SHIP WAS BLOWN ACROSS ATLANTIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18972, 20 January 1930, Page 1

SHIP WAS BLOWN ACROSS ATLANTIC.

CAPTAIN DID NOT KNOW WHERE VESSEL WAS. I (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, January IS. The story of one of the most amazing voyages for many years was revealed when the coastal steamer Neptune, of 129 tons, anchored at Tobermory, Isle of Mull (Hebrides). Forty-seven days ago the tiny ship left St Johns, Newfoundland, with ten men and one woman on board for Newtown, a port 100 miles away, which it never reached. Instead, the vessel encountered a storm almost before it was out of sight of land. A huge wave carried off the wheelhouse, smashed the boats and bulwarks, and left it helpless. The Neptune was then blown, or drifted right across the Atlantic, through storm after storm. “We had no idea of our position,” said Captain Job K. Barlow’. “My knowledge of navigation is very slight, for on my usual route I am seldom

out of sight of land. Therefore, thougji a large steamer gave me our course, I was little wiser.” The ship picked up a light which was thought to be Eddvstone, on January 14, but it was Skerry more, on the west coast of Scotland. Those on board lived on the cargo of fruit, but the water had to be rationed, one glass per day. Mrs Humphreys, wife of one of the crew, said that during long periods she was confined to the forecastle with the men. It v - impossible to remain aft owing to the tremendous seas. Four of the ten men were passengers, and were bound for Newtown.