AN ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3837, 2 November 1883, Page 4

AN ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE.

Somo commotion was caused at the Old Swan Pier, on the Thames, lately, by tho arrival of a small open boat of foreign build, which evidently, from its sea worn condition, had made a long voyage. The boat in question was the Neptune, belonging to Norway, 21ft long, oA-ft beam, and 2|ft deep, and in this .small cockle boat, tho captain and sole occupant, William Johneon, a native of Christiansand, and -10 years of age, had nuide an ocean voyago of about 1000 miles. Tho Neptune left Drontheim, in Norway, on Juno 1, and coasted along tho land for about 100 miles to Stavangcr, where she took in water, &c, and after one day's stay, to enable her master to take a rest, she left on Juno 17. With a fair wind and smooth sea she could manage to log seven knots an hour. She made tho English coast on Juno 25, seven days' passage from Stavcngor, her firsT landfall being Flamborough Head. In tho North Sea for two days she experienced a north-easterly gale, compelling her to lie-to to sea anchor. She called in at Lynn, proceeded thence, and arrived in the river Thames July 2. On the voyago several vessels were spoken, but Captain Johnson has only been able to record the name of one, viz., the barque Maria, of Barth, bound to Grimsby. The Neptune, which is of the whaleboat typo, being sharp at both ends, and with a great sheer, is intended to be exhibited, if possible, at tho Fisheries Exhibition. She has two masts. The mainmast carries what in England is understood as a dipping-lug, but the lowering of which, by an ingenious contrivance of Captain Johnson, is dispensed with in tacking. The boat amidships has a free-board of Sin only, but the extremities spring well up out of water. Captain Johnson, who is a good specimen of tho hardy Norseman, looks littlo tho worse for his hazardous voyago and his want of sleep, which he was only able to snatch at intervals when the weather permitted.