A Strange

Visitor

£1,000 Lighter on Reef in Samoa

Prom Our Own Correspondent APIA. June 29.

A MOTOR launch from Savaii, on June 22, reported to the Harbourmaster at Apia that it had noticed a strange craft on the reef at Faleula, westward of Apia.

The Harbourmaster (Captain D. Mc- Clymont) went out and found that the vessel was a lighter, which he towed to Apia.

At first, the appearance and charac ter of the lighter was a complete my stery; but inquiries showed that it be longed to Pan American Airways.

It is a covered steel barge and was specially built for fuelling and anchor ing the Clipper planes of Pan Ameri can Airways. It was last used at Pago Pago, to fuel the “Samoan Clipper”, be fore her last disastrous flight in Janu ary, 1938. Since then it had been lying in Pago Pago. Recently, it was decided to transfer the lighter to the new base at Canton Island, and the U.S.S. “Roger Taney” was towing the lighter to Can ton Island, one night about four weeks ago, when the towline parted and the lighter disappeared into the darkness, and could not be found.

It is calculated that the value of the lighter is at least £l,OOO, and the launch owner who discovered the craft prob ably will be entitled to a substantial sal vage payment.