A PLEASANT VOYAGE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 66, 18 March 1874, Page 2

A PLEASANT VOYAGE.

Tho following sre some of the experiences of a passenger by tbe Anozi, as related by him to the Southern Cross: — » "Tbe steward having been suffering from a most painful disease, and one which necessitated r-ist, got into a very low wny, being incapacitated from woik, but stili being eompolled to obey the Captain's order?. The Bhip running ehort of provisions, he was blamed and ill-treated by the Captain, so much tbat he remarked to two of the steerage passengers that if he had the courage be would jump overboard ond put an end to bis existence. On the 21st of February, shortly after dinner, he was . missing, and though a thorough eearch was made round the ship he was nowhere to be found. At dinner, on ale being asked for, tho first mate said there was none, at which the Captain seemed surprised, and at once hinted that the steward must have made away with it, although a few days before the first mate bad eaid that there was plenty in the hold. We concluded that in consequence of tbe ale running short tbe steward couid not face the Captain, nnd consequently made away with himself, the Captain putting all blame of shortness of provisions down to him, although Messrs Shaw. Seville, & Co., state in their prospectus that they provide meat and drink for 22 week?, tbe Captain saying ihat they uot oniy do tba I*,1 *, but have on board provisions and liquor for the return voyage, and in a pitiful tone saying he would have to buy his own beer for the ret urn voyage. However, the man had gone, und tbe writer of this, to whom the steward has frequently complained, can bear testimony to wbat he had suffered, both bodily and mentally, during bis brief stewardship on board this most unlucky ship. Tbi3 was but the " talk for a few hours." Running Bbort of provisions, net knowing how much louger the voya-j-o would last, took the thoughts of tbe poor steward out of one's head. No mi!k for days; no vegetables, fresh or preserved, for weeks; no cheese, wine, or spirits, except for captain and friends, for a month, nod no meat, but only porridge, rice, and soup, the steerage having lived on tbe former for two days. Thus we went on, everybody wearied, aod anxious to get to land, till Wednesday last, wheu about 3 o'clock p.m., we sighted tbe North Cape, being still in sight of the Three Kiugs. Mr Holt, ono of tbe passengers wus the first to see it, and, on going lo his cabin to get his telescope, called to tbe captain to tell him of it, as he had many times thnt morning stated tbet he did not expect we should sight it till night, ond that the Three Kings aud the North Cape would not be visible at the same time. He called two or three limes " CapfaiD, land in sight!" but, receiving no answer, concluded he was asleep. At tea time tbat evening the captain's insolence to him was unbearable; but from bis defective enunciation and wandering manner it wns very evident tbat he was intoxicated. After tea he called him to his cabin to tell hira " that no ono should dispute his authority, that ho was the head mau on board."' He repeated this about half-a-dozen times, till Mr Holt told him no one hud disputed his authority, and lhat "he did know what the devil ho was driving at," and left him. We never lost sight of land after tbat, aod on Saturday afternoon, about - five or thereabouts, passed the lighthouse, and a few hours later hove to. About nine or half-past, when on deck, it was very perceptible that we were drifting towards tho shore. The second mate, whose watch it was, went to call tho captain for orders, but could not rouse him. He continued going to his cabin for some time, and at 10 30 when we went to bed the captain was not on deck. About twelve we were roused by a tremendous shouting on deck, and we thought we were perhaps going in to Auckland. Mr Hall got up then to close tbe porthole, aod noticed that we were very close to land. He put on his dressing gown, and ran up tbe companion. The captain was then at the wheel. Scarcely a minute aftor tho Bhock was felt. AU the passengers ran on deck, and wero witness to tbo outrageous behaviour of the captain to the second male, chasing him round the deck to strike him. He then called him down stairs, but tbo mate said ho would not go, knowing the means the captain would bave there of ill-using him; but at last be did go, but soon after ha came rushing up again on deck, the captain reeling aftor him, and trying to drag him down again. Fortunately bo escaped, and the men protected him in the forecastlo, after which the captain commenced to give orders, first ordering cortain sails to be hoisted, and before they were properly un ordering them down again, and also ordering cortain sails to be put up which the first mate told him over and over again were up. He soon after went down to his cabin, and we saw nothing of him till long after daybreak. The conduct of the fiest mate was then, I consider, most reprehensible. Though rockets were on board and guns, ho would not allow a signal of any distress to be made though she was then being knocked against the beach most unmercifully. He promised to do something at daybreak, and we all waited very patiently, but very anxiously till thon, trying to console and cheer each otber up. Day broke, but still he would do nothing to save the ship — ' because,' as he said, he " dare not. 1 The passengers theu sent for tbe captain to a9k if he would lot them take a beat and

CO on shore to get assistance from Auckland, one of the passengers having lived there for many years, knowing the road well, but he refused. Then we begged tho first mate to hoist up a flag, but he refused, so a sheet was procured aod hoisted up to attract ottention. 'lhe first mote would not even chow us how to hoist it, and it was not until after some " bungling" we managed to get it up. One of tbo passengers went down several times to try and get the captsin to do something to save the ship and the passengers' lives she held, as every minute she was sinking deeper iuto the sand, and we were afraid of tbe wind getting stronger, but it was of no avail. At last two of the passengers n*ost kindly offered fo swim ashore to obtain assistance. Scarcely were tbey out of sight when n gentleman on horseback appeared at tho oppoaite <nd of the beach; all the passengers waved their handkerchiefs to him to call for assistance, and when he came up made bim understand how we stood, which, when he did, he lost no time in procuring. Two otber gentlemen came after, and bottles were sent ashore containing a short account of how we were situated, and tbey signalled to us to put the boats on shore. The crew were very kind, and offered to risk takiug us— but first all went down in a body to the captain's cabin once more to ask for a boat for the passengers, and also to insist upon hiß going up stairs to see the situation bis ship was in. .They got him up, and the first thing he asked was how she got tbeie Ho then to,-k his speaking tiumpet, aod atked the gentlemen on shore wbere they came from and wbat tbey wanted. He again refused the boats, but at the earnest solicitation of the passengers the crew took the law into their own hands and got out a boat. Whilst, it was hanging over tbe side with two men in it and the passengers' luggage, he tried to cut the rope which beld it, so the sailors bed to fasten him up fill it was safely lowered, but then let him loose, especially as the first mate bad advised him to allow it to go. Even aftor we wero safely in tho boat the passengers were fearful of his firing at them, as ho bad got his pistol lying on the saloon table. Though so iuhospitably landed the hospitality we met from

the settlers after we landed was so great it can never be forgotten, and will ever remain engraved on our memories, as it would have been impossible to exceed it. Such was the end of a most miserable voyage, with a surly drunken enj tain, an exceedingly insolent, though steady ond persevering mate — wretched food, and one chapter of accidents, rows, and ill-usage, dating from the time of the fire in the storeroom off the coast of Brazil to the extraordinary landing on the shores of New Zealand."