RESCUE OF THE NIGHTINGALE’S CREW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1546, 21 May 1885, Page 2

RESCUE OF THE NIGHTINGALE’S CREW.

Auckland, Last Night. The following is the narrative of the party in the boat : “ Our boat left the wreck with the lugsail ho sted. Our provisions consisted only of bread and water. After going about two miles five of the crew considered the boat too deep and crowded to bo safe, and asked to be put back. We threw overboard a large quantity of our clothing to lighten the fraii craft, but without accomplishing the desired end. As a matter of fact the men were frightened, and we were compelled to return. We landed those who were afraid to venture in the boat of the brigantine, and again shoved off. Our party then consisted of Short, Hastings, Dempsey, Joe, Strott and the cook. I knew A.varillo had some knowledge of navigation, and on my recommendation he was appointed to take charge of ihe wreck. The statement made by one of the crew, and published in the Sydney Morning Herald, is, in many respects, incorrect. In the boat we retained half a bag of biscuits and two kegs of water. We had no butter at all. During the first day we made between 90 and 100 miles, but after that we kept constantly at the oars, in the hope of picking up some vessel going into, or coming from, Sydney. We had no idea how long we might be in the boat, so it was decided all hands should go ou short allowance, viz , two biscuits and a pannikin of water each per day. The only change wo had was when we caught a shark on the third day, and mad a good meal off him. The weather continued fair until May 16, at 2 p.ra , when a sail hove in sight. This proved to be the barque Remijio, in charge of Captain Howard, from Newcastle, bound for San Francisco. We were treated most kindly by everyone on the barque, where we remained sixteen days. Captain Howard consented to land us at Fiji, and we were put ashore at Levuka on May 11. From there we proceeded to Suva in the cutter Rosa, and thence came back hy the Arawata.” Captain Short has lost his quadrant, and all bis charts, and, with the exception of the mate, the party have only the clothes in which they stand. Captain Short says that before the Nightingale was abandoned, she passed several vessels, which did not appear inclined to render assistance, although signals of distress were hoisted to attract attention. The crew had been over four days in the boat when picked up, and at the same time the ship City of Benares was only four miles off.