Packed With Provisions

Otago Witness, Issue 2504, 19 March 1902, Page 72

Packed With Provisions

On various out-of-the-way Elands in seas in diffeient parts of the world, thoughtful t^ernments ba\e pku ed pro\i-ion depots for the u^e of shipwreeke-d sailoiv. Mariners know whcie to find them, and in the event of di^a-'tcr they make for huch welcome storeplaces a- directly as they can.

These depot') t;ilvo \anou-. form--. iSomptinifs they arc nific holes in the qroiuitl. Vrherciii, with big stones piled un top watertight hurrol- iiio plated. Ca\c- ii.c often utilised Others are of the n.itiiie indicated m tlif illustration, a strong hut, ljping built of wood. >tone. or iron. Tin-, will ha\e a loof, priitterin<j, and pipo to carry the lainw.itcr into tho tank alonp-ide, where it ii stomil. In th.' upper part of the drawing ]•; <-een ai'othei Minplp witter catcher ot ca-ioiuilly employed, a tub fixed with

'tone 5 , and havinsr a tin conf l i\anro' like a fan to collect the watei and urn il into the tub.

WliL'ii the soil allow* of it =ccd= are sometime? sow n near at hand, r o that bc-idos food and water, \egotabk-> aro to be hail, wlutii may mean life to mcq who, during

I their privations, probably have had only salt beef or pork as diet. Securely stowed away in iron-bound barrels, tarred, coated with sand and wiapped m tarpaulin, there are such things as preserved beef, biscuits, sardines, woollen shirts, blankets, jerseys, trouscr?. stockings and hoots medicines and matches. There may be as much as a ton of beef in many airtight boxes in the barrels and half a ton of biscuit 5 . Great care is taken in packing away the matche*. Hatchets, knives, fishing materials and cooking utensils arc also jii some instances included. How to find the little hidden storo-house is arranged for in different waj-s. Usually a high cairn of large stones is built, as seen, but ample instructions are also supplied to sea-go.ers how to discover the depot in ca^c the cairn has been demolished. Sometimes little rough sign-posts, dotted all over the island, point out to the weatheiworn and famished survivors of some ocean tragedy the way to the priceless supplies. The opening of a provision depot nvist be a sight indeed ; but, of cotuse, these isolated storehouses often go many years untouched, save by the crews c( war vessels that from time to time visit them to see that the stores are intact.