THE WRECK OF THE WEST AUSTRALIAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8101, 29 August 1904, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE WEST AUSTRALIAN.

HARDSHIPS OF THE CREW. . United Preas Association — By Electric Telegraph — Covjrigh~b. (Received August 29, 9.29 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 29. After leaving the island where the captain's party landed, the mate's boat returned to the Tv-reck of tho W<:st Australian, and remained throe dtiys. Food and water were exhausted, and they had to face stormy weather and <a rough sea. They reached an uninhabited island, and obtained a supply of cocoanuts ?nd shellfish ; and subsequently landed on two other islands, where th<?y got a little water, which was supple-men * :?d by rain. They wera shaping a. course to Noumea when they were rescued. (The crew of ths West Australian, wrecked in "Sew Caledonia, have arrived at. S.vdney. The captain states that the vessel encountered rough wo-a-ther aftnr leaving Wellington. During; the gale the M'atertanks were washed overboard. The v?Fsel put into Nountea to replenish, and when leaving struck Campbell's Reff. Efforts to fioat the- ship were unavailing;, and it was decided to abandon h-r, and the crew started for Art Island. The captain's boat arrived safely, and the first mate's boat, containing five men, arrived after night! all. They were afraid to land, fearing they would be massacred, and dnfied about for ::ight days, suffering great hardships, owin:j :o shortness of food and water. Evvntaaily they were picked up by the st-can-er ■jaint Antoine, whidi provioualy took the :aplain's party off the island.)