EIGHT DAYS IN AN OPEN BOAT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5571, 17 September 1889, Page 3

EIGHT DAYS IN AN OPEN BOAT.

The Mallsgate, a fine British barque o 1043 tons burden, arrived in Brisbane ii May last. After discharging, she sailei on June 14th for Newcastle, where slit loaded with coals for San Francisco. She left Newcastle on 17th July, and shortly after fell in with gales from the south-easl to east, together with very thick weather. This continued up to Sunday, 21st, but all went well until about 6 p.m., when she struck on a rock, presumed to be Middleton Reef, and situated about 380 miles from the Australian coast, in lat. 30 deg. south 160 deg. east. A rumbling noise, followed by a mighty rush of water and the thunder of the breakers, told too plainly the position of affairs. A hasty

examination and the cry "she's filling," went up. And true it was, for in less time than it takes to tell the story the water rose and half filled the barque. Small spars began to fall ; and the order was given to lower the pinnace, which was done in less than four minutes. The masts were then cut away to prevent the vessel heeling over and to give the unfortunates a chance of provisioning their boa^.s. After the splash of the masts nothing more was seen or heard of them, and one of the lifeboats was launched. By this time the water in the holds had gained rapidly, the coals washing over the cabin iioor. With a coolness and dexterity which did them credit, the men did their work, and divided into two boatloads. The next thought was provisions, and each boat's crew did their best to obtain ;i supply. Dark as pitch was the night, and witli a very heavy sea beating over them, the castaways drifted about, only with the greatest difficulty keeping the boat's head to wind and sea. There had been no time to dress, and their feelings as they sat in their frail craft, none with a full suit of clothing, and some with little but their shirts, can better be imagined than described. The gale continued all night, and the dawn of day was hailed with delight, for with the morn came hope. The boat's jib was rigged as a mainsail, and with this small piece of canvas they battled with the gale for 24 houis. For four days they met with variable weather, and on Thursday night a fearful gale arose. Hope almost died, and as tho gale tossed themabout during the weary hours of darkness they felt they could hardly expect to survive. Their strength, too, was fast failing ; the want of food, and, above all, of water, had begun to produce its effect upon the little boat. Two of the apprentices lay at the bottom of the boat, while the others were beginning to fail. \\ It li tho dawn of Friday the gale increased, but beyond the tossing which they received nothing of importance occurred until the afternoon, when the weather was so heavy that the small craft 2ould only carry her reefed jib. One luige wave caught the boat on her bows, twisting her in a circular fashion :mly to*bo met by another wave from an opposite direction to send her back again and half till her with water. " Bail out boys, " cried the skipper, and, as if moved by superhuman strength, those who were able obeyed the order as best they could with hats or anything that came handy. Just time enough was given to get clear of the water when the pinnace was again half filled, but, urged on by encouraging words of their chief the men repeated the bailing process. One or two of the men began to show signs of succumbing find in a half lying, half sitting posture awaited the end. On Saturday the wind was still high, but good progress was made by the boat. Fortunately the wind moderated, and on Sunday morning the captain was enabled once more to set both mainsail and jib. At about 10 o.clock the shipwrecked crew sighted land, and, as may be imagined, their joy was great. At 2 o'clock this land was made out to be Moreton Island, and an effort wasmade to get into the bay through the South Passage. The breakers were however, seen to be too heavy, and the danger was too great for them to persevere in the attempt. The boat was headed off shore, and very soon a steamer crossed their bo fvs at a distance of about three miles. A large neck handkerchief attached to a paddle was waved, and all the signals that could be made by a boat in distress were given. The captain and men who were able to sit up state positively that the steamer's engines stopped for a short time. Be that as it may, the hopes of the unfortunates were no sooner raised than they were again blighted, and with hearts full of sadness and misgivings they saw the vessel steam away and round Cape Moreton at about 5 o'clock. So sine of rescue had they been that three paddles were put out and plied by the captain and two others, who were now the only ones who could sit up. When the hope of relief from this source had died out, they again headed for the land, and endeavored to find a place to beach the boat for tho night, but the long unbroken line of heavy surf beating on the eastern shore of Moreton Island offered no opening through which they might push their frail craft ; there was nothing for it but to cruise about until daylight. But happily their troubles were approaching an end, for the northerly current-was setting them towards Capo Moreton ; and when morning dawned after an anxious night, they found themselves near the bold headland which forms the northeastern end of Moreton Island. Soon they were in comparatively smooth Witter, and by 8.30 a.m. they had beached their boat near the Yellow Patch, about a mile from Cape Moreton. More dead than alive, those tilde to move tumbled out on to the sand, while the others were dragged out 1 >y the captain and carpenter, who had barely enough strength themselves. Immediately they were landed they fell down from sheer exhaustion, but some of the more able members of the party crawled to a waterhole, where, of course, they drank without restraint, one man dipping in his head so eager was he to quench his thirst. The captain and carpenter left their comrades and walked as best they could to the Comboyiu-o Lighthouse, where they were most kindly received. — Brisbane Courier. The mate's boat subsequently was picked up.