A LETTER FROM TROOPER CON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2416, 28 June 1900, Page 65

A LETTER FROM TROOPER CON.

The weather so far has been fairly calm, and we have only experienced one storm of any consequence. One Sunday night the sky presented a very threatening appearance before we turned in, and shortly before I fell asleep the vessel began to rock a little, and I knew that the sea was rising. During the night I was awakened by a most horrible noise. The boat was pitching horribly, the wind was shrieking overhead, and the horses above, in their frantic efforts to keep their feet, were, pounding the deck with their hoofs, and the noise a body of was something akin to the noise a body o£ horse makes when galloping over a bridge, i lay awake for a while, never dreaming anything out of the ordinary was amiss, until I heard the cry, '" All hands on deck, and shortly afterwards an excited sergeant came round crying, " For God's sake, men, stand to your horses! " I soon dressed, and was making tracks along the slippery iron decks, when who should I fall against but Joey, the kangaroo. He was slipping all over the greasy deck in a most helpless manner, and even in that critical hour some wag had found time to tie a miniature lifebelt around his neck.

I found my horse all right, but he was very excited, and seemed quite pleased to see me. There were a lot of horses lying down, and we had our work cut out to get them on their feet again, with the boat rolling in the manner that she was. We stayed down the hold a couple of hours, and put hay under all our horses' feet to give them a foothold, and tlen, after leaving a strong guard, we retired to bed, but not to sleep. Next morning the sea was running very high, and we had some fun. There was curry and rice for breakfast, and as one man was helping himself to an allowance, the ship gave a roll, and his legs slipped from under him. He seized the dish of curry and rice in both hands, much as a drowning man clutches at a straw, and when last seen was on his knees with his nose in the curry, pig fashion. At lunch time we were all busily engaged trying to keep our mess properly together, and after we had finished our repast, were minus a lot of tinware.

Ono night at tea time we were comped on the 10'c'slo ai a spot whera the bottom corner of a sail v.-cis roade fast by a rope, when the sail becoming loose, ran away up the steel rope, making a tnosl, unearthly noise. Our bugler, who v/as standing near, sprang at the rope like o< madman, &n$ celled oji soxao of the by-stanclers

to help him pull down the sail.

Everyone

rushed to his assistance, and as they did so .the ship rolled, and they all fell in a bunch,

the bugler underneath. When all the rest arose the bugler was left sitting. He had sat down in

a dish of potatoes, and didn't like to get up ! The water on board this boat is scandalous,

• and I am siire that if a deputation of our men ; waited on the men who cleaned out the tanks there would be murder. We tapped a fresh tank of water yesterday morning, and were

naturally looking forward to a change for the

better, so I cheerily made my way to the bar, 1 where a daily allowance of limejuice and water i is served out to each man. The fellows were 1 all waiting their turn, and as I arrived a seri geant was just giving them a lecture, '" Men," 1 said he, " the man in here complains that when he serves you with limejuice you drink it, and then turn round and swear at him be-

cause the water is dirty or something. Now, the first man that blackguards him I'll have up before the captain." Needless to say, I did not stay for any limejuice, but if ever I come on a trip of this kind again, I shall find out if there is any lemonade on board, and if there is none, then I shall get in a supply. We are going to have a grand farewell concert to-morrow (Thursday) night, as we are expecting to reach Durban by Friday. At Durban I expect to get some letters from home, and I shall post this , letter there. We are burning to hear some ' news of the war. G ood-bye. — Yours truly, i nnvx