TEMPEST TOSSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 6

TEMPEST TOSSED

LEAKING SAILING SHIP CREW’S STARVATION RATIONS After a passage of nearly four months from Astoria, Oregon, the American ship Chillicothe was towed up Sydney harbour through the busy ferry traffic. WHEN the tug picked her up eff *' Smoky Cape, the last tin of biscuits, taken from the lifeboats, had been used, and the ship had been leaking for three weeks, during which time the pumps had been manned day and night. The crew of 13 men was almost exhausted. Captain Borgman had with him his young wife and baby, both of whom came through the ordeal without suffering in health. Signals unheeded During the past three weeks, when the heaviest weather and hardest privations were encountered, no fewer than five steamers were seen, and signals were put up asking for stores. Only one, the Harrison liner Harpalyce, stopped. This happened when the Chillicothe was 50 miles off the North Coast. Four days’ provisions were sent on board in the steamer’s boat. Two weeks ago the ship was only 110 miles from Sydney, but ! the heavy westerlies blew her back again, with her crew on short rations and working night and day at the pumps. After loading lumber at Portland and Astoria for Sydney, she left tne latter port on April 9. After dropping the American coast, no land was sighted till a glimpse of Lord Howe Island was seen. The course taken was well south, in the neighbourhood of latitude 28 south, which avoided land and steamer routes. The story told by the crew was that two days out a slight leak, evidently below the bilges, was evident, but was reported to have closed up again, and the ship continued on her voyage. The weather was good till 70 days out. The succeeding six weeks were marked by baffling winds and heavy westerly gales, which shifted the deck load and caused the leak to become so severe that the pumps had to be manned continuously. FAILURE OF FOOD The failure of the food, owing to the prolonged nature of the voyage, was the worst feature. On July 1 the butter ran out, and jam was substituted. This gave out on July 10. On July 5 the oatmeal and coffee were finished. From July 27 till 31 three biscuits a day and tea without milk or sugar was the ration for each man. The cook evolved a kind of soup from biscuits, barley and fat, which helped to hearten the men. Special provision was made for Mrs. Borgman and Peter, the baby, to have extra food. Three of the Chillicothe’s men went on .board the steamer to help in the transhipment. They were given a good meal on board, and one ate so much that, in his half-starved state, he became ill. A rooster, the sole survivor of a pen of fowls, was still alive and well, being fed on barley, and was considered as a sort of mascot by the crew. EXCITED CREW After their long battle with the storm the crew ran excitedly about the decks and waved their hands when the steamers came into view. Only one steamer before the Harpalyce was seen passed in the daylight. But she evidently misunderstood the signals, for she went on her way, leaving the men in the depths of despair once more. One ship, the crew said, stopped a distance away at night, but she went on her way, the weather being very heavy at the time. Nothing definite as to the exact signals put up by the Chillicothe could be ascertained, as Captain Borgman was reticent about the voyage. He stated, however, that the average time occupied on such a voyage was 60 to 70 days, and he carried provisions for four months. Members of the crew declared that the ship was leaking when she sailed from Astoria, and that she was short handed, with only 13 men in the forecastle. The crew had lost all count of time, and one man asked what day of the week it was. They had had' nothing but old tea leaves to smoke for weeks. Cigarettes were joyously accepted as the ship came up the harbour.