ABANDONED AT SEA.

Evening Star, Issue 14631, 29 July 1911, Page 6

ABANDONED AT SEA.

AMERICAN BARQUE PURITAN. BOAT’S CREW LOST. SURVIVORS REACH TAHITI. [Peb United Press Association.] v AUCKLAND, July 29. News of the abandonment of a barque in the Pacific and the probable loss of a boat’s crew of 10 men was brought to Auckland last night. The four-masted American barque Puritan, bound from Newcastle to San Francisco with coal, sprung a leak on June 11 during a heavy gale about 800 miles from Tahiti. For some days the crew worked strenuously to keep the water down, but after a series of accidents to the pumping gear they were compelled, on the night of Juno 17, to abandon the vessel to the mercy of a furious gale then prevailing. Two boats, stocked with water and provisions, put off for Tahiti, the nearest land, but they were separated, and one of them, containing the mate (Hatfield) and nine men, has not since been heard of. It is thought that she has been lost and the crew drowned. The other boat, containing Captain Chapman, the second mate (Collins), and 10 | men, reached Tahiti on July 14 Captain j Chapman waited at the island to Join the steamer for San Francisco. The second mate (Collins), one of the seamen, and the cook joined the steamer Talune at Par peete, and arrived at Auckland last night. The second mate states that soon after leaving Newcastle the Puritan encountered Kid weather and heavy gales for seme days in succession. On June 20 the carpenter reported I6in of water in the well For two days the pumps kept the water from rising, but the gale increased and heavy seas broke aboard, washing the men away from the pumps. A donkey engine was got to work, and it managed W cope with the inflow of water until June 27, when •ui accident occurred to the machinery of the engine and tho hand pump became blocked. It was a pitch-dark night, and tho vessel toesed about in angry seas. Tho water gaining rapidly, Captain Chapman decided to abandon the vessel. Collins, the second mate, describing subsequent experiences, said; “ All hands were called ou deck and divided into two crews. The first male (Hatfield) was placed in charge of ono boat, which was stocked with water and food. Nine men were placed under Hatfield’s charge, and the boat cast off from the Puritan a few \ minutes later. Captain Chapman and ! the second mat© (myself), with the remaining 10 members of the crew, left the derelict vessel in a boat, which was also well stocked with provisions. The night was very dark, and we soon lost sight of our vessel. She was in a bad plight, carry--3,700 tons of coal. I have no doubt that she sank soon after we left her. For three days the two boats kept together. On the third night tho boats separated, and we never saw the first mate’s boat; I think they will never be heard of again. Everything went well in the captain’s boa-t for some days, as the weather had moderated, and the spirits of the crew revived. One day, however, tho sta-rt-I ling discovery was made that the water j keg brought from the vessel was only j half filled. The quantity of water availj able for 12 men for how long a time they j knew not was only 12ga1. Wo were only I allowed a sixth of a pint of water anil j two biscuits a. day. This was our scanty j faro for eleven days, at the end of which time we wore delighted to sight land. We i proceeded in the direction of the land, j and eventually reached the small island of Anaa. Here we landed, and obtained a plentiful supply of water and cocoa nuts. ! After a pleasant rest, and having roplenI ished provisions, wo got in readiness to proceed to Tahiti. Several of the seamen refused to go in the boat again, deciding that as they had reached land safely they would nob again venture to sea in a boat. \ However, the captain, one seaman, tho cook, and myself decided to continue the : j voyage to Tahiti. When leaving Anaa 1 for Tahiti tho boat .struck a coral reef j bank, and was stove in. Water rushed | in as fast as it was baled out with a | bucket, but we continued our fight against ill-luck, and after three days wen* rewarded by the sight of Tahiti, and we landed near Papeete after being 14 days at <sva in a rowing boat.”