A LEAP FOR LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 9

A LEAP FOR LIFE.

WRECK OF A SCHOONER. CREW LEAVE JUST IN TIME. '♦ ' _____ [from our own correspondent. ] SUVA, May 21. Yet one more wreck has occurred in local waters. The auxiliary schooner Moonah, owned by Messrs. Marlow and Co., sawmillors, of Suva, and loaded with logs, went down in a heavy tea on May 11 betweon Vuya Passage and Vatu Vula Passage, some seven miles from Makogai and Makodranga. Captain Macpherson, who first sighted and gave the alarm concerning the German, Count Luckner, tells how it all happened. Soon after leaving Nambuwalu the vessel commenced to leak, and the two pumps were set going and managed to keep down the water, which was over a foot deep in the hold until 9.30 p.m. When about 4ft. to sft. of water was in the hold, the captain got the two boats over the . side and placed seven out of the ten of the ship's company in them. Towing them astern he stood over for Makaranga close-hauled. But the sea wis getting worse, and at last one big roller sent the vessel down bow under, and the water below surging forward she could not riso and plunged head first to the bottom 150 fathoms below. As he saw the schooner's nose down Captain Macpherson called out, "Hullo, the Moonah's going, good-bye Moonah," and he ju'mped for the boat nearest to him. The other men dived overboard and were picked up. Just in time the boats sheered off to avoid the suction, as sud-' denly, without warning, several logs shot feet into tho air, having evidently broken loose from the deck fastenings. For seven hours the men rowed, until at 6.50 a.m. they landed at. Makodranga. and having placed some yams.in the boat they cooked them and after a spell rowed over to Makogai, where Dr. Neff took them in. Owing to rough weather they stayed at Makogai until Monday, when they left for Levuka in the doctor's launch and came on to Suva. The Marine Board held an inquiry and found no fault attached to the captain.