STORMY PASSAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 262, 14 November 1901, Page 3

STORMY PASSAGE.

TWO MEN SWEPT OVERBOARD. Sydney, Nov. I. Tho four masted barque Crocodile, from Liverpool, was towed into Port Jackson yesterday, and reported a stormy passage across tho Southern Ocean. She is a barque of 2424 tons, commanded by Capt. Wilson. The barque, being staunch and well found, managed to come through the stormy weather without injury, but the captain reports tho loss of two of tho crew as the result of the rough experience. Tho Oocodilo had rounded the Cape, and was crossing the Southern Ocean on tho parallel of ii'Jdcg. south, when she was beset by violent north north-cast to west and south-west gales. The storms were accompanied by tremendous seas, which broke on board without lot or hindrance and kept the decks in a chronic state of Hood. All, however, went well until 0 a.m. on the 7th ult., in latitude li'Jdcg. south, longitude tiSdeg. cast. On that dato the ship was running into a violent gale, when a big sea swept her decks, carrying overboard tho carpenter, Isaac Jones, aged 07 years, a native of Liverpool, and an able seaman named Robert Frazer, aged 27 years, belonging to Greenock. They were engaged fixing a ventilator on deck when the wave swept them overboard. No one saw the accident, but they were missed soon after, and tho wild state of tho weather prevented anything being done for them. To havo launched a boat in the heavy sea would, the captain says, have resulted in further loss of life, and thero was nothing for it but to keep tho vessol on her course. Another incident of tho voyage occurred off Cape Otway on the 27th ult., when an able seaman named John Regan died suddenly from heart disease. Tho Crocodile was 103 days on the passage from Liverpool, crossing the Equator 84 days out and rounding tho Capo of Good Hope 04 days out.