CROSSING THE ATLANTIC IN A SMALL BOAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 838, 20 December 1867, Page 3

CROSSING THE ATLANTIC IN A SMALL BOAT.

(From the European Times. ) The Mary Blake, from Antigua, has arrived in the Thames with a seaman named Andrew Armstrong on board, the only survivor of a crew of four of a schooner-rigged boafc, called the John T. Ford, which was lost while on a voyage from Baltimore to Paris via Havre. The John T. Ford was about 24 tons, and of less size than the Red White and Blue, but, unlike her, she was not constructed on the lifeboat principle, being more of a whaleboat. Her dimensions were 19ft. length of keel, 22ft. 6in. over all, 7ft. beam, 2ft. Gin. depth of hold. She was the joint property of the master, Gould ; Armstrong, the survivor, and two or three others ; and the citizens of Baltimore took great interest in the success of the expedition to Paris. The John T. Ford left Baltimore on the 22nd of June, but, getting short of water — one of her tanks being damaged — she put into Halifax on the Bth of July ; and one of her hands leaving, Armstrong, who is a fisherman, joined her ; and on the morning of the 16th of July she left Halifax, accompanied by several boats, which escorted her out to sea. On the 26th, they sighted a French schooner at anchor on the banks of Newfoundland, and went alongside about 7 p.m., and left at 4 a.m. on the next day. They then experienced very heavy weather, the wind being from north. The boat labored and shipped so much water that the crew were unable to keep their clothes dry, or have any rest. Indeed, there was only room for two below, and that in rather a cramped position, so that two of the men were always on deck. On the 29th, the boat being under a foresail, shipped a heavy sea, and capsized. She righted in about a minute, but the water damaged the bread and wetted the stores and clothes. Armstrong states that their condition was then getting very miserable. On the 2nd of August, weather moderate and wind N., at one p.m. spoke a barque belonging to Shields, from Montreal for Cork, and asked for a little bread. They could not supply any, but gave them a bottle of rum and some tobacco. On the sth, at 4pm., the wind was strong, at S.W., and there was a heavy sea, which struck the boat, and she turaedover again. She righted almost immediately, but, unfortunately, they lost all their stock of oil. and the principal part of their supply of water, which added much to their distress, suffering as they were severely from cramp and pains in their legs. On the Bth, they spoke a ship belonging to Liverpool, bound, to Quebec, and obtained a supply of bread and a little oil and tobacco. Shortly afterwards, they exhausted their small stock of oil, and had no light for the compass, or the means to warm any food. They then cut up the boards that secured the ballast, and all the internal fittings of J the boat, to burn and procure a light. On j the 17th August, they spoke a barque bound to Portsmouth, from Quebec, and she furnished them with a little bread and a few candles. Then they encountered very heavy weather, wind from S.W. to E.N.8., with a cross sea. On Monday, the 19th, wind S.S.W., they bore up for Cork, Cape Clear, by their reckoning, being N.E., about 30 miles distant. At 10.30 p.m. a heavy sea struck the boat and turned her over, and the ballast boards having been

' burnt in order to obtain a light, the ballast shifted, and all on board were thrown into the sea. The boat kept turning right overas the four hands struggled to get on her, until the lad (Murphy) got entangled between the rigging and the mast, when she was so steadied that the other three of the. crew managed to keep hold of her. The craft continued in th's position, two of the hands being on her mast and two on the side of the keel. They remained in this position, the whole of that night, frequently beingwashed off and on by the heavy seas, and at 11.30 a.m. on the following day they observed a brig bearing down towards them. Armstrong states: that they were all cheered with the hope of speedy relief, but, instead of rendering them, aid, she came close to them, hoisted Dutch. colors, and stood away without offering the least assistance. About an hour after thia, the mate, John Shanny, asked Armstrong topray for him. They all prayed together for some time, but were of ten interrupted by the heavy seas washing one or the other of them, off the bottom of the boat. The ears of the mate were then noticed to swell very much, and his eyes protruded ; he shook hands with his companions, and kissed his wife's likeness which he had about him. fie then became greatly excited, and bit the captain's thigh. The captain pushed hink. gently on one side, saying, " For God's sake, John, don't bite me." The mate then fell back off the boat into the water and sank, immediately. About 7 p.m. the lad, E4 ward Murphy, asked Armstrong to mak him in some way fast, and he was secured by his belt. He was not in that position long' before a sea swept him away, and heperished; and afterwards the captain and. the survivor, Armstrong, were washed off. The captain cried out, " God help my poorwife and family," and then disappeared. After great exertion Armstrong succeeded m. regaining the boat, but he was often swept oft* by the sea which dashed over the craft, the succeeding wave frequently washing him on again. He continued clinging on to the bottom of the boat until 4 a.m. of the 23rd, when the ship Aerolite, Captain AUeyne, of Liverpool, hovein sight, and seeing the piece of ragged canvas on the end of an oar, which he held up, bore down to his aid, and picked him up. When taken on board he was very much exhausted and almost insensible, from the wantof food and exposure. He was also much injuretf about the leg 3 and other parts of his body, through being dashed so often against the boat. As may be imagined, his sufferings weremostsevereduringthelong period he waft drifted about on the bottomof the boat. Hesuffered much from imbibing salt water. He kept chewing a piece of an old tobacco pouchy which, he says, at times brought some moisture to his parched throat. He was fallen in with in lat. 49. 5 N., and long. 6.53 W. On board the Aerolite he_was treated wish every kindness, but for which he believes he must have died. On the following day, the 24th, he was transferred to theschooner Mary Blake, Captain Brown, of Brixham, from Antigua, on board of which, he was also treated with every attsntion. Onbeing landed in the West India Dock th<& American consul provided the necessary accommodation for him at the Sailors' Home ia. Well street, and in a few days he will be forwarded to his native place in America.

The Lake Wakatip Mail gives the following testimony to the value of the road lately opened between Queenstown and Dunedin: — " It is very cheering to notice almost daily the arrival of loaded teams from Dunedin, as an unfailing sign that direct communication ]wr terra Jirma does exist with the outerworld. But of far greater importance to the district is the fact that the benefits are reciprocal. Our merchants derive theadvantageol receiving goois brought through' to their own. doors, and our producers and manufacturer* are enabled to supply residents down country with timber, logs, &c. , besides forwarding wool for export. Our exports are increasing, and. A3 soon as the resources of this district are well known, a valuable trading inter-com-munication will be established. We are also glad to learn, that carriers express greater satisfaction with the road, for although it is not so good in some part 3 (especially at the Shotover crossing and terrace) as is requisite, they are becoming acquainted with the difficulties to be encountered. As regards the Kawarau punts, we believe they are nowworked very efficiently and satisfactorily, as far as the punt-owners are concerned, the only obstacle being the choked-up river at Morven Ferry (and this is rapidly beingcleared away under direction of Mr Greett*law, the district engineer). We are requested to correct an error which appeared, in a letter in the Daily Times. The writer stated that the charge f«r crossing each o£" the ferries is Is 6d per horse, whereas ifc should be Is each."

" The police," says the Lake Wakatip Hail, " have received information that ay well- known resident, named Jacob Jefferson, was drowned about 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning, while attempting to cross the Shotover at Maori Point. It appears that Jefferson was riding one horse and leading anotherwith a pack on, when about midway in the stream, the horse he rode commenced to rear and plunge, and eventually threw him. Just afterwards, he was observed standing nearly up to his armpits on a sandbank in the middle of the river, and, no person beingnear at hand, the poor fellow was two minutes afterwards swept down before any aid could be rendered. He was noticed to struggle in the torrent for a few moments, and has not been seen since. Search parties are out, and it is to be hopi'd will soon learn, tidings of the missing raau."