WRECKED SCHOONER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6203, 7 October 1921, Page 5

WRECKED SCHOONER.

TRIALS OF THE CREW. AUCKLAND, October t>. The members' of the crew of the American schooner Columbia River, wrecked off Sunday Island ojl Septemher 9, arrived by the cruiser Chatham. On the Island the party subsisted on stores and water from the ship. There were plenty of but the only other quadruped they saw was a domestic cat left by some previous party. The weather was fine. The most perilous part of their experience wa6 the landing. They were able to launch a line ashore through the heavy surf. By means of the line the men were cradled ashore. ‘ and it was used subsequently to lajid stores, tents, and water. For two days the party lived on the ship and then an equinoctial gale blew up and the ship began to pound and go to pieces slowly. The second mate and two men set off over the mountain to reach the other side to find an easier landing place. They were the whole night trying- to get over the precipitous country and were unable on account of the'sheer drop of the cliffs, to find a way to what little beach there was. A launch from the warship sighted them the next. day 1 and even then it was a difficult and dangerous matter getting them off. This was only done bv a bluejacket making a dangerous swim through the heavy surf to the foot of the cliff with a line which was carried up the cliff and the rope rigged from the cliff, along which the men were cradled to the launch.—P. A.