A FEVER-STRICKEN SHIP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10900, 6 September 1897, Page 3

A FEVER-STRICKEN SHIP.

A REMARKABLE TALE OF SHIPWRECK. Probably one of the most remarkable tales of shipwreck and adventure narrated within recent years was told to Reuters Liverpool representative by Mrs Andrew Christie, widow of Captain Christie, of the wrecked ship Traveller. Mrs Christie, who belonged to Liverpool, had just arrived at that port after undergoing perils and hardships in company with the other survivcra of the crew that were almost beyond human endurance. The ship Traveller with a cargo of sugar was going from Java to Delaware Breakwater, and almost as soon as ths vessel left river fevar of the usual Java type broke out. Death after death took place, and the victims were one after another buried at sea. Tbe chief officer died od the Hth December, and on the 28th Mm Christie* husband, Captain Christie, succumbed. "When the second mate had but two men and himself to work the Bhip, he approached Rodrigues Island. With wonderful skill t-bey brought'up their ship oS the island, and then dropped anchor. Rodrigaes Island is inhabited mostly by French Creoles. The Governor and doctor, however, are white, and although French could speak English. The helpless people waited hour after hour for assistav.ee, but none came. A boat was launched, and Mr Ritch and the two convalescent seamen lowered Mrs Christie, her baby, and the other sick members of the crew into ib. As they approached the shore the Governor and a numbsr of others rushed down to the water's edge and threatened to shoot the: shipwrecked people if they landed. They got back to the ship more dead than alive. Finding that something must b& done, ths Rodrigues people sent-a boat next morning with the pilot, and this boat took off Mrs Christie and her child. All of the shipwrecked people were taken to a aand island where there were no inhabitants, and were kept there for 22 days. They lived in huts made of leaves, and for about three weeks had nothing but leaves to lie down oa. The dcctoi' came off-in about a fortnight, but remained in the small boat many yards from the beach, aud examined the shipwrecked crew' through a pair of binocular glasßss. The morning after the wreck, as Mr Hitch and his companions were being conveyed to the island, one of them, a Scotchman, died, and the authorities made the blacks take him back to where the ship was ashore to bury him in the sea. Another sailor, named Pilgrim, "died on tha sand island", and Mr Ritch had himself to dig a hole and bury the body. It is said that, bad auy assistance been given, tha Traveller, which belonged to Messrs J. R. Haws and Co., would have been saved. .It is understood that the underwriters have made represeatations in the matter,to the Home Government. ;