THE COUNTY OF ROXBURGH.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12478, 14 April 1906, Page 4

THE COUNTY OF ROXBURGH.

TEN LIVES LOST,

(run association thjuuv.) AUCKLAND, April 12. News has bdan received that the three-masted schooner County of Roxburgh, for whose safety a good deal of anxiety has been felt for some time past in shipping circles, was wrecked on the Island of Takaroa. Ten of the crew were drowned.

Fourteen survivors arrived here by tbe Taviuni to-day. The County of Boxburgh was commanded by Captain Leeley, and was bound from Caldera (Chili) to Melbourne, in ballast.

It appears that for two .days the wind blew hard. No land was in sight. On February Bth, at six o'clock in the evening, the vessel found herself off land, and was immediately brought to by a big wave that carried her over the reef of the Island of Takaroa (Inamatus).

Nine men got away in one of the boats, which subsequently capsized, and seven of them were drowned. Two apprentices named Richardson and Sterling, who were unable to swim, kept afloat by means of lifebelts, and reached land safely. OF the men who remained on board, two—H. Anderson and Parsons—were washed overboard and drowned, while the third one—Wagna—an export swimmer, jumped into tbe sea, but failed to reach shore.

The following are the names of the ten men who were lost:—Herd, Distil, Alderog, Pareons, Wagna, H. Anderson, Weigner, —. Andorson, Koch, and Cordis.

The names of the survivors are:— Captain Lesley, Millar (first mate), Ockendon (second mate), Brown (tliind mate), Roberts (cook), Sterling (apprentice). Richardson (apprentice), Krahl, Hendrick, Bnadisto, Robson, Ceaoe, Marshall and Harris (seamen).

They remained for three weeks on the islandj which had been devastated by storm, and procured their food from the stranded vessel. The provisions weir shared with the natives.

Nine of the castaways were rescued by tihe schooner Temuriaroha, which brought tham to Papeete. Six remained on the island with the captain. Three arrived at Papeete on the 28th March by the sdhooner Pakarever, and two others by tSie FranK Australo. Tho sixth man remained on the island, where he intends to marry a Pnamotu girl. Three of the crow went to America by tihe Mariposa, tihe rest arriving here by the Taviuna.