Return of the Kia Ora.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue I, 2 January 1904, Page 53

Return of the Kia Ora.

MR. IVCKERIDGE DEAD. A FATAL, FALL. GISBORNE, December 23. The yacht Kia Ora, which sailed from here for London on cruise round the world, returned to port this morning in charge of y oung Sowden, who reported that his companion, Mr. Buckeridge, died when three hundred miles beyond the Chathams. In the course of his story Sowden said: —I was almost inclined to give up hopes of ever reaching land, and even when I got to the coast I was battling about for days, trying to get into Gisborne. I lived solely on biscuits, honey and limejuice. It is wonderful to me how I got baek. You might go there a million times and not return. " No ether ships come that way. The winds are always westerly, and T was right” 1 south of the Chathanis, where it is bitterly cold. Sowden added that Buckeridge had abandoned his idea of going to London in the Kia Ora. “It is not to be. so,” he added sadly “Until the last moment we were as happy as larks.” Buckeridge’s accident happened at eight o’clock in the evening of December 2nd. Sowden had been struck on the head with a boom, and was lying below in a weak state. A gale was blowing, and they were running before it. Buckeridge commenced taking in sail, and was clearing the gear which had got foul, when he fell from aloft. He went below, and complained of a pain in the chest, and of being in agony. Sowden helpe 1 take oil' his wet clothes. The gale continued, and, says Sowden, we kept her head to it, and both lay down side by side in the small cabin, wedged together in order to keep the boat steady, as she was lurching heavily, with heavy seas sweeping over her. Next day Buckeridge complained of his ehest being painful, and that night Sowden woke up and found him dead. Buckeridge had no thought of dying, and Sowden did not dream that his end was near. “We were sleeping side by side, and he died without making any movement or statement. I was much affected by his death. I was not able to make the Chathams, the wind not being favourable. I kept the body three days, and then found it necessary to bury it at sea. I had also to jettison a quantity of provisions, All the fresh food we had had gone bad owing to the stuffiiness of the cabin. Attaching several pieces of iron to the body with a block and tackle I lowered it into the deep. I endeavoured to reach Lyttelton, but failing to do this tried to make Gisborne or Auckland. Gisborne is about 800 miles from where I turned, and I travelled six times that distance in trying to reach here. I have had no sleep, and I have little recollection of each day’s events. I -was continually at the tiller. Sowden is aged 20, and was formerly fourth officer on the Niwaru. He states that owing to the bad weather prevailing from the departure of the yacht from Gisborne no log was kept, but a rough reckoning was scribbled on the yacht’s deck. A good run, averaging 100 miles a day, was made to the Chathams, which were passed four days out, and the voyagers were then sanguine of reaching London, the craft having proved a fine seaboat. A VENTURESOME SPIRIT. The history of Mr. Buckeridge and the Kia Ora to date, if brief, has been eventful. Mr. Buckeridge was rather a quiet unassuming man, aged about 33 years, and his physique was of the most perfect. He was regarded as having the courage of a lion, and as revelling in danger. Mr. Buckeridge was an Englishman, and fought on the British side in the Boer War. While there he was sought out by persons concerned in the Antarctic exploration ship, the Discovery, and offered a position on her. The element of danger surrounding the expedition took his fancy, and when she reached South Africa he joined her. lie took part in her expedition, and returned with her to Lyttelton. While there he came across Captain Voss, of the Tilikum, the little four-tonner which holds the record for dangerous ocean travelling. A nature such as Mr. Buckeridge’s

could not escape being drawn info the destinies of the Tilikmn, and he became Captain Voss’s mate. Together they brought the little craft to Auckland, and exhibited her in a tent near the Publie Library. Meanwhile, Mr. Buckeridge had been enquiring into the history of the Tilikum, and he discovered that she had never yet rounded Cape Horn, an omission which from his point of view was intolerable. It is said that lie pointed out to Captain Voss the absolute necessity of performing this feat if the Tilikum were to maintain her reputation for hazardous work, but that Captain Voss disapproved of the venture. At all events. Mr. Buckeridge ceased to be mate of the Tilikum. and struck out a line for himself. He arranged for the building of a ton yacht, with which he determined to outdo Captain Voss and his Tilikum. By way of celebrating the new departure, he crossed the terrible geyser at Waimangit in a small boat, accompanied by Guide Warbrick, and took soundings, emerging, safe but perspiring, out of the dense cloud of steam on the other side.

Mr Buckeridge proposed to sail straight for London, via Cape Horn, calling only at Slaten Island. The trip would occupy four or five months. In London he would exhibit the yacht for a month or two, and he would then cross the Atlantic in time to attend the St. Louis exhibition, where he intended to show something that Uncle Sam could not beat in the way of small ocean-going craft. Mr Buckeridge left Auckland in due course for Gisborne, where he was to pick up his mate. Mr Isaacs, of Auckland, accompanied him, intending to go as far as Gisborne, and see him off for his voyage to London. In the attempt to make Gisborne, however, they encountered very heavy seas, and not having things in readiness for such rough weather the salt water played havoc with their- provisions. They endeavoured to gain the shelter of the Barrier, but were foiled, and finally, missing stays near Point Rodney, went ashore. Both men got safely to land, and the yacht, which was only slightly damaged, was brought back to Auckland for repairs.

Another start was made. This time Mr Buckeridge was accompanied by a young man whose friends, it seems, did not approve of his going. At the last moment they chartered the Ferry Company’s fast launch, the Ruru, and made for Motutapu, where, the weather being rough, they expected to find the Kia Ora sheltering. But the Kia Ora was braving the elements on her way to Gisborne. This time she arrived in safety.

At Gisborne she picked up the permanent mate, Mr Sowden, formerly fourth mate of the Tyser liner Niwaru. But now a new trouble arose. The Marine Department forbade the ocean trip, on the ground that Mr. Buckeridge did not possess an ocean certificate. This was a formidable difficulty, and Sir. Buckeridge obtained permission to proceed to Wellington and endeavour to induce the authorities there to remove the objection. Once in the open sea, however, he seems to have changed his mind, and have started for London. He was last heard of in the vicinity of the Chatham Islands, where the captain of the Toroa sighted him on December 2nd. On December 3 Mr. Buckeridge was dead. _ -

It is said that a relative once taunted him with being a coward, and he vowed that he would do everything in his power to prove that the accusation was untrue.