THE PITCAIRN ISLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1797, 15 August 1906, Page 31

THE PITCAIRN ISLAND.

FATE OF THE MATE’S BOAT, ARRIVAL AT PUNTA ARENAS DENIED. After the barque Pitcairn Island was burnt at sea, the captain’s boat, containing twelve of the crew, reached Port— Maullin, in Chili. About a week later, on May 30th, a cable message from. London stated that the remainder of the crew had arrived in the mate’s boat at Punta Arenas, in tbe Straits of Magellan. Mr G. H. Scales, Wellington agent for the Pitcairn Island, cabled to London for confirmation of the latter report. In reply, he Avas informed that everybody Avas safe. There were four Ngav Zealand isailora on the vessel. Three of them, Lambert and Waddilove (of Wellington) and Hayward (of Normanby) Avere in the captain’s boat AA 7 liicli reached Port Maullin. Tho fourth, R. Mackenzie, of Wellington, Avas reported to be Avith the mate. Mr Scales expected to receive mail advioo regarding tho crews, but none arrived. Some Aveeks ago, Mackenzie’s father, anxious for the fate of his son, asked tho Minister for Marine to cable to tho High Commissioner in London. The High Commissioner’s reply, like that received by Mr Scales, reported the safe arrival of the boat at Punta Arenas. After further delay, Mr Scales received confirmation by mail of the report sent by the OAvners regarding the safety of the mate’s boat. Being still in doubt as to what had become of the boy Mackenzie Mr* Scales decided last Friday to cable to Lloyd’s agent at Valparaiso for information The agent replied that the report sent to him of the arrival of the mate’s boat at Punta Arenas Avas quite untrue The boat was still missing.

Mackenzie is son of a stevedore in the Union Company’s service. He aa'as formerly .in the Telegraph Department, and latterly on the barque G. M. Tucker, and barquentines River Hunter and La Bella. The mate’s boat contained nine men. The Pitcairn Island Avas burnt in latitude 52 south and longitude 80 west, about 1520 miles from Port Maullin and 1650 miles north-west of Cape Horne. The crew Avas as folloivs:—Captain H. J. Fletcher; first mate, C. 11. Dryland; second mate, Tlios; Heron; carpenter, A. Johnson; sailmaker, A. Anderson; cook, W. Ludin ; able seamen, J. Hagan, P. A, Ivcarns, M. Madden, P. Carrol, J. Selin, C. Abolin, J. Dolan, T. Tallan, J. Williams, R. Mackenzie, F. Hayward, J. Clark; ordinary seamen, W. Waddilove, C. Lambert; cabin boy, W. Ejearna,