A TALE OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9098, 5 July 1888, Page 6

A TALE OF THE SEA.

WRECK AND RESCUE.

AN AUCKLAND CAPTAIN

REWARDED.

GOLD MEDAL FROM KING OSCAR. Mr. H. P. Barber, Vice-Consul for Sweden and Norway, has received from King Oscar, of Sweden, through the Board of Commerce of Stockholm, a gold medal, with ribbon and clasp, for presentation to Captain Theet, of the Auckland brigantine Buster, in recognition of his plucky conduct in rescuing a portion of the crew of the Swedish barque Diana, wrecked at Starbuck Island, in the South Pacific, on the 12th August, 1886. The medal is gold, rather larger and thicker than a sovereign. It is a plain medallion, and the lettering is in raised characters. The reverse side bears the head of King Oscar of Sweden in the same manner as on a coin, and around the circle are the words, " Oscar 11. Rex Sveegar Ncrviga Goth et Vard." The obverse side bears across the front the name of Captain Theet, and around the rim the motto, "Sui memores alios fecire merendo." The clasp encloses a crown and the national ribbon of honour is attached. The circumstances which gave rise to this unique presentation are as follow, and are well worth recording. The Buster, on. a cruise amongst the North and South Pacific islands, arrived at Manahiki on November 13, 1886, having on board the captain and seven of the crew of the Swedish barque Diana; Captain Theet reported having learned from the captain of the Diana that his vessel had become a total wreck on Starbuck Island, on August 12, on her voyage from British Columbia to Sydney, that tney had saved two boats and some provssions, and had remained on the island for two months, when seeing nothing before them but starvatien they drew lots as to who should go in the boats seeking assistance, and the lot fell to the captain and the seven men who were picked up by the Buster. Captain Theet, knowing that the Buster had a long cruise to make before reaching Auckland, advised the captain to remain at Manahiki, as there were several vessels trading there, and he would sooner be able to reach civilisation. This surmise afterwards proved correct, for they were taken off the island by a passing vessel about two weeks later. When the Buster left Manahiki, Captain Theet promised the captain of the Diana that he would do all in his power to save the men left on Starbuck Island, and advised him at the same time to get another vessel to call should he fall in with any, as the island is a dangerous one not easily made on account of strong westerly currents, and landing is very difficult, and within Captain Theet's thirteen years' experience he has had several times to keep his vessel off and on for as long as three weeks and then not be able to land. On November 13 the position of the Buster at noon was lat. 5 43" S., long. 15.5° 36" W. At three p.m., she was opposite the wreck, about one mile and a-half off the shore, and they saw the wrecked men running about, with distress signals waving. Captain Theet answered the signals from the Buster, and sent a well-manned boat with one of the wrecked crew, who had joined the vessel at Manahiki as pilot, and gave them orders to do all in their power for the men on shore. It was blowing fresh, with a heavy surf on the beach all round the Island, and the boat could not effect a landing. They tried hard but failed, and the boat came back to the vessel at sunset, the men wet through and tired out. The Buster stood off and on for the night, Captain Theet being determined to try again in the morning, although, owing to the darkness of the night and the strong westerly current, their position was anything but pleasant. At daylight on the 14th, the Buster was to leeward of the island, and did not get up to it again until two p.m., when the boat was again sent ashore, and a landing was effected. The difficulty in getting the men away was great, as they were all round the island watching, and when it grew dusk again Captain Theet became very anxious, for there ' were four of his men away in the boat, and he knew not when they could return; besides there was great risk by keeping his vessel so near a low and dangerous island on a dark and windy night- To his great relief, however, the boat with all hands on board arrived at 8 p.m., and Captain Theet at once gave the rescued men to understand that he would take them to New Zealand, but should they prefer to remain at any of the islands at which the Buster called they were at liberty to do so; also that, should the Buster fall in with any other vessel which was likely to bring them to civilisation sooner, he would do • all in his power to forward them. The men who were shipped at Manahiki remained at the Marshall Group. The carpenter and one A.B. afterwards joined the American Mission vessel, and two were brought on to Auckland in the Buster, which arrived on the Ist April, 1887. Mr. F. J. Moss, M.H.R., was a passrx'ger on board the Buster, and witnessed ' .*6 gallant and successful attempt to rescue uxie shipwrecked men from the Island of Starbuck, and, on his arrival, wrote an account of the transaction to Mr. H. P. Barber, Swedish and Norwegian ViceConsul at Auckland, and this gentleman also received the statements of the rescued men. With the greatest promptitude he transmitted all the facts to Mr. E. Pearce, the Consul for Sweden and Norway at Wellington, who in his turn communicated with the Board of Commerce, Stockholm. He has by the last mail received the following reply, which he has forwarded on to Mr. Barber with the medal:—" Board of Commerce, Stockholm, April 13, 1888. Sir, — The Board have received your communication of October 7, 1887, relating to the Swedish barque Diana, foundered on Starbuck Island on the 12th of August, 1886, and the rescue of two Swedish sailors effected by Peter Theet, master of the Auckland vessel, Buster. In reply there to the Board by the annexed letter inform you that they have proposed to His Royal Majesty to bestow upon Mr. Theet a medal of recompence in recognition of the very disinterested and humane conduct he had displsyed on the said occasion, and that according to a rescript of the. 10th of February last, His Majesty has been pleased to confer upon Mr. Theet a gold medal with the inscription, ' Sui memores alios fecire merendo. This medal as transmitted hereby with the request to forward the same to Mr. Theet against his receipt which you will then please to send on to the Board.—l am,' &c., A. R. Landstrom, Acting Secretary." Mr. E. Pearce, in transmitting the medal and correspondence to Mr. Barber, asked that the medal might be presented to Captain Theet publicly. He communicated with Captain Theet, who is now in Auckland, but at his desire the public presentation is deferred until Mr. F. ■J. Moss, i M.H.R., who was a witness of the rescue, returns from Wellington.