MODERN “ANCIENT MARINER”

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1928, Page 2

MODERN “ANCIENT MARINER”

HURRICANES AND SICKNESS

SYDNEY, Sept. 27.

Experiences rivalling those of Coleridge’s “Ancient Mariner” were related by Captain J. A. Olsen, master of the auxiliary schooner Fides, which arrived at Brisbane unexpectedly after being 14 months out from Norway with a cargo of timber destined for a South Australian port. As the vessel went to tier moorings she had every appearance of having just completed a voyage full of misfortune, for the anchors were rusted in their slings, the mast-tops were all awry, and several sternplates were in urgent need of repair. The vessel, which is of 312 tons only, left Portsgund on August 11, 1927. After calling at Gothenburg she sailed through the English Channel and entered the Atlantic Ocean under ideal conditions. These ideal conditions, however, did not last long, and early in Novembei’ the Fides ran into a.south-west hurircane, which dismasted the ship. A considerable amount of gear and rigging were lost overboard. The small semi-Diesel engine was then requisitioned, but after functioning for a short time, it was disabled through heated bearings. For a long time the Fides drifted about a derelict, and it was not until late in December that the captain managed to reach Para, in Brazil. Nearly three months were spent in that port effecting repairs, the greatest difficulty being experienced in securing labour, while the conditions under which the work was carried out were most trying. With the fierce heat and the mosquitoes, many of the crew became very ill, and heavy rainstorms made it impossible to work continuously for any length of time. As adverse winds made the intended voyage around the Cape of Good Hope impossible, the Panama route was chosen, and a very pleasant journey was made through the canal. With encouraging winds a record run to the Society Islands was anticipated. These winds, however, did not hold out, and in their stead unseasonable north-west hurricanes were encountered, as well as numerous calms. For 72 terrible days the Fides was at sea, at times battling with gales and at others becalmed for days on encl. At this rate little progress was being made.

Then, to make matters worse, sickness broke .out among the crew, supplies ran short, and the medicine chest gave out. Without exception, the entire crew suffered from the effects of bad food and bad water. Captain Olson himself was ill for ten days, and then had to be on duty, continuously almost, because of the illness of his mate. SAILOR STABS ANOTHER. It was with a feeling of thankfulness and a belief that the worst had been passed that the crew took their little ship into Papeete on June 30. However, ill-luck, that seemed to be inseparable from the ship, continued, and while at the French port a sailor ran amok and attacked the mate and one of the sailors with a knife. The sailor was severely wounded and was practically at death’s door for more than 14 days. The authorities took a hand in the matter and the seaman who had inflicted the injuries was sent to prison for two years. The vessel was made trim again, and the voyage to Australia resumed. Once again the Pacific belied its name, and the Fides had no sooner left Tahiti than it ran into hurricanes which undid all the work that had been done to the vessel again became more or less a derelict. The first storm occured south of the Tongan group, where instead of the usual south-east trades, south-west and noth-west hurricanes were experienced, and before long tlie ship sprang a leak. To cope with the situation every ounce of power from the engines was required, and the combined efforts of all on board were needed to keep the vessel afloat. Nearer Australia another storm swept away the rigging, and the masts again sprung, The Fides then had to carry on with the engines until temporary masts were made, after which it was decided to make for the coast, of New South Wales, instead of going fl) South Australia. AfSpr battling with another gale favourable weather was experienced, and the captain then decided to seek a haven in the nearest port, which happened to be Brisbane,

Members of the crew looked little the worse for the trying voyage, although they did not try to conceal their pleasure al being safe in port again. One of the crew was a young .journalist who, when he joined the ship, anticipated a voyabe of about three months. It was he who was wounded, and the length of the voyage will certainly cause him to readjust the plans he had already made He is not in love with a sailor’s life.