THE BARQUE SPECULANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8948, 4 August 1892, Page 6

THE BARQUE SPECULANT.

WRECKED AT THE MARSHALL ' ISLANDS. A cablegram recently published in the Herald announced that the German barque Speculant had been wrecked at Jaluit, the principal island of the Marshall Group. From papers to hand by the Sydney steamer yesterday we learn that the Speculant arrived at Jaluit Island on June 15 from Sydney with a general cargo, including 350 tons of coal, several cattle and sheep, and a quantity of gold and silver coin. About half-past nine a.m. on the 15th a heavy squall came up from the northeast, and the vessel hove-to. The squall was over by dinner time, and the captain then steered a course _ for the entrance of the harbour at Jaluit Island. About two o'clock the pilot came aboard and took charge, the barque being then about three miles off the entrance, with a handy breeze blowing. The wind suddenly died away while the vessel was in stays, and they had to wear round. The vessel, however, failed to move, and the current took her right in towards the shore. A very light wind was blowing from the east-south-east, but nob enough to enable the vessel to make any way, and she went ashore on a reef. The rudder and keel at once carried away, and the vessel lay fast aground. The Speculant was of 629 tons register, and insured, but the amount of the insurance is not known. The owner is Mr. Adolph Schiff, of Lisfelth, Germany. Tho cargo was valued at between £20,000 and £30,000. The crew remained at Jaluit Island 14 days, and then tho schooner Flinck, Captain Renter, of the JaluitGesellschaft German Company, of the Marshall Islands, bound for Sydney, took them to Brisbane, that being the nearest port.