THE SHIPWRECK.

28th Heavy News, Volume 2, Issue 6, 12 March 1943, Page 4

THE SHIPWRECK.

Hext time you come along the road, from Noumea to Cur., Tom (dr as you gC/the othc.: way. ..never to return - you hope-) tabs another, look at ■tout black spot cb.t or. 'the reef where whita up.vay Indicates the prese-iee •of boiling surf, i:-For;; there you see all that remains of ' : La France’’ rhe largest sailing /ship •eyer. built Seme .of you. may nave b'eeir aboard. . her when arc ■■.■.»&sited ..Wellington some years .ago« . Today u groat piece _ of iron- hull wedged firmly in the coral is all that .remains cf a proud vessels The story of /ior end lb no glcrious one arid will certainly not be be recorded .-as u . s<242a.of the But’ it is inhere stingy ana it may be -■■aid --.that. the wreo,:. ci ! ’a& France 5 ' is u monument to- inoompc-tenco and red tape/ 11- .oe.?/i,mbr/, who at the time was operating the only, sarv' * aging ac; stevedoring fleet cu-. the csl-.aid. was cm putx Ln the .extreme north north wh'-'u he.- received an urgent message to go’- er- -the. rescue ci a sailing ship --ph .-the reef’obpbctto La Fcu-e He cog off • with his tuye -at full speed hut you -dan -imagine hie surpri so-when., he found the ship in u..- uprignr. position, -.hot-, a "drop of watsr inside, -but no Captain in sight;. As a matter, of fact ho .-was .found at rhe Hotel Ha.n:. in La .Foa & ( Fea .... they sold 11 Quor ,thi;ic/ones)./.but wus gloriously drunk. add not the • t?ast bit interested iu s•dv&ging'oyeT£Vj..uus. .. Indeed the pilot vowed that no attempt was leads even to avoid the reef, . U, valimbre decided to continue on n.is way ■ one. see ths’- jgonve -n no.iue'n. Hat they-bad to wire the owner Ln Horde { is sounds like the Arcy.. dpjsp/t it/)- Cable after'cohlc -wy,:x senb and -a.t last, several peek's later word whs forthcoming, ■>dalvag-a' Gargo'y. 'said inc own er, -but the/- ship had- become a total 'wreck* ■>/3/.-thprei is ths grave pfmwhat waa onpe a proud chip,, Th© sea ho,d cLuinuol ■az’iothor victim her. remains will be embedded in. the coral 10-tg after -the. Lui HkFFXF say *■ Farewell to this fair isle n 6 - A faiai)*/ , !! you ,c;.';i7 r.