1915 Parallel

To Minerva Reef Drama

The stranding of the Tongan yacht "Tuaikaepau", on South Minerva Reef on July 7 and the sufferings of the 12 survivors of the crew of 17 had a parallel in June, 1915, when the cable ship "Strathcona", was wrecked on nearby North Minerva Reef on her maiden voyage.

The "Strathcona", built in Auck land at a cost of £lO,OOO, was an auxiliary fore and aft schooner, measuring 110 ft. overall.

Like their counterparts of 47 years later, the crew of 13 were stranded and lived in privation for five weeks.

After 16 days on the reef, the "Strathcona's" master. Captain William Robertson, decided to set out in the launch for Ono-i-Lau (one of Captain Tevita Fifita's tar gets in the outrigger "Malolelei"), 200 miles away. He took two men with him.

The second mate, left in charge, had orders to stand by until rescued, or, as a last resort, to put to sea in the 16 ft. whaleboat.

Misfortune overtook the cast aways soon after the captain left.

Much of their water leaked away from their damaged tank, and they suffered much from thirst.

Nineteen days after the captain left, the survivors were cheered to see on the horizon the smoke of the steamer "Iris", which had been sent from Auckland to search for them.

Captain Robertson had more luck than Captain Fifita for he reached Ono-i-Lau and chartered a small cutter to return to the reef. Not far from the reef He and his com panions were picked up by the "Iris".

A Captain Ross, of Auckland, later bought the wreck and stripped her of all her gear.

In 1947, Mr. Hamlet Garnett, of Fiji, went to the reef with Captain Henry Michael in the cutter "Ono-i- Lau" to see if any of the heavy lead keel remained, but little of the wreck was to be found.

Others who have since visited North Minerva say that there is now no sign of the "Strathcona".