AMERICAN SCHOONER LOST

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 46, 24 February 1913, Page 2

AMERICAN SCHOONER LOST

CREW'S NARROW ESCAPE. (B* TEIEGBAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION,) AUCKLAND, This Day. .The Island steamer Atua, which ar« rived from the Pacific Islands lasi evening, brought news of the severe hurricane which swept down on the Tongan Group on the morning of 10th February. With scarcely three minutes' warning the hurricane, accompanied, by torrential rain, burst 'upon Nukualofa. The American schqori'er 1 Borealis had arrived ' at the Island port a few days previously from Columbia, River, and was discharging'a cargo of lumber. Captain 1?. Clintborn Was aboard with ten officers and men. ~ ■ <> Strenuous efforts were made when the storm burst to securely moor the vessel, but when it was found impossible an attempt was made to take her out of the harbour. t The schooner's moorings wer&s unlashed, but no 'sooner had the ropes been loosened tlian the. Vessel was lifted by terrific seas, and swept on to a reef which runs parallel with Njukuatela -wharf. Her stern struck the reef with tremendous, force, and her rudder was driven upwards right through the hull. A mountainous saa^ 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 ferro-concrete structure, and the stern of the vessel for 12ft was broken clean away. At this stage the crew were inclined to give themselves up as lost, but the> captain ordered them to' jump. Just asi the vessel was being lifted by another big sea, one of the men sprang on to> the wharf. The remaining men were fortunately given another chance to reach' safety, for the wind again"drove;the vessel against the wharf. Before the sea, had time to take her on to the reef they, managed to scramble on to the wharf just in tim& as the vessel was being swept past headlong for the reef. The ! schooner was then driven on to the reef. Flames were seen about 4 a.m. issuing from the forecastle, where several oil lamps had been left' burning' by the crew. The flames secured a good hold, , and^ the vessel was burned to the water's .ed^efwKile. resfing^ign^a'.fUggfed part of the reef. ' By ' daylight practically,, nothing could be seen of the schooner, and she subsequently broke up, '