HURRICANE IN THE TONGAN GROUP.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14599, 25 February 1913, Page 3

HURRICANE IN THE TONGAN GROUP.

* WRECK OF A SCHOONER. (P-ESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, February 24. Tho Island steamer Atua, which arrived from tho Pacific Islands last evening, brought news of a severe hurricane, which swept down on the Tongan Group on the morning of Feb-1 ruary 10th, with scarcely three minutes' | warning. The hurricane was accoin-1 panied by torrential rain. When it burst upon Nukualofa, the American ; schooner, Borealis, had' arrived at the , Island port a few days previously from Columbia river, and was discharging a cargo of lumber. Captain F. Clintborn was aboard with ten officers and men. Strenuous efforts were mado when the storm burst to securely moor the vessel, but it was fdtind impassible. An attempt was made to take her out of tho harbour. Tlie schooner's moorings were unlashed, but no sooner had the ropes been loosened than the vessel was lifted by terrific seas and swept on to tho reef, which runs parallel with tho Nukualofa wharf. Her stern struck tho reef with tremendous force, and her rudder was driven upwards tight through the hull. A mountarnous sea again lifted the vessel and. stern on, drove her back against the wharf. The impact was sufficient to smash into atoms several feet of the fciTO-concrete structure, and the stern of the vessel for 12 feet was broksn clean away. At this stage tho crow wero inclined to give themselves up for lost, but the captain ordered them to jump just as the* vessel was being lifted by another big sea. Given, ono of the crew, sprang on/to the wharf, and tho remaining men were fortunate in being given another chance to reach safety, for tho wind again drove the vessel against tho wharf, before tho sea had,time to take her on to the reef. They managed to scramble on to the wharf just in time, a_ the vessel was being swept past, heading for the reef. Tlie schooner was then driven on to tho reef. Flames were seen about 4 a.m. issuing from the forecastle, where several oil lamps had been left burning Iby the crew. The flames secured a good hold, and the vessel was burned to the water's edge, wliile resting on a rugged part of the reef. By daylight practically nothing could be seen of the schooner, and she subsequently broke UP