Society Group

Adrift For 65 Days

Honolulu Yacht Ends Up In Society Group

The story of how a Honolulu schooner, with four men aboard, was blown from her course and drifted helplessly for 65 days before reaching the Society Islands, was told by Pastor G. L. Sterling, of Pa peete, who arrived in Sydney from Tahiti by the Makura on August 22.

About two months ago, said the S.D.A. missionary, the party reached Tahiti and made known their amazing experience. It appeared that they had gone out for a short pleasure cruise from Honolulu in an auxiliary yacht. The engine failed, and, encountering adverse winds, they were swept out of sight of Oahu.

For 65 days in which they drifted about the Pacific, their vessel was the plaything of winds and currents. Fortunately, the craft had been used just previously for a long voyage, and was reasonably well equipped with water and tinned food.

After covering some 2500 miles, the yacht ended up in the Society Group, near Bora Bora Island. Finally the crew were rescued and taken to Papeete.

They did not have passports, and when Pastor Sterling left Tahiti there was still much uncertainty about their future move ments and how they were to get back to Hawaii.

Monsieur Reverce, president of the * Council General of New Caledonia, has been made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.