Vila’S Depot Barge Goes

Stubborn On Last Voyage

r BLOWING is the story of the barge, “Mombah.” which left Brisbane on May 31, for Noumea, towed by the Australian tug “St. Giles” and loaded with 3,058 tons of coal for the Nickel Co. The “Mombah” had been bought by the Mes sageries Maritime Co. to serve as a depot in Vila for New Hebridean produce await ing shipment to France.

On June 10, when the two vessels were 83 miles from the Amedee lighthouse, Noumea, the engines of the “St. Giles” broke down and the tow ropes parted.

The motor vessel “Polynesien,” due to leave for the Hebrides, went to the aid of the “St. Giles” and brought her, in tow, to Noumea.

Meanwhile the “Mombah” was drifting towards the Queensland coast. On June 13, the small French coastal vessel “Phoque” (Captain Courtois), chartered by the Messageries Maritimes, was sent out to look after her with instructions to stick around until another tug could reach her from Australia. The “Momba’s” crew consisted of M. Valette and four native Lovalty islanders.

When the “Phoque” reached the “Mom bah” on June 14 she was about 160 miles from Noumea. On June 15 “Mombah” was still drifting at the rate of about 25 miles a dav, and Caotain Courtois cal culated that she was only 50 miles from the Darling group of reefs. He there fore boarded the “Mombah” from his launch with six native members of his crew, and got her in tow.

The tiny “Phoque” is only 200 tons, and she had taken in tow a weight of over 5,000 tons.

There followed two davs of storm and on June 18 the tow parted and the “Mom bah” started to drift all over again. When only 42 miles from the coastal reefs, Captain Courtois attempted to take her in tow again but the Australian tug “Car lock” hove in sight. With the “Mombah” in tow she reached Noumea on June 19.