Wreck In Fiji

Government Ship Lost in Hurricane

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, February 27. r'AUGHT herself in a small hurricane, while investigating the possibility of salvaging a cutter lost in a recent hurricane in the Lau group, the motor vessel Derek (100 tons) belonging to the Fiji Public Works Department, was driven ashore and became a total loss on the island of Komo, on February 15.

The Derek was off Komo on the 14th, sur veying the site of the sinking of the cutter Tui Navitilevu, when the glass com menced to drop. The ship was anchored in shelter, in the big lagoon of Komo.

During the night the wind increased to hurricane force, and changed round until the vessel was virtually on a lee shore.

Early on Saturday, a tremendous wave came in and broke ahead of her, and as she sank into the trough, she struck her stern heavily. There were four anchors out, but it was decided to attempt a shift to a safer anchorage.

The vessel dragged her anchors, how ever, and bumped heavily aft, holding herself and flattening the blades of her propellers. Rendered helpless, she was driven on to the rocky shore.

Dry land was only 30 yards away, but those on board had a hazardous trip to the shore. Captain E. W. G. Twenty

man, former harbourmaster at Suva, had a very narrow escape. He was half down the man ropes at the gang port, when a sea struck the vessel and she lurched over. He was thrown into the water, and, as the ship swung back, was drawn under. Mr. Henry Cross, the chief en gineer, immediately jumped over the side and, grabbing a rock with one hand, caught Captain Twentyman with the other, and dragged him to safety. The captain says that Mr. Cross saved his life.

Captain Hay, the master of the Derek, received injuries to his legs and side, but these are not serious.

As soon as the weather moderated, the castaways were able to save considerable gear, stores, and personal effects from the Derek. Nine days were spent on the island before help came, but there was no shortage of food, as at the time of the mishap the Derek was conveying stores to islands which had suffered in the previous hurricane, Mr. John Hill, former engineer of the Tui Navitilevu, was among the party, and he set out in a native canoe for the island of Namuka. There he intercepted the cutter Tui Yunilagi, which put in to Komo and took off the stranded men.

The Derek was a twin screw diesel engined wooden vessel of 100 tons gross, and was built in Suva by Terry and Sons Ltd. in 1928.