AIISSIOXARY PERILS AMONG THE SOUTH-,SEA ISLANDS.

New Zealand Tablet, 18 November 1920, Page 30

AIISSIOXARY PERILS AMONG THE SOUTH-,SEA ISLANDS.

llu> wreck reported on a roof at Gan Island by the •l apailose ketch last week-end at Suva (reports ' the Polynesian Ca-.rtle of October 23), turned out to bo the auxiliary cutter St. Michael, owned by the Catholic Mission a vessel op about 7 tons register. Further news leached Suva from Gan by cutter last Monday night confirming the statement. It appears that the St. Michael was proceeding Prom Cicia to Kadavn with the Rev. Father Soubeyran and a native crew on board. On the night of Wednesday, the 13th iust, the vessel was oft Gan. It was very dark and as the engine was not working the vessel was carried b\ the strong currents known to exist in that locality into that position and despite the efforts of the captain to keep the cutter off she struck the reef off Mai awa i at 12.3(1 a.m. on the seaward side of the island. It was low tide at thg time it occurred. The second wave which struck the ill-fated vessel turned her right over, smashing the mast and other parts of the hull badly. It is really marvellous how the occupants escaped. Some of them managed to swim to the dinghy, but when the cutter turned upside down there were four, including Father Soi ll ie\ ran, imprisoned under the vessel. The members of the crew who ('scaped, thinking that those under the vessel had been killed as nothing could be heard or seen of them, then attempted to save themselves. Fortunately lor those imprisoned the cutter did not go right down on one side; she was held up by a large boulder. This left a hole open by which', a mail) could by diving manage to get underneath and ascertain what had actually happened. However, this was accomplished some hours later by a native member of the crew, and as a restilt of his endeavors the imprisoned priest and men were made to hear and eventually rescued, but only with great difficulty. It is reported that one, the engineer named Josefu, deserves some recognition for services rendered in saving life on that occasion. The priest and crew lost everything in the way of clothing. The' Buli Vanuaso and natives of the island were very good to the shipwrecked people. Throe of the crew were badly hurt by the ballast falling on them when the vessel went over. The Rev. Father Gonnet proceeded to the scene in the auxiliary schooner Ovalau last Wednesday, returning on Thursday with Rev. Father Soubeyran and injured members of the native crew.-.. Three are now being attended to in the local hospital.