ORDEAL IN STORM

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 20 January 1930, Page 5

ORDEAL IN STORM

BLOWN ACROSS ATLANTIC COASTAL SHIP’S DILEMMA FORTY-SEVEN DAY'S. . United Press Association—By Electric TelegrapL Copyiignt.; LONDON, Jan. 18. One of the most amazing voyages for many years was revealed when the coasting steamer Neptune, 129 tons, anchored to-day at Tobermory, in the north-east corner of the Isle of Mull (Inner Hebrides). Forty-seven days ago the tiny ship left Saint Johns, Newfoundland, with 10 men and one woman aboard for Newtown, a coastting station 100 miles away, which it has not yet reached. Instead it encountered a storm almost before it was out of sight of the land. A huge wave carried off the wheelhouse. smashed the boats and bulwarks and left the vessel helpless. It was blown and drifted right across the Atlantic througli the storm. “After the storm I had no idea of our position,” said Captain Job K. Rarkow. “My knowledge of navigation is very slight, for on the usual route I am seldom out of sight of land ; therefore, though a large steamer gave me our course I was little the wiser.”

The ship picked up a light which was thought to he Eddystone on Tuesday. hut it was Skerrymore, on the west coast of Scotland. Those on board lived on the cargo of fruit, hut the water had to be rationed to a glass per day.

Mrs Humphreys, wife of one of the crew, said that during the long periods she was confined to the forecastle with the men. as it was impossible to remain aft owing to the tremendous seas. Four of the 10 men passengers had been hound for Newtown.