A ROUGH VOYAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13455, 6 April 1907, Page 6

A ROUGH VOYAGE.

EXPERIENCES OF THE MARJORIE CRAIG. The barque Marjorie Craig, one of the wellknown fleet of the J. J. Craig line, of Auckland, arrived in port yesterday, from Newcastle, New South Wales, after ail exceptionally stormy voyage of 28 days, which is a somewhat lengthy record for the smart vessel. The barque has on board a cargo of 750 tons of coal, and a large boiler for the new steamer Daphne, of the Kawau S.S. Co.

The barque sailed from Newcastle on March 8, and almost as soon as she had got outside bail weather set in, the wind blowing a gale from the eastward, which set up a tremendous high sea. Finding that no progress could be made, Captain R. Campbell, the master, decided to heave the vessel to, and for three days the gale raged with great violence.

The galo having moderated somewhat, the.barque was put- on her course again on March 12, but the wind still continued fiom the eastward, with a nastv sea. The wind again increased to a gale, the seas constantly breaking on board ; day after day the same weather conditions prevailed, and the master and crew had a very uncomfortable time of it.

The worst time was, however, on tho night of March 28, when the wind increased until it was blowing with hurricane force from the eastward. Great seasbroke on board of the barque, constantly flooding the decks, making it a work of extreme difficulty and danger for the captain and his crew to get about. All night long the gale raged, some of the squalls being of such force, and the quantity of water breaking on board all over the vessel being so great, it was thought at times that she would not come through the ordeal put upon her. On Good Friday morning the gale was still very severe, but towards the afternoon it began to take off, and gradually moderated, but there was still a heavy sea. During the night of March 28 a funnel for the new steamer Daphne, which was being carried on deck, broke away from its lashings, and it was only after hard work arid serious danger to tho crew that .t was made secure again. After the gales had moderated and the New Zealand coast made, finer weither conditions set in, and the harbour was made safely yesterday, all on board being glad that the troubles of the voyage were everCaptain Campbell, who has had a greatdeal of experience in the intercolonial trade, states that the voyage in the Marjorie Craig was one of the most trying which he has undergone, and the gale of March 28 and 29 the worst which he has ever gone through in the Tasman Sett. He is quit© satisfied that if the barque had not been an exceptionally strong vessel, and v-el! found, she would not have come through so well as she did.