PERILS OF THE SEA

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1913, Page 5

PERILS OF THE SEA

ADVENTURES IN OPEN BOATS.

SHIPWRECKED CREW MAKE LONG VOYAGE.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Oct 4.

The steamer Atua which arrived from the Islands late last nigh* brought the full story of the wreck on Jarvis Island, of the American barqiientine Amaranth, the crew of which reached Samoa on September 14 in two small sailing boats having covered 1146 miles. They had a chart, chronometer, and sextant, but the food taken with them from the ship was quite exhausted before arrival.

The Amaranth loaded coal at Newcastle and on September 6 struck the rocks of Jarvis Island, northeast of Samoa. In two hours the vessel was a total wreck. The crew took to the boats at 10.40 p.m. and stood by all night. The vessel having gone to pieces, they landed next morning and waded through the surf to the forward part of the vessel which had been washed on to outlying rocks and obtained canned provisions. No water could be obtained. Next day th crew left the island on the hazardous attempt to reach Samoa.

One boat contained the captain, his wife and child, the second mate, three seamen and the cabin boy. The other boat carried the mate and five seamen. The boats kept company till noon on the second day, when it was agreed that the captain having the faster boat should push ahead with all speed as this might iinean the safety of all hands. On the seventh and eighth day out, the mate's boat encountered heavy rain Jwhich filled the • casks. This probably saved the lives of the crew. Apia was reached just in time, both provisions and water 'having given out. The captain's boat, after a similar experience, reached Pagopago on the same day.

The captain's son, aged 18 months, stood the voyage better than anyone. Mrs Nielsen came through the ordeal remarkably well.