AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 761, 1 October 1886, Page 9

AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE.

The Norwegian schooner Peder, seventy-six tons, cf Mandal, lately arrived in Fraserburgh, after occupying about ten weeks on the voyage from Christiania. The Peder commenced to load in the end of -January, and set sail for Scotland in the beginning of the following month. Hut she bad not proceeded far to sea when a violent ?gale sprang up, and, unable to beat against it, the ecliooner drove towards the shore. . As she neared the rocks, the crow, in the belief that their vessel could not b 9 saved, took to their boat and succeeded in effecting a landing.. The wind having changed during the night, the men, instead of finding their vessel a total wreck at daybreak, as they expected, discovered her some distance at sea, drifting helplessly before the wind. A boat was manned, and the deserted Peder, having been again secured, was brought safely into port. After receiving an overhaul, and a favorable breeze having sprung up, sail was again set, but the wind, which proved too strong before, now failed almost altogether, and ere the extreme stretch of the Christiania Fjord could be cleared, the intense frost of February last overtook the vessel, and in a short time she

was held fast, just as the open sea was being neared. The vessel laid some eight or ten miles from the shore, and for some time the crew remained on board of her, with the view of embracing the first opportunity of leaving. As the ice on several occasions tightened round the ship, threatening her destruction, the crew deemed it unwise to live on the vessel, and their effects were accordingly pub ashore. They remained, however, in the vicinity, and almost daily visited the ship with sledges, so as to be ready to assume charge whenever the ice broke up. Gradually the ice began to move, and for some time a close watch was kept on the vessel’s movements ; but so nncer ain were these that it was considered unsafe for the crew to man the ship. The men, however, were preparing to take charge of the craft when a heavy gale ensued, breaking up the ice and carrying everything before it, including the Peder. The vessel was entirely lost eight of for some time, and was reported lost ; bub, shortly afterwards, she again t irned up in tow of a British steamer, which had picked her up as a derelict, and she was once more brought to port. Her crew now for the fourth time took charge of her, and the Peder a few days ago, set sail for Norway, and, favored with a fair wind, safely arrived in Fraserburgh.