A TALE OF THE SEA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 628, 17 February 1879, Page 2

A TALE OF THE SEA.

A strange tale of the sea has reached us, and one we refrain from commenting on until the whole of the circumstances connected with it have been made the subject of an enquiry. The facts transmitted to us are these :— -During the passage of the barque Easter Hill from London to Otago, and on the ninth day of January, at eight o'clock m the morning, a lad named William Taylor, aged seventeen years, a native of Dundee, one of the ship's boys, was ordered to go aloft and overhaul the fore-royal buntlines. He had nearly reached the royal yaid, when he slid down as far as the cross-trees ; here he removed his boots, and making a second attempt, succeeded m overhauling the buntlines. He then returned on deck, and was at once ordered up the main rigging to overhaul the main-royal buntlines. Having reached the maintop, he he shouted to those on deck that he was unable to proceed. This did not avail him much, and the order was given that he should not come on deck until he had performed his task. Again the poor boy essayed to do so, and, once more removing his boots, he managed to get his knee upon the foot rope, while he held on to the royal backstay by one hand ; apparently, however, he was too exhausted to get on the yard, and therefore slid down the stay until he reached the port outrigger ; then he missed his hold, turned a somersault, fell on the lower rigging, striking the ratlines m his fall, and and breaking one of them ; thence he struck a rail, and slid into the sea.. At this time one of his shipmates — an A.B. named Johnston — ran aft and jumped over-board to his rescue. He succeeded m getting within a few feet of him, but could not reach him. At this time the ship was going at the rate of two knots an hour, while the sea was comparatively smooth. A rope was thrown to Johnston by one of the passengers, and he succeeded m getting back to the vessel. Messrs. Wylie, Burnett and others of the passengers assert that no boat was lowered away to rescue the unfortunate boy, and that although he was floating m sight, the master (Mr. David Evans) ordered his steward to place the breakfast on the table. We hear that he stated to the Boarding Officer of H.M. Customs that he had lost a lad ; but it is most certain that no such information was supplied to the representatives of the four Dunedin papers, all of whom boarded the vessel for her report, and remained there as long as circumstances would permit. We shall watch this matter, and lay it before our reader.