MEMORABLE VOYAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 80, 12 April 1901, Page 2

MEMORABLE VOYAGE.

SICKNESS, ACCIDENT, AND DEATH TWELVE MEN STRICKEN > WITH DISEASE. , A REMARKABLE ACCIDENT. „ By Telegraph —Press Association. ' Christchurch, last night. 1 The voyage of the barque Inverclyde ' from Mauritius to Lyttelton was made memeroble by- sickness, accident, and death. On February 22 the vessel left Port Louis with two of her crew sick with Mauritius or malarial fever. The disease spread rapidly- till half a dozen of the men were laid down at one time. They recovered, but as they became better others of the crew were stricken down, till at length twelve of the men had taken the disease. x The worst feature was that when apparently- recovering they had relapses, some men two and three. In only- one case, however, did death ensue. The victim was an A.B. named Samuel Coulings, aged twenty-four, who died at one turn., on Friday last, April sth. Rather more than a week before Coul- ! ings’ death.an accident of a remarkable • kind happened. An apprentice named , Francis Morrison, whilst on the main ) royal yard assisting to loosen the sail, fell l to the deok, a distance of 170 ft. In his . descent ho broke sixteen ratlines of the l main rigging, his body cutting through . them in succession as ho fell. They a doubtless broke the force of his fall, and - saved his life. He alighted on a coil, and 0 lay insensible, his head covered with v blood. He remained unconscious for three days, but, wonderful to relate, broke no a bones and sustained no internal injuries. :l . He received severe bruises on bis neck and [. body, and some terrible cuts on his head.