WRECK OF THE WEST AUSTRALIAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 206, 29 August 1904, Page 5

WRECK OF THE WEST AUSTRALIAN.

ARRIVAL OF THE CREW. A Terrible Experience. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, August 28. The crew of the West Australian, which was wrecked at New Caledonia, have arrived in Sydney. The captain states that the vessel encountered rough weather after leaving Wellington. During the gales the water tanks were washed overboard, and he put into Noumea to replenish. When leaving he struck Campbell's Reef. Efforts to float the vessel were unavailing, and he decided to abandon her. They started for Art Island. The captain's boat arrived in safety, and the first mate's boat, containing five, arrived after nightfall. They were afraid to land, fearing they would be massacred, and drifted about for eight days, suffering great hardships, owing to shortness of food and water. Eventually they were picked up by the steamer Saint Antoine, which previously took the captain's party off the island. ——-— LATER DETAILS. FOOD FROM DESERT ISLAND. -TER THREE DATS' HUNGER. (Received 9.29 ajn.) SYDNEY, this day. After leaving the island where the cap tain's party landed, the mate's boat turned to the wreck of the West Australian, where they remained for three days. Food and water were exhausted, and they were obliged to face the stormy weather and a rough sea. Eventually they reached an uninhabited island and obtained a supply of cocoanuts and shellfish. Subsequently they landed at two other islands, and got a little water, which supplemented that afforded by the rain. They were shaping their course for Noumea when they were rescued. , —