UNLUCKY TRIP.

Auckland Star, 2 September 1933, Page 10

UNLUCKY TRIP.

SHORT OF COAL. YOUNG SEAMAN KILLED. FREIGHTER'S MISADVENTURES Short of coal, the Australian tramp steamer Barunga put into Auckland at midday to-day. Misfortune has dogged the- freighter, since she left Japan six weeks ago. After discharging a cargo of wheat and flour at Hongkong and Tsingtao, the Barunga, a typical coal-burning ocean tramp, went to Michikata, Japan, where she took in 1600 tons of bunker coal. She sailed from the Japanese port on July 15, but on August 1 had to divert from her course to call at Nauru Island to land a fireman, H. Sharrack, who was suffering from a poisoned hand. Head winds delayed progress on ■ the run to Makatea and the voyage from Japan occupied 32 days. Makatea was reached on August 16, and on that date the real tragedy of the voyage occurred. John Sinclair, an ordinary seaman, who was making only his' second voyage on the freighter, fell to the floor of No. 3 hold and received serious head and body injuries. He was taken ashore in a critical condition and died the same afternoon. At the time of the accident Sinclair was assisting to remove the hatch covers. No one saw him fall and the first known of the accident was when the youth was noticed lying motionless on the floor of the hold. The distance from the hold mouth to the floor is 30ft. Burial Ashore. The accident cast a gloom over the ship and the white population of the island, and the.casket was covered with wreaths. The majority of the Barunga's company attended the burial, the master, Captain E. Me William reading the burial service. Prior to the burial a service was held in the church at the cemetery, the officiating priest speaking in Tahitian. Sinclair was the son of Captain Sinclair, wharf superintendent for the Adelaide Steam Ship Company, owjiers of the Barunga, at Brisbane. Leaving Makatea on August Iβ, the Barunga experienced fine weather for four days, but then encountered a south-east gale and high seas. These conditions continued for two days.

\ Cyclonic Weather. For two days the weather continued favourable, but at midnight on August 2S the freighter struck a south-east gale, accompanied , by cyclonic conditions. Water was shipped on the well decks and minor damage was done to railings. Due to the inferior quality of the coal loaded in Japan,' and' to the adverse weather encountered, the chief engineer of the freighter found his bunkers running low. After a consultation with the master it was decided to put into Auckland, although it was considered that provided the weather continued fine for the remainder of the trip the bunker supply "was sufficient to take the freighter to Newcastle. It was stated when the ship arrived to-day .that she had still the best part of 100 tons, of coal' left in the bunkers, and that the call at Auckland had been purely a precautionary measure. Visitors to the Barunga when she was bunkering at the Western • wharf this afternoon were surprised to see that she was registered at Auckland, although those on board said that she was making her first visit to the port.