Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Friday 1 March 1907, page 4


NORWEGIAN SHIP

WRECKED.

THE CREW SAFE.

Auckland, February 28. 2

The captain and crew of the Norwegian ship Montgomeryshire have arrived here by the Navua, and report that the vessel, when bound from South America to Syds 1 ney, in ballast, was wrecked at Tonga on February 12. The vessel was struck by heavy squall, and missed stays when at , tempting to go about. She was then driven

on top of the reef a short distance from the shore. It was high water at the time, and consequently impossible to float the ship. The weather was fine for some days, and the crew were landed safely. The) wreck was purchased by the Tongan G vernment for £83 on Saturday, and a gain on the following Tuesday caused a heavy break on the reef and made short work of the hull. Very little was saved from the

wreck.

The Montgomeryshire was an iron ship, and originally sailed under the British flag. Her dimensions were Length, '235ft. 9 in.; beam, 38ft 1 in.; and depth, 23ft She was owned by a Norwegian company.,.

Captain Torneasen, of the Montgomery shire, knew by the reckoning that he was

close to the group, but the weather was M thick that it was impossible to see any of the islands. About 3 o'clock on the morn ing of February 11 the lookout reported land ahead, and at the same moment . rocky coast a mile off was seen.

The captain gave orders for the ship to be put about,- but it was too late. Strong

currents caught her, and despite the effortsof the crew the vessel was slowly carried on to the rocks. Several times the fall in nearly brought round, but just 4a the<)t*çr began to hope for success the current swung her round in the opposite direction. It was a gloomy morning, and there was a

heavy fog. through which the island after peared a faint outline. The heavy rain tended to add to the despair of the crew,

for that the vessel was doomed was He longer a matter of conjecture.

About 6.30 a.m. three and a half hours after sighting the island the vessel bumped hard and heeled over. It was seen that she had struck a reef, and she was making water fast. The boats were lowered,, and the crew got safely ashore. The place where the vessel was wrecked is Fatuma, 14 miles south of Nukualofa. The men were hospitably treated by the natives. Shoes quently they made their way to Nukualofa, where they remained until the Navua

called.

A few articles were saved from the wreck, but on the following Tuesday a heavy southerly gale sprang up. The vessel with stood the battering for a time, and then commenced to go to pieces. On Friday last the hull split in two.

All that now remains of the ship in a heap of scrap iron.