New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-20
THE EON IS WRECKED.
Passengers, Including Officers
Wires, Camp on Christmas Island.

Victoria B. c.. Sept 1o-CabIe adyices from
Tanning Island say that the steamer lEon. which
left San Francisco July for Auckland by
way of Apia and long overdue, was carried
on Christmas Island by strong currents setting in
shore and became total wreck. The ships COM
pany fifty in all, took to the boats and landed
at small settlement facing the lagoon. all safe.
There were four women and two children. in
Guiding wives of officers of the United States bat
tleship fleet who took passage to join their hus-
bands Australia. All are camping on Christmas
Island awaiting rescue.
The F1on is fast on the coral island. partly fun
of water and wrecked beyond hope of salvage,
but the five hundred bags Of mail aboard have
been saved
The cargo included salmon two million feet of
redwood and some gasolene engines One of these
was fitted in a ships boat to take Captain Downie,
the second officer, and two engineers to Tanning
Island lying 40 miles northwest. TO send news or
the disaster by cable. Some of the salmon and
ashore with the ships boat and stock OF water
procured the supply Christmas Island being
poor.
Captain Dovnie had difficult time reaching
Tanning Island The engine fitted in the ships
boat refused to work, and the boat was rowed
hack TO Christmas Island. where il reftted-
After long trip the captain reached Tanning
Island Yesterday morning.
The boats was treated kindly by the staff
of the Tanning Island cable station.
The steamer Manuka. of the Canadian Australian
Line fortunately, is to make call at Tanning
Island to land supplies on her present voyage, and
fs due on Tuesday next. 1t is expected that she
will call at Christmas Island and take off the AIon
caetaUays who will he landed at Sydney by the
Manuka Meanwhile, the survivors have plenty of
food and water and there is shelter for the wom-
on in the houses of working camp Of some pearl
fishermen employed by a British company
SYDNEY. n s. w. Sept. 19-Christmas Island
where the .41ons passengers is uninhsbited.
but cocoanuts grow there in profusion fish
he caught and water be had by digging. The
safety of the passengers will be communicated to
Admiral Sperry when the American battleship
feet passes Fremantle tomorrow.
Among the passengers are Mrs. Patrick, wife of
e.banIain Patri tx of the navy; child and nurse
and CAPTAIN Rudden. his wife and three children.
They are bound for Page Pago. Samoa
Washington Sept. 19.-Prompt measures have
been taken by the Navy Department TO send relief
IN the stranded passengers of the 441on. at
christmas Island. The torpedo boat destroyer sup
nv, shin Solace Commander William A Gill in
charge is due at Samoa tomorrow. She will he
sant hack as possible to Christmas Island
about twelve hundred miles. The Navy Depart
r7ent to-day received report from Chaplain
Rover r. Patrick dated at Tanning Island where
the british cable touches. Tanning is about one
hundred miles from Christmas Island Chaplain
patrick saws the Hon struck d rock on July Is
on the southeastern point of Christmas Island and
is a total wreck. He asks that assistance be sent
az once and confirms the report that the passen-
..rs and crew are safe. including in these the
names of Mrs Riddle. the wife of Lieutenant w.
X Riddle of Atlanta; his family and fifty
others The Solace will land Chaplain Patrick and
bis family and the wife of Lieutenant Riddle at
Samoa The other passengers and the will
be taken Honolulu or some other American port.