The survivors of the Norwich! City, which was wrecked off Gardner Island early this month of December have arrived in Sydney and tell most harrowing stories of their dreadful experience. The ship struck a coral reef during a heavy storm and five members of the white crew were drowned; as well six Arabs. Captain' Hamer, Master of the Vessel, was hurled into the sea and, together with the: crew of a lifeboat which had been. overturnedin the heavy sea, managed to reach the shore of Gardner Island. The heavy waves which broke over the ship caused much: rolling. The oil fuel came into contact with.the boilers with the result that the oil ignited and very soon after the accident the ship was on fire. The water between the ship and the shore was infested ith sharks and the fervor-stricken samen fought frantically to reach. Jand. Upon land they discovered a new terror, for the island was covered with huge crabs and fierce rats, They found it necessary to light fires at night and to have a few of their number on guard to beat back the vermin. The nippers, of the crabs are said to be over eight inches in length and some the men rescued by the—ship 'Trongate still bear the vivid marks of crab bites. The death roll in-Jeluded Messrs. Home (third ongineer), Scott (forth'. engineer), Leslie (carpenter), Jones (steward), Sumner (ordinary seaman). All these men reside in England.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.