LOSS OF THE SYRIA.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5830, 21 May 1884, Page 4

LOSS OF THE SYRIA.

PROBABLE LOSS OP LIFE. j IFKBSS ASSOCIATION TBLJSGBAM.] j AUCKLAND, May 20. j The " Fiji Times " of the 14th inst. gives the following particulars of the wreck of the Syria:—Considerable commotion was was caused in town on Monday shortly after noon when it was known that a boat had arrived from the coolie ship Syria, then lying stranded in the neighborhood of Nasalai Point. At first it was stated the scene of the disaster was Astrolabe Reef, but on enquiry the following facts were elicited: —Tne b'yria, a full rigged iron ship of 1140 tons, Benson, master, left Calcutta on the 12th March with 4SO coolies on board, bound for Fiji. Her passage was very good and a fortunate one. On Sunday her course was shaped for Suva, and as the night closed in the wind and sea rose, but i all was supposed to be going well until about 8.30 o'clock, when breakers were seen to the leeward. An attempt was at once made to put the ship about, but she was then within the influence of the swell, and soon struck heavily and was carried up past the edge of the reef. A very heavy sea WR3 then running, which broke bodily over her, smashing in all her boats save one, and sweeping the decks. On sounding the carpenter found four feet of water in the hold, and it was plainly to be seen the case of the vessel was hopeless. About 11 30 o'clock the only sound boat was j lowered, and her mate, engineer, carpenter, | and another European, with three Lascar sailors, were despatched to Levuka to report the disaster and to procure assistance.! With great difficulty they managed to get about five miles through shoals on a falling tide, and there had to anchor for the night. In the morning they saw the main i mast had gone by the board. They then ] continued their journey, and reached Levuka a little after noon. As soon as the disaster was reported steam was got up on board the Union Steamship Company's Penguin, which was fortunately at the wharf, but some delay was occasioned in sending her off, as no one cared to assume the responsibility of giving orders, and it was not till five o'clock that the steamer left, with Captain Cocks, Harbor Master, and Captain Barrocks on board, to see what it was possible to do in the way ©f rendering assistance. The Penguin returned to port about three o'clock yesterday afternoon, and the following is the narrative of her trip -. —lt was dark when the vessel reached the neighborhood of where the wreck was supposed to be lying, and nothing could be seen of her, and the Penguin ran down to Suva with the news, and arrived there about midnight It was then soon known that the news had reached there before her. The b.b. Thistle, which left Levuka early in the morning, arrived in Suva about 8.30 p.m., and reported a wreck on the shore, and Dr. Shaw, chief medical officer of the Syria, had managed to get on shore, and had made hie way to Suva for assistance. At the time the Penguin arrived preparations were almost completed for a start. The s.s. Clyde had steam up, boats and punts had been collected, and boats having been added from the Penguin the steamer with the lot in tow left to go mp inside tho reef. About 12.30 the Thistle was loading stores for Nukutau for coolies who were to bo taken to that island. The Penguin left again for the -wreck at 6.30 next morning', and

found the stranded vessel on the extreme point of Nasalai reef, about twenty nute« from Suva, and thirty from Levuka. HaS she been two cables length further out she would have gone all dear The Penguin arrived abreast of her about 8.15. The foremast and foretopmaet were then alone standing, with the foresail "i loose and set, apparently to help to drive the wreck higher and higher up. She las on the edge of the reef in a fearful eea I which was breaking over her mast head. It was utterly impossible for the steamer to approach her, and even to go too close in As the Penguin left her foremast went by the board, and only the bare hull remained and that showed signs of giving wav amidships. About twenty-five or thirty passengers came to the weather side, and seemed to gaze on the passing steamer but no sign to attract the attention was noticed. The wreck lay about three and a half miles off the shore, but for three hundred yards inside her position was & seething and boiling surf, which none but a stout boat could make wa» J through. Between this and the shot* ' it was comparatively still water and about half a mile from the vessel several canoes and one boat I were lying, apparently to pick up anyone I ■who might get through the surf. Tho Clyde, with her boats and punts, were passed off Nukulau about seven o'clock The breeze was strong-, and she appeared to be getting along very slowly. After the Penguin had passed the wreck about two miles, Captain Cromarcy grieved that he could be of no direct assistance, and only anxious to devise any means ol aiding, he decided to run back to Nuknlau to see if he could tow up any small steamer or boats. When begot luck to Nukulau, the Clyde with her boats was gone, apparently through the back water and the only vessel to be seen was the ps. Cakobau. This was signalled and shortly after she appeared to come out and followed the Penguin, and then steamed back, and again got abreast of the wreck. About noon the ' l tide |had fallen considerably, but in the meantime the wreck had patted amidships just ait the fore-rigging. The fore part' lay at an obtuse angie to the after part. There was> a yawning rent visible ia her 'i side where her plates had .collapsed, and ; not a soul could be seen on the wreck though all glasses on the steamer were turned to her so long aa hopo remained of i distinguishing any one. The Clyde and her boats were not in view, and could not have got up in time, and the canoes and boats which had been seen before had bow disappeared. It is impossible to cay what the jJosB of life, if any, there may have been. The only thing of which those on board the Penguin are certain is thatthere i wa3 no one on the wreck when they passed at noon. Those [saved were on shore, and!" it can be but hoped in spite of the most grave misgivings that all have reached i there in safety. . j