THE TURAKINA'S VOYAGE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 274, 17 November 1914, Page 2

THE TURAKINA'S VOYAGE.

DEATH 3TALKC THE DECK. Per Press iAssociattPn. Wellington, November IG. it was a thankful crowd of passengers that landed from the New Zealand snipping Company’s Turn kina from London this evening, thankful that a voyage, extraordinary for its gloominess, was at an end. No less than live deaths, including one of suicide, occurred on hoard in the short space of 22 days, between the vessel leaving London on October 2, and passing Capetown on October 24. Two of the deaths were of passengers and three of members of the crew, including the ship’s surgeon.

The first death occurred on October 5. three days,after the vessel left England. when a steward, named Frederick Wiackworth, a native of Path, England, succumbed to an attack of pneumonia.

The sadness which . this death occasioned still hung over the ship’s company, when four days later, on October 9, a trimmer, named John Lewis, aged 23 years, a native so far ;is is known of London, committed suicide by jumping overboard. The attempt to rescue Lewis was an exciting event. The sea was choppy at the time. Lewis jumped overboard in full view of the officers, and seamen of the watch at 4 o’clock in the morning. The alarm was given immediately, and the < hip was put astern. Two boats were quickly manned and lowered, but the attempted rescue was most difficult, as the night was pitch black. A thorough search was made in the vicinity, and life buoys were thrown in all directions, but no trace of the unfortunate man was discovered'. One of the crew stated last night that’ Lewis had been , brooding all the, way from London over the war news,' and was continually talking, about the German atrocities until ho worked himself into a pitiable state of frenzy. Other than this no/ reason is assigned for taking his life.

The next blow to those on board came when it became known that Dr. Llewellyn Thomas, the ship’s surgeon, was seriously ill from the effects .of a chill caught on the voyage. He rapidly sank and died on October 16, The doctor, v'ho was 41 years of age, was very popular on board. He had been a special favourite with, the. women and children,-! and his death was deeply regretted. i- Needlesstto say.by this time the passengers’ nerves were,in a state of prostration,at tl^sad,events coming so .closely on. top of j, each other, and a gloom .settled* ovey., the ,shjp which, social functions, music, am) ganf.ep absolutely fpijcjfl to clear away, Tjio steamer did. nof make tomary at paprjtpTynj, tins added ,tp jthc monotony ( 'and depression. On October j2O ? another death occurred, and'the,passengers began to think that 'the ship was'possessed of an evil influence. After a short attack of double pneumonia, a popular thirdclass pass'd fig'dr; “AT &ot# ' cat' ' dr i V €fr, ; named Denis Walsh, succumbed. Walsh had been foremost in trying to cheer up his fellow travellers, and his death was a great blow; ; HA-was air Irishr. man, having been bdrn'at Brosna-, and was only" 29'years df l <age. ;

Four‘'days later, ’enteric feVer carried oft' a passenger 'named Maudsley, a farmer, who was ">returning td' Zealand after .a visit tbibiamiitive.town of. Ris’hton, in Lancashire^,.. Maudsley was well-known tin the .South Canterbury district. Her held a, farm; near Waimate for four }ws,flni! wap* much respected. He was ,60 years. of fige. There were four burials at, sea .jvithin a very short space of. time, and iit was only reasonable to expect that the passengers who arrived were glad that their long sad journey was at an end.