SUFFERINGS AT SEA.

Kumara Times, Issue 875, 21 July 1879, Page 4

SUFFERINGS AT SEA.

“ A most dreadful oase of the sufferings of a Sydney vessel’s crew from starvation on our coast,” says the Sydney Evening News, “has just transpired. It appears that a cutter named the Chance left the port of Newcastle on June 3, in charge of Charles Smith and two other seamen. Their destination was Lake Macquarie, but before it ■was reached a stiff westerly gale drove the vessel out to sea some 70 miles, and every effort failed to get the craft back again against the constant land winds that continuously prevailed. Day after day passed, and the little craft was tossed about by violent winds, and once or twice there were hopes of regaining the land, but again adverse gales swept the cutter seaward. There being very little provisions on board, the crew were on short commons for the first twelve: days, when the last piece of bread and the. last pint of water w< re divided. The succeeding four days were passed without a particle of food, and the suffering of the poor fellows is described as most heartrending. Another day, and they would have probably succumbed to starvation. The men appear to have had a very vague idea of where they were till the steamer Agnes Irvine, Captain Bracegirdle, fell in with them on June 19, at 9 a.m, a little north of Port Macquarie, The cutter was [observed flying a blanket as a signal of distress, and when communicated with the men said th*y were starving, and were unable to keep their leaky, weatherbeaten craft free of water. A boat, in charge of Mr Harper, the chief officer, was sent with provisions, and on its getting alongside the cutter, one of the men got itito it, declaring that if they did not take him away he would drown himself. The other seamen then got into the boat, and the master, Smith, also left, declaring that the vessel was sinking. They were taken on board the steamer, and under the careful and kind treatment they received steadily recovered, and were landed at Sydney yesterday. When the gcutter was last seen she was drifting to the eastward.”