NEWS OF THE AEON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2301, 21 September 1908, Page 2

NEWS OF THE AEON.

WRECKED AT CHRISTMAS ISLAND. ALL HANDS SAVED. [Press Association.] t WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. Tho Secretary of the Post Office has received a cable, forwarded by the superintendent at Fanning Island, as follows: “Aeon wrecked at Christmas Island. The Manuka will probably pick up 150 bags of New Zeiland mails, reported to be safe.” The cable superintendent at Doubtless Bay has received the following from the Pacific Cable Company’s superintendent at Fanning Island“Aeon wrecked at Christmas Island. The officers report that of a, total of about 488 bags of mails, 150 were saved undamaged. The s.s. Manuka ■ will probably pick them up on the 24th inst. The Postal Department has received word from the agent at San Francisco that the Aeon had 184 bags of mails for New Zealand. SUVA, Sept. 19. The Aeon was wrecked on July 18, on the south-east point of Christmas Island. All hands, some 50, including four ladies and two children, also 500, bags of mails, were saved. Among the cargo were oil engines for launches, one of which was fitted into a boat as. an auxiliary, and four men started in this for' Fanning Island. They encountered had weather. .. The boat was damaged, and :t hey returned to Christmas Island, where they refitted and sailed again last .Wednesday. They arrived at Fanning Island to-day with the captain, seeondi officer, two engineers, and two seamen. ' .... The people are camping on Christmas Island. They are getting water from the ship, and have six months’ rations and two sheep. A house has been built for the ladies. The Aeon is a total wreck, the lower hold being full of water. PICKING UP THE CASTAWAYS. S.S. MANUKA TO CALL. United Press Association, Copyright (Received Sept. 20, 4.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 20. Heavy weather prevailed and it is feared salvage operations will be useless.. The boat took four days to reach Fanning Island. The s.s. Manuka is due at: Fanning Island oil Tuesday, and she will' be instructed to pick up the castaways. FURTHER PARTICULARS. THE VESSEL’S INSURANCE. United Press Association, Copyright (Received Sept. 21, 12.40 a.m.) SYDNEY,. Sept. 20. A Reuter message received to-day gives further particulars. Of the Aeon’s passengers, the Rev. Patrick, with his wife, two nurse, and servant was going to Pagopago as chaplain, and Mi's. Riddle was going to join her husband, Lieutenant Riddle, at - Pagopago. Wells near the scene of the wreck yield plenty of brackish water, but there is very little drinkable water. <Tlie fresh water brought from the- ship was reserved for Mrs. Patricks and the only case of milk was kept for her and the children. There was plenty of tea., coffee, and cocoa, but no sugar. The land ■is all barren rock, and there' was rid shelter from the sun till the tents and houses were erected. When the .ladies’ boots became worn out, some cases' of rubber shoes found were cut down for the ladies’ use. On the second attempt to leave the island ’lie. ladies, for luck, made a Southern Cross pennant for the boat-. The pennant bore the motto “The Lone Hand.” •'

The Aeon was insured, with London offices,for."£s(X),ooo. Tlie cargo, valued at £IOO,OOO, is understood to be largely insured. The Australian representatives of the Pacific Cable Board are advised from Fan'iting lelaud that the Aeon was wrecked on Christmas Island on ..' July One <>f the Aeon’s boats, containing ' five men, reached. Fanning Island this morning. When they left 011 Tuesday last the remainder of the. crew and were ■- safe on the island, and had plenty of provisions. The Aeon’s mails were landed, but tlie steamer is a. total wreck. THE AEON’S OFFICERS. [Pkess Association.] • AUCKLAND, Sept. 20. The officers of tlie Aeon consisted of Captain Dowuie (whose wife accompanied him), D. Thomas (chief officer), A. 8. Liech (second officer), All Lancaster (third officer), J. Aiinrott (chief engineer), .H. Irving (second engineer), AY. A. Thornton, (third engineer), AI. Hastie (fourth engineer). Ihe crew consists of 40 men, who are ' believed to be mostly whites, though there are Chinese aboard. There arowH® also several passngers .and two can naval officers and their cs naval station at Pago Pago (Samoa), whence they were to proceed trom Apia.