.

SIX DAYS IN AN OPEN BOAT,

By tho arrival of tho steamer Richmond from tho South Ssa Islands yesterday afternoon, news came to hand of the total loss of another of Auckland's once fine fleet of Island trading vessels, the locally-owned brigantine Ryno. Tho Ryno, which had for sonle three years past been engaged in tho Pacific Island trade for Messrs J. T. Arundel and Co., was up on a visit hence to Flint Island, a small isolated spot north of the Society Islands and close to the equator, when she went ashore on tho reof at that locality and became a total wreak. Captain Arthur Tribe, the master of tho Ryno, returned to Auckland yesterday by the Richmond after a perilous experience, which included nearly a week's ocean voyaging in an open boat. The Ryno was a smart little Omaha-built brigantine, and had sailed out of this port for the last eighteen yeans. She had been expected here for some weeks past trotn Flinb Island, whither she had gone with stores for Mr Arundel's employees at that station, but until tho Richmond arrived she was hourly expected to turn up hero from her Island cruise. THE RYNO'S CRUISE. The Ryno left Auckland on November 25 of last year, for Flint Island direct, with a small part cargo of stores and provisions and nno passenger, William Cozens, son of Mr George Cozens of this city. After a long and tedious parsago of 39 days, caused by baffling head winds, she arrived oil Flint Island on January 3rd. On the morning of tho 4th Captain Tribe set about making fast with a lino to the reef on the westerly side of the island in order to discharge and load cargo. The wind, which was light, suddenly veered r>und to the northward and then dropped altogether. The brigantino's sails were thrown aback, and then, as the breezo dropped, she drifted rapidly in on to the reef with the strong swell running. A boat's crew out astern tried hard to tow her out; of danger, but it was found impossible to do so, owing to the strength of the sea, and she DRIFTED BODILY ON TO THE REEF,

striking early in the forenoon. She was in so close when the breeze dropped that it was quite impossible to save her from being drifted ashore. A heavy surf was breaking on the reef, and the luckless vessel was driven right up on the coral barrier, where she commenced to break up. Captain Tribe, seeing that there was no chance of saving tho shiD, quickly landed the storos and provisions on board, getting them all ashore safely, and also saved a number of other portable articles of value from tho vessel. The whaleboafc was badly stove in while landing the stores. A!l hands managed to get ashore safely, bub lost most of their belongings. The brigantine

SOON BECAME A TOTAL WRECK.

The shipwrecked crew found ample accommodation on shore in the buildings erected by Arundel and Co., and most of thorn are still remaining on the island under the charge of Messrs Gill and E"is.

After spending several days on the island, Cnpb. Tribe determined to make for tha Society Group in an open boat, in order to try and fetch Tahiti, which lay about 600 miles south of Flint Island. Accordingly on the 14bh January he and the mate of the wrecked vessel (Mr C. Ol.sen) accompanied by the steward (A. Domer) set oub for the southward in an 18-feeb open whaleboat, which belonged to the station on Flint's. The rosfc of the crew elected to remain on the island, where they had plenty ot food, rather than risk a boat voyage. After being at sea for rive and a-half days, during which the three men in the boat had a very uncomfortable experience in the wet squally woather which prevailed, the whaleboat, navigated by Captain Tribe, arrived safely at Huaheine, one of the northernmost of the Society Group, about 550 miles south of Flint Island. Luckily, the boat had been amply provisioned before leaving, and with a fair breeze she made good progress on her adventurous -voyage southwards. At Huaheine Captain Tribe and his two companions were very kindly treated by a Danish resident, who owned a small 14-ton cutter tracking to Tahiti. After remaining on HuaheTne for several days, the party took passage for Tahiti in this cutter, which was copra-lad en, and arrived safely ab Papoets on the 24th ulb. Here they found the s.s. Richmond, and Captain Tribe and Mr Olsen took passage by her for Auckland.

Captain Tribe reports that the following members of the crew still remain on Flint Island :—W. Fisher, Simonsen, Matheson, T. Gillibrand, Meadows, and W. Cozens (paasenger). THE WRECKED VESSEL. The Ryno was a handsome little brigantine of 85 tons register, and was builb at Omaha in 1873 by the late Mr Matheson, who was subsequently killed while launching his schooner Three Choere. She was purchased some three years ago by Capt. W. C. Daldy, and used by Mr Arundel in hia Island trade as tender and despatch vessel, Mr Geo. Cozens being managing owner.

The Ryno and Three Cheers have been regarded as two of the smartest schooners saFling out of this port. The Ryno had been engaged in the Island trade for many years, being for several years past very carefully navigated by Captain Tribe, and had done a great deal of voyaging in the Central Pacific.

The hull of the Ryno was insured for the sum of £600 in the South British Insurance Company.