THE HAND OF FATE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 9 August 1928, Page 4

THE HAND OF FATE

HOW DEATH WAS CHEATED. /

SICK WOMAN’S CANCELLED TRIP

A thrilling story \va s unfolded at Suva recently of liow fate played an apparently unkind trick which resulted in saving a human life. Mrs. Koarslcy, wife of the wirclw operator at the isolated iSouth Pacific .station of Taveuui, had been ill for some weeks. The doctor. Who had gone out to visit her, was baffled and decided that the best thing that could he done was to have her removed to the hospital at Suva. Arrangements Mere made for her to travel by the auxiliary schooner Malaya. When the day came for the Ala lava to sail for Suva Mrs. KCarslcy had taken, a turn for the worse, and it was decided that -she was too ill to travel 011 a ship on which there was no comfort for an invalid. So the Malaya sailed. The Fiji Government yacht Pioneer was communicated with by wire-1 ess, and Captain -Mullins agreed to call at Taveuui to pick up the patient and convey her to hospital. At midnight on the night after she left Taveuui the Malaya was a -total wreck, being .pounded to piece by terrific seas on the treacherous Horseshoe Reef. Only after the -most thrilling experiences was the crew successful in launching the boats and making a safe escape to the open sea. For 12 hours they battled with the wind and waves without any food -or water,.-mak-ing for Levuka. I bey were linally seen from Ihe shore, and launches were sent out to their help and towed them into port. Next day a cutter went to the scene of the wreck,- and the ship had almost disappeared under the licaw seas, which had ground against the reef.

On the Monday morning, an hour or two after the news reached ‘Suva, the Pioneer arrived in -port with Mrs. Koarslcy. who was transferred to hospital, where she is now doing, well.