AN UNFORTUNATE VOYAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 82, 8 April 1891, Page 4

AN UNFORTUNATE VOYAGE.

Ths steamship Philadelphia, which lately arrived ab New York from Venezuela, reported a, sad case of distress at sea. On the second day out from Curacao she fell in with the British barque Montreal, Captain Dexter, master, from Windsor, Nova Scotia, with a cargo of deals, Hying signals of distioss. The Montreal had been 71 days out, and had run short of food and water. Sho was bound for St. Simon, Georgia, and had been bloivn considerably out of her course southward by violent gales. When the Philadelphia fell in with the Montreal tho crew of the latter were reducod to an allowance of two gills of water a day and half a sea biscuit. The men were in consequence so weakened that they wero unable to work tho ship, and she was drifting at the mercy of the wind and tide. Only tour of tho ton who composed the ship's company wero able to stand on deck. On January 10th ft sailor named Felix was sent aloft, bub he was so weak that ho was unable to hold tho ropes, and fell overboard. The poor fellow's shipmates, though they saw him drowning before thoir eyes, and almost within reach, were incapable of rendering him the least assistance, so feeblo had thoy become through semi-starvation. Although there were niue of them left, thoir united strength was not sufficient to lower a boat, and the unfortunato man was drowned. When relieved by the Philadelphia the crew of the unfortunate barque wore too much exhausted to take the provisions sho gave them on board. Their tongues were parched und swollen, they were unable to move, and altogether thoy were in a most pitiable condition. The vessel had lost most of her saila and spars. After receiving two weeks' provisions the Montreal proceeded on her voyage.