NEWS FROM PITCAIRN

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 121, 22 May 1920, Page 5

NEWS FROM PITCAIRN

LOSS OF A SCHOONER. The peaceful life, of the ' Pitcairn Islander has been disturbed by the loss of its only local means of communication, with the outside world—the schooner Messenger. It was by means of this vessel that business connection" was made passible between Pitcaivn and Mangareva, an island about 300 miles to the north-west, and the nearest place for trading purposes. The trip to Mangareva could be made under favourable weather conditions in two or three days. At the loss of the Messenger Pitcairn Islanders are doubly aggrieved by reason of the fact that the vessel was built solely by themselves, and not without considerable difficulty. The construction had been undertaken when one vessel previously used at Pitcairn had been destroyed and another sold.

Not only did the Messenger make several passages between Pitoairn and Man. gtireva, taking produce and returning with supplies, but it also ventured on one occasion as far as Tahiti. Very rough weather was experienced or this voyage, and so much, damage done to the craft that the British Consul at Tahiti forbade the Messenger to go any nearer to Tahiti than Mungareva. An interesting account of the loss of the Messenger is contained in a letter received by Pastor David Nield, of AVellington, from his wife, who is a native of Pitcairn Island, and who left Wellington some months ago. It was early last month when tiro little schooner made her last voyage from Mangareva, having on board a. cargo and two horses for Pitcairn, as well as passengers, among whom were three women, two girls., and ?• little child. There were ample provisions for the voyage under ordinary circumstances, but head winds and rough seas caused so much delay that all available food was consumed, and those 4 on board were in an unenviable plight. The two horses died of starvation, and were... thrown overboard. Althugh the Messenger was within sight of the island from the 11th April, the conditions were •such that she could not cover the remaining' 25 miles. Boats were sent out to her assistance and to rescue those on board, but without success. On one occasion the boats succeeded in'reaching the schooner, to learn that those on board had cooked, their last meal and had been living on coconuts.The Messenger was leaking, and required pumiping every half-hour, a work which was carried out .Until the- men fell exhausted. A steamer had passed the schooner without noticing, the distress signals. Unable to effect a rescue on account of the heavy weather the shore boats returned, and the news so upset the Christian community that constant, prayer was offered up for those in peril. Early on the morning of the 14th April pre-' parations were being made to make another attempt to reach the distressed vessel, when an American steamer hove in sight. To this the rescue boats made a speedy passage through the surf, re^ questing the captain to' go to the aid of the Messenger. Although short of coal and with insufficient provisions for the remainder of the. voyage from Sydney, the steamer went to the rescue, and all on board the distressed ship were transhipped. An attempt was made to tow the Messenger, but the little vessel was una/ble to stand the strain, and when the cargo had been transferred to the steamer the Islanders' sbirj was abandoned. In return £>r their help those on the steamer were supplied with three boat-loads of fruit, and fresh supplies of food, kumeras, pumpkins, and poultry.