... the available evidence suggests that an attempt was made to evacuate from the north east side which proved a failure and then the crew of the Norwich City moved back to the south west side where the full evacuation was undertaken.
It would be helpful if you would quote the "available evidence" to that effect.
Here is what I've got:
Hamer, Master of the Norwich City:
"The boat was handled with superb skill,
coming through the surf about 200 yards south of the wreck. The two vessels now cruised along the reef in search of a suitable place, the surf near the wreck being far too dangerous.
"A place was found about 1 1/2 miles south of the wreck, the breakers being not quite so bad, but bad enough to make it anything but a joy ride to get over.
"We then crossed the lagoon in the boat to where the vessels were waiting on the outside and transported the boat to edge of the reef."
So the story begins 200 yards south of the wreck and ends up 1.5 miles
south of the wreck. The wreck is on Nutiran; then comes Ritiati, Noriti, Tekibeia, and Aukaraime South.
Lott, First Officer, Norwich City:
"They told us that it was impossible to go through that surf again
so we went to the lee side. The surf boat went
across the lagoon. On arrival at the lee side the surf was pretty well as bad."
This "lee side" has to be "in the lee of the wind blowing at the time." If the wind is from the northwest, Tekibeia and Aukaraime South are in the lee of Nutiran, Ritiati, and Noriti. Most of Aukaraime North is not in the lee of a northwest wind and definitely is the windward side of the island if the wind had returned to it's normal pattern from the northeast.
Tischendorf, Master of the Trongate: "After the surf boat had landed
both ships circled the island in search of a more suitable place to effect the rescue.
A place was found about a mile and a half from the scene of the wreck, the crew and the survivors transporting the surf boat across a lagoon to the waiting vessels. Several attempts were made in the afternoon. One boat with three men was taken to safety. The boat returned, and several more attempts were made, but were unsuccessful. After the boat capsized, it was decided to wait until next day."
In the accounts the only solid reference I can find refers to crossing the lagoon by boat because they were on the north western part of the island and it was impossible due to surf conditions to evacuate from there they crossed the entrance to the lagoon and went to the eastern side of the lagoon.
Which accounts use that language?
Would you be so kind as to reduce the ambiguity in your account by using
place names? In other words, what do you mean by "the eastern side of the lagoon"? I've drawn a map breaking the island up into quadrants. In that hypothetical drawing, Aukaraime South, Ameriki, and most of Aukaraime North are on the "eastern side."
Now if I read the account correctly, they did try an evacuation from the lower north eastern side but it was impossible due to surf conditions.
It is this reading (interpretation based on assumptions) that is in question. What I read is an initial landing 200 yards from the wreck, a search along the reef for a more suitable location, and the final campsite roughly 1.5 miles south of the wreck in the vicinity of Tekibeia, Baureke Passage, or Aukaraime South.