AEON'S CASTAWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 317, 2 October 1908, Page 7

AEON'S CASTAWAYS.

ARRIVAL AT SUVA. HOW TJHE WRECK OCCURRED. CAPTAIN BLAMES THE CURRENTS. (DY TEIEOUAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPrEIQSIT.I Suva, October 1. Tlio Manuka lias arrived hero with fiftyfive of tho Aeon's castaways, including 35 Chinese, whom sho rescued from Christmas Island. She also brings 500 bags of tho Aeon's mails. Those of the castaways whoso destination ,-is Samoa will bo taken on thero by tho supply ship Solace —attached to the United States cruiser squadron—and tho Solace will then rejoin tho cruiser squadron at Honolulu. (It was previously announced that the passengers for Samoa include -the Rev. Patrick,' his wife and children, and a nurso and servant, who aro going to Pagopago, where Mr. Patrick is to act as chaplain.) Struct* Smoothly on the Coral. Tho Aeon ran smoothly on to the coral rock on Christmas Island at 9.30 o'clock ori tlio night of July 18. Tho captain then estimated that tho vessel was twenty miles clear of danger. Ho attributes the accident to the currents. Life preservers were supplied, and tho boats got ready. Splendid behaviour was shown. Tho captain then took soundings, and decided to wait till daylight. As may be imagined, thero was no sleep for anyone; all were waiting to take-to tho boats if necessary. Tho night was very dark, and the current strong. The engines were kept,running, astern for an hour and a half, but the wind swung the steamer broadside on tho reef. Tho Landing.—Ufo on the Island. When daylight came it showed,'three hundred yards distant, a desert island, and a boat, under the first officer, went, ashore. a,nd secured there a cable to help the passage of the other 'boats. The. passengers —the ladies and children being, looked .after first—were knded. : They spent tho day exposed to tho sun and foodless. ' Later three canvas tents were erectcd for the ladies, tho officers, and tho crow. All then had supper, thero being plenty of food, consisting of tinned meats; biscuits, and. tea. There is no living thing on the island, not even a mosquito. A condenser was rigged up with the object of supplementing the local supply of water, which was found to be strong, with lime. Fine south-oast weather prevailed.

The men built eight tents, ono to bo used ns hospital for Mrs. Patrick, to whom a baby girl was born twenty-four hours before tlio Manuka arrived at Christmas Island. Mrs. Patrick had a nurse and every con-, venionce at her confinement. Tho Rescue: A Difficult Embarkation. The Manuka, arrived on September, 22, and found tho castaways all well, and delighted at succour, coming so soon. The skilful manner in which the Manuka was handled by Captain Morrisby and his officers all night.off a dangerous shore, with a strong current, and'the embarking'of passengers and mails without the slightest mis-' hap, excited tho great admiration of the passengers, who passed: a resolution of com. mendation. Tho passengers embarked sa.fely after 7 p.m., despito a jumping sea, which mado the conveyance of Mrs.. Patrick: and her baby especially difficult. Condition of the Ship and Cargo. Tho Aeon is high and dry, broadside on. She lies on an even keel, but her recovery is hopeless. The bottom is knocked out, and she is full of water. Given good weather, ; much cargo could be saved. Two million feet of timber and the goneral cargo 'tween decks-- has hot' been injured.

ARMED CHINESE LOOTERS. THEY GRAB LIFEBELTS AND ROB THE WRECK. STRUGGLES OF THE AUXILIARY SAILING BOAT. : ' Suva, October I.'' Captain Downio was interviewed this afternoon, but was reticent as* to tho cause 'of the disaster, attributing it, however, to a strong current. □rifted Back to the Island. "Wo wore," he said, "four weeks fitting ail engine into tho lifeboat. Oil August It wo started for Fanning Island, the boat containing myself, tho chief engineer,- the second mate, and the third engineer. The engine broke down.tho first day', and a jib and the rudder broke. Having no sails,- we drifted about until tho current carried us back to Christmas'lsland. 1 "Effecting a landing , nest morning,, sn miles from camp, wo set to work and rofitted the boat with sails, and, though the engino broke down often, the sails' kept us going until we reached Fanning Island' on September 18. "The Manuka picked us up on September 22, and proceedod to Christmas Island to succour our . castaway companions. Tho Manuka was unable to anchor, but, with difficulty, all wero got aboard by noon of September 24. No one was left in charge of tho ship, which is not broken." Lady Passenger Describes the confusion. One of tho lady passengers states: "It was a dark night when the wreck occurred, and great confusion prevailed. The Chinese grabbed all the lifebelts and did nothing for anyone. Tho boats could not bo lowered at first, owing to tho panic among the Chinese, but the captain kept very cool, and finally all wero provided with lifebelts. "Nono darod to go below, and wo all waited on dcck till daylight, when wo rejoiced to seo land, though it was bare-and desolate. It was miserable sitting on tho rocks in tho sun, but everybody did all they could for us. "A case of preserved milk was saved, ami was given to Mrs. Patrick for the children. Finally, tho men built a hospital and' sho had all she wanted. "When we knew tho steamer was coming wo all broke down and cried. It was such a relief after what seemed an etornity of waiting. , fl Bit of Yellow Peril. "The Chinese looted the wreck, though tho captain ordered them off. They refused to do shoro work. Thore was always a Euro-

pean guarding the Chinese, who were armecj with knives and pistols got from the cargo. "Mrs. Patrick was confined to her bed when the Manuka arrived, and the bed was lifted and placed in the boat, and was then hoisted on to tho dcck of tho Manuka. "Life on the Island was very wearisome, tho only incident being the catching of a wild cat." The Aeon is insured in London offices for ■Cso,ooft. The cargo is valued at and it is understood that it is largely insured. -At •a meeting of underwriters in Sydney on September 22 it was decided, in view of the lack of definite information as to the condition of the wreck, to defer action till tlio captain'i report is received