BACK TO CIVILISATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21404, 4 August 1931, Page 8

BACK TO CIVILISATION

[TWO YEARS’ EXILE ENDED CAMPBELL ISLAND PARTY TIMELY ARRIVAL OF TAMATEA PLIGHT OF MAROONED MEN \ / A vivid story of island life and the hardships caused by lack of proper food ■was given to a Daily Times reporter last night by Messrs John and Arthur Warren, who, with Messrs Harry Warren and A. Spence, were brought to Bluff on Sunday night by the steamer Tamatea after a lonely exile of two years on Campbell Island, more than 400 miles south-east of New Zealand. Messrs John and Arthur Warren, who hold the lease of the island, travelled to Dunedin yesterday. ,

It was expected that a steamer would call at the island 12 months ago, but the visit did not eventuate, and, as months past without prospect of relief for the men, concern was felt for their safety. An arrangement was therefore made with Captain R. J. Hamilton, with the result that a ,week ago the men were taken off the island.

Mr J. Warren and his nephew Arthur took over the island from a syndicate in 1926, Mr A. Warren travelling there in December of that year. Mr J. Warren followed a year later in the whale-chaser Star VI. Regular yearly steamer visits were made until August, 1929. Since that time, however, the four men, until the Tamatea’s visit, had been completely cut off from the outside world. In 1926 there were 3000 sheep on the island, but the number has now increased to over 4000. What their fate and that of the 16 head of cattle on the island is to be is at the moment uncertain. At present the island is completely deserted, and it is probable that it will remain so unless arrangements can be made tor regular steamer visits. The lamatea brought back 124 bales of wool and skins, as well as over 100 seal skins, which are stated to be worth not a great deal at the present time. RATIONING OF STORES When the last steamer called at the island it brought stores for a year, but before that period had elapsed the party realised that rationing might be advisable. As time went on it became necessary to mix tapioca, rice, sago, and split peas, which were ground as finely as possible, with the flour, and this mixture was used for the making of bread. Gradually the proportion of flour was reduced until in November last the supplies of flour ran out. As time passed the stores ot food, which for months had provided no variety, became less and less,, and from April until relief arrived —a ■ period oi over three months —the men lived entirely on tea, mutton, fish and the flesh of a variety of shag found on the island. There was no fresh milk on the island, and the supplies of condensed milk were exhausted over a year ago. In the early stages of the rationing period the men’s health was seriously affected, Mr Harry Warren being the worst sufferer. According to Mr Arthur Warren it was “ touch and go ” for some time, afid it was only due to the men s wisdom in imposing upon themselves a gradual system of rationing that they were able to accustom themselves to their sparse diet. Meals on the island had never been elaborate, but the last few months provided hardships which severely taxed the men’s strength and good spirits. They realised that there was no escape from their position until a vessel arrived, and, by adopting a cheerful outlook, they lived a more or less contented life. Id fact, they became so used to their diet that Mr John Warren considers that they could have lived without serious impairment of their health for a considerable time longer. For a time in the early years of the Warrens’ occupancy of the island vegetables were successfully grown, but. swarms of water rate began to invade th« garden, and only small quantities were subsequently cultivated. Lack of food, however, was not the party’s only difficulty. Messrs H. Warren and Spence had brought with them sufficient clothing for only a year, and the men had to share what thev had left. Mr Spence’s boots began to wear out, and for months his feet were never dry. In the end he realised that he would have to make his own boots. By a fortunate coincidence there happened to be a handbook dealing with bootmaking among the large store of reading matter on the island, and with its aid Mr Snence was able to make from some raw hide a pair of boots which served for the remainder of his stay. Lighting caused another difficulty when the supplies of kerosene became exhausted in June last, but by a series of experiments means were found by which candles could be made from tallow. y LIFE ON THE ISLAND In narrating their experiences the men made no complaint of the loneliness of their life. Darning and mending occupied a large proportion of their spare time, and tor the remainder there was no lack of reading matter. In addition, they possessed a gramophone and 80 records. The only two packs of cards which they possessed were used until their values could no longer be recognised. They were replaced by a “ scallywag ” game, which the party made from odd pieces of wood, and tournaments were regularly held. The balls, it may be added, were made from « mixture consisting mainly of tar. Fortunately, at no time was there any illness, and the party escaped injury ot any kind, with the exception of a few cuts. The common cold, they stated, was unknown on the island. Despite the duration of their stay on the island, the men were enabled to keep themselves acquainted with the days ot the week by means of a rough diary m which records of the farming operations conducted by the party were entered by Mr Arthur Warren. An interesting testimony of the accuracy with which this diary was kept is afforded by the tact that on the arrival of the lamatea at the island the date and day of the week were known by the exiles. Moreover, .he time was so accurately estimated by means of a compass that the time-pieces which still functioned were within five minutes of correct time. . On one occasion Mr John Wairen saw whaling vessels anchored in a small bay, and set out to meet them When he reached the brow of the last hill on his journey, however, he found that they had gone. ARRIVAL of relief It was in April, of 1930, that the men expected a boat to call, and thej had made all preparation for its visit. Sheep had been mustered and were held for six weeks before they were again turned out. Two of the members were on a hilltop mustering sheep for food when they obtained their first sight of the Tamatea emerging from under a thick bank of mist. A few minutes later she had disappeared round a headland, and the men rushed to Perseverance Harbour to meet the vessel. Ihey were taken on board and given a very welcome meal. They stated that the is and was their home and in spite of these hardships which they had experienced they would be quite willing to go back. The news of the economic depression came as a severe blow to the party, for it was realised that the return for their two years’ work would be greatly reduced. DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND The island, the men stated, had a mild climate and. though the weather was. cold in the winter and there were occasional sevefe storms, the conditions were much dess trying than on the mainland. A large area of the island was covered with 'scrub, which made excellent firewood. Among the birds were starlings, blackbirds, thrushes, hedge sparrows, house sparrows, goldfinches, chaffinches, larks, wax-eyes, and red polls. Nearly all the

minerals in the world, including gold, could be found on the island, but not in payable quantities. . , The island was the nesting place of the royal albatross, and the smoky albatross was also quite frequently seen. There were large rookeries of rock-hopper ana cape penguins, and king penguins made occasional visits. Sea elephante. aycr aging 20 feet in length, were there in thousands, and other wild life consisted of seals, sea lions, and sea leopards. In the spring large numbers of whales were seen in the vicinity of the island. In February last four icebergs were sighted only three miles off the land, one remain1111ThcT There are 14 hilltops, the highest being Mount Honey (1867 feet), and the lowest Beeman Hill (640 feet). Ihere is one lake, 200 acres in extent.

TAMATEA’S ROUGH PASSAGE The Tamatea’s voyage, which was not without perils, was described by Mr vy. J Stafford, of Messrs Wright, Stephenson’s staff, who was a passenger on the was left on the night of July 11, he stated, and there was every prospect of a good voyage. Soon strong winds sprang up, and Captain Hamilton was compelled to seek shelter at Port Pegasus. Eleven days passed before the steamer could venture out, and during that time the men on Campbell Island, he afterwards found, experienced the worst weather during their stay, the ground beincr covered with snow tor a week. pfgasus was left on a Thursday and the following afternoon wa s spent at the Auckland Islands. On Saturday July 25. the trip to Campbell Island was begun. Rough conditions and fog were experienced, the vessel at first sailing past the island to the north Land w sighted, however, at 1 o’clock on Sunday afternoon. At first no sign of me could be discerned, and ns the Warrens launch could not ho seen it was feared that they had put to sea in an emleavom to reach the mainland and had been lost Later it was found, however, that the launch had been lost from her moorings in a sudden storm nearly two years previously. The first welcome sign of hie was a dog Mr Stafford and a member of the crew landed and, going into the house, found the range warm thus effectively dispelling any fears of disaster. Oii the return voyage the vessel ran into extremely rough weather, which, Mr Stafford stated, Captain described as the worst in his 37 years experience at sea. ~ , , Mr Stafford paid a warm tribute to the seamanship of Captain Hamilton and to the seaworthiness of the Tamatea,