FOURTEEN DAYS IN AN OPEN BOAT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1193, 31 July 1911, Page 10

FOURTEEN DAYS IN AN OPEN BOAT.

barque abandoned in THE PACIFIC. TV/0 BOATS PUT OFF. ONE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN LOST. (By Telegraph.—ft'ess Association.)' Auckland, July 29. News of tho abandonment of a barque in the Pacific, and the probitble loss ol' a boat s crew of fen men, was brought to Auckland last night. I'ho four-masted American barque Puritan, bound from Newcastio fo San Francisco with coal, sprang a leak 011 .Tune -0 during a heavy gale, about SCO miles from Tahiti, For some days tho crew worked strenuously to keep the water down, but after a series of accidents fo the pumping gear they were compelled, oil tho night 01' June 27, to abandon tho vessel to the mercy of a furious gale then prevailing. two boots stocked with water and prom'f 10ns P"' i° r Tahiti, the nearest land. Ihe boats separated, and of one of tlieni, containing the first mate (Hatfield) and nine men, no news has since been heard. It is thought she has been iost and the crew drowned. The other boat, containing Captain Chapman, tho second mate (Collins), and ten men, reached Tahiti on July 11.

Captain Chapman waited at the island to join the steamer for Sail Francisco. The second mate, one seaman, and the cook joined (lie steamer Talune at Papeete, and arrived at Auckland last night. The second mate states that soon alter leaving Newcastle the Puritan encountered bad weather. For some days there was a succession of heavy gales. Oil June '20 the carpenter reported IB inches of water in the well. For two days the pumps kept the water from rising, but the gale increasing, aud heavy seas breaking aboard and washing tho men away from tho pumps, the donkey engine was got to work and managed to cope with the inflow of water until June 27, when an accident occurred to the machinery of the engine, and the hand-pump became blocked one pitch dark night. The vessel was tossed about by the angry seas, the water gaining rapidly. Captain Chapman therefore decided to abandon the vessel.

Collins, describing the subsequent experiences, said all hands were called 011 deck airl divided into two ciews. The first mate (Hatfield) was placed' in charge of one boat, which was 'stocked with water aud food. Nine men were placed under Hatfield's charge, and the boat cast off from the Puritan. A few minutes later Captain Chapman and tho second mate, with the remaining toil members of the crew, left the derelict vessel in a boat, which was elso well stocked with provisions. "The night was very dark," said Collins, "and we soon lost'sight of our vessel. She was in a bad plight, and carried 3700 tons of coal. I have 110 doubt sho sank soon after wo left her. For three days the two boats koot together. On tho third night the" boats separated. We never saw the first mate's boat. ' I think they will never bo heard of again."

Everything went well in fhc captain's boat for some days, as (lie weather had moderated, and the spirits of the crew revived. One day, however, the startling disco very was made that tho water keg brought from tho vessel was only half filled. The quantity of water available for twelve men —for how long a time they knew not—was ony twelve gallons. "Wo were only allowed a sixth of a pint, of water and two bifcuits a day," said one .of tho crew. "This was our. scanty fare for eleven days, at the end of which time we were deiighted to sight land. We eventually reached tho small island of Anaa. Here we landed and obtained a plentiful supply of water and coconuts. After a pleasant rest, and having replenished our provisions, we got in readiness to proceed to Tahiti. Several of tho. seamen refused to go in the. boat again, deciding, as they had Tcachcd lnnd safely, that they would not again venture to sea in the boat. However, the captain, ono seaman, the cook, and myself decided to continue the voyage to Tahiti. "When leaving Anaa "for Tahiti, the boat struck a coral reef, and a plank was stovo in. The water rushed in as fast as it was bailed out with a bucket, but we continued our fight against ill-luck. After thr?o days wn were rewarded by the sight of Tahiti, and landed near Papeete aftor being foil" teen days at sea in a rowing boat."