The Voyage of the May. DEATH OF ONE OF THE PASSENGERS.

Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 148, 6 November 1886, Page 2

The Voyage of the May. DEATH OF ONE OF THE PASSENGERS.

Wo aro indebted to Captain Robb for tho following account of tho trip to Cambrideo Gulf :- We loft Wellington on 29th August, at 11 a.m., in tow of tho s.s. Lyttelton. At midnight steamer left the vessel, tho Brothers' light, bearing N.N.W. 18 miles, calm ; at 2 a.m. on 30th light breeze sprung up from south ; 6.30 a.m. passed tho Brothers, when wind came round to N.W.; beat out to. Stephen's Island, and passed it at noon on 31st, with a strong B.E. wind, whioh U#e& until wo reaohed Cape Egmont; bore east 90 znilos by observation. Noon «a '2nd September calm with vory confused: soa; barometer 2867; at 2 p.m. wind came in fitful gusts all round the compass, and by ft p.m. it was blowing a gale, with cross sea ; on the 4th, at noon the wind veered taW., a perfect gale with terrific squalls, and -the sea running very confused and high. In this galo wo lost the only horse we had on board, although everything was done for ita safety. I think it died almost with fear* owing to the vessel plunging heavily in tho. tremendous cross sea. On the sth at 4 a.m. tho wind backed to S.W., modorato and clear ; at noon passed the Three Kings. During the gale it was rather amusing to see boots, pots, clothes, &0,, all mixed up, and those who were siok. were bumping up against each other, not caring muoh, apparently, whether they were in the ship or out of her, and the dead horse was stretched out on dock. It was really a sight worth soeing to anyone who could enjoy a galo at sea. From tho Three Kings ta Keen Reef we had strong W.S.W. winds with a orosß sea running. Here she took the S.E. trade winds, had them moderate with much rain. On 22nd, at 5 p.m., passed Bramble Bay ; on 22rd, cleared Torres Straits by Prinoe of Wales' Channel. Wo wero at anchor twice in Torres Straits. The N.E. channel is a splendid channel. We hftd fine, clear weather. In the S.E. monsoon one has to be careful to guard against the N.W. current, whioh constantly runs irrespective of tides. Torres Straits is a sight worth seeing, and the passengers enjoyed it very much. The different islands are most beautiful, clothed in their mantle of green to the waters edge. We saw a large steamer on Moresby Rock, and a barque on the reef at the Princo of Wales' Channel. From Torres Strait to Cape Van Dieman light easterly winds, sea like a mill-pond; then W. and N,W. winds to La Crosse Island, mouth cf° Cambridge Gulf, where we camo to anchor 2nd October, at 6 p.m. On the sth, at & p.m., came to anchor off the township of VVydnham. Cambridge Gulf is vexy intricate navigation for a sailing vessel to boat np, as we had to do most of the way. The township ef Wyndham U a most disreputable looking place. The?« are about eight or nine shanties, and five of these ore grogshops. The Kimberley groldnelda are a perfect failure; they aro coming down weary and foot-sore, with a little gold, bat most with none. Seventoen hundred men have left this place since the Ist August. Pre. visions are to- be had almost for nothing-, with the exception of potatoes, oatmeal, and rice — potatoes, 15s per bag; oatmeal, 18s to 21s per 501b bag. Most of the diggers are going round to Port Darwin in small vessels to catch tho steamer there for Sydney. This is all the information I can give, ana I have. it from vory good authority. September 21st, at 7.30 p.m., in Int. Sdeo> 14 S., lon. 146deg. 10 8., George Jones, a. native of Greece, died after a very short ill. neBS. I am unable to say -what was the cajo of death, but it commenced like a seveva oold^ iVe buried him next morning at 8. & v m. N.E.. 30 miles from Bramble Bay,