WRECK OF THE S.S. FIJIAN. SHE STRIKES A REEF IN THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 130, 3 June 1889, Page 3

WRECK OF THE S.S. FIJIAN. SHE STRIKES A REEF IN THE NEW HEBRIDES.

THE VESSEL LOOTED BY NATIVES, PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE OF PASSENGERS AND UKEW. [ DNITKD PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received Juno 3, 12 40 p.m.) Sydney, This Dat. Tho Union Company's steamer Fijian bound from Molbourne to New Hebrides, struck a roef at 4 a.m. on 13th May, off Tanna, one of tho Group. Mr. Harloy, second ofliccr, wan in charge at the time. Tho vessel 8 1 rook with a tremendous crash, and tho fore compartment filled immediitoly. The danger was unseen till the ate amor wan almost on to it, the officer mistaking tho breakers on tho reof for white water occasioned by an approaching squall. As tho Fijian was beginning to settlo down the captain ran her ashore on a sandy bottom Tlireo hundred armod natives were on the be-voh watching the movements of the fiteamcr, and when tho passengers landed they were at once surrounded, but suffered no harm. Noxt morning the natives looted tho ship, but Captain Fielding had thoughtfully taken tho precaution of destroying all tho spirits on board. The Rev. Mr. Watt, Presbyterian mis- : sionary, visited the wreck, and told them j that, owing to the bloodthirsty character of tho natives, he was unable to guarantee tho lives of the castaways five minutes ; but but eventually he succeeded in taking the passengers off and also the captain, who was 111 bod health, and convoying them to the mission station. It is believed that the lives I of the passengers were only saved through tho attontion of the natives being concentrated on plundering the vessel. Tho labour vessel Eliza and Mary sighted and stood by tho wreck. The Bteamor Tenterden, which has arrivpd from Auckland, brought on the crew to Sydney. They speak with terms of approbation of the way in whioh the six passongers who were on board behaved. They belonged to Suva and Melbourne

[The Fijian is a screw-steamer, built of steel at Jarrow in 1886. Her dimensions arc— Longth, 215 ft; breadth, 30ft 2in; dopth, 15ft 3in. Her tonnage is 988 gross and 633 net, and her engines 130 h.p. She has only boon purchased within tho last fivo months by tho Union Steamship Compiny, and, wo understand, is valuod at £30,000 and insured for £13,000.]