WRECK AT THE ISLANDS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 96, 21 October 1908, Page 5

WRECK AT THE ISLANDS.

Press Assn — By telegraph — Copyright. SYDNEY, yesterday. The crew of the British barque .Fifeshire reached Sydney to-day by the Island steamer Muniara, the barque haying been wrecked on the island Tahitewa, in the Gilbert group. The Fifeshire left Newcastle for Portland, . Oregon, oji August 2nd, with a cargo of 2000 tons of coal. On the afternoon 'of August 21st, she was bowling along with a fair wind, when she struck a submerged shoal to the. leeward of Tahitewa with such force that it carried her over on. to a second shoal, where she remained, bumping heavily. The crew, *•- a]l told, launched -the \ boats, and reached the island Teharahati, where they were kindly treated by the natives. They were then convoyed, to Tarawa, where they boarded the Muniara. The latest report is that the Fifeshire is lying firinJy on -the reef, on an even keel, and all the masts standing, but apparently with no hope of .floating her. The. disaster is attributed to a strong southerly current. •No breaker is visible at the reef to indicate danger. " :The Fifeshire was insured in a Home office for £6000. The wreck and the cargo have been sold to a Sydney firm of Chinese island traders for £5. The captain attributed the wreck to striking an uncharted .shoal unknown to the masters of vessels trading in the Islands.