Privations on Schooner

Lost in Pacific for 65 Days

of the terrible privations ex perienced by 27 men, women, and children aboard a trading schooner which was lost in the Pacific for more than two months, reached Melbourne recently through the British Phosnhate Commis sioners’ station at Nauru.

The Regina , a Japanese fore-and-aft schooner of 75 tons, left Kwajalong Island with passengers and cargo bound for Wotho Atoll, 100 miles distant. The journey should have taken little more than 12 hours, as a large portion of it could have been accomplished within sight of land.

The captain, however, lost his bearings, and for weeks the schooner drifted help lessly, out of sight of land. The cargo consisted of rice, and while passengers and crew used this for food, the water supply became short. All hands were*in danger of death by thirst, when water was caught in the sails during a rain squall. After that, men, women, and children existed for days on scanty rations.

After drifting for more than six weeks the Regina was caught in a typhoon, and under storm canvas she was blown miles out of her course.

After she had been at sea for 65 days the craft drifted past Nauru, an island in the Gilbert Group. A boat was sent out to investigate and on boarding the schooner the crew found 27 persons lying on the deck exhausted or unconscious.

The Regina was towed to moorings at Nauru, and thanks to the care of the staff of the British Phosphate Commis sioners, all survived.