INTERCOLONIAL WEATHER EXCHANGE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 246, 15 October 1881, Page 2

INTERCOLONIAL WEATHER EXCHANGE.

Sydney, Frilay evening. Cloudr on the soa-.h coast and fine on tbe east coast. Tbe barometer is rising : Portland 30; Gabo29-9; Sydney 30: Brisbane '29 9. ABANDONMENT OF AN AUSTRALIAN BARQUE. TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS OF THE CREW. A shocking story of the sufferings of a crew at sea comes to us from Newcastle, K. S. W. It appears that the barque Albert Victor. 294 tons owned by tbe master, Capt. T. R. Brown, left Marlborough, Queensland, cedar laden, on tbe 10th September, for Melbourne. On Thursday, 22nd September, a terrific hurricane was encountered, and the ship being thrown on her beam ends the foremast was cut away to right her. In falling it carried away the main-topma3t and mizen. One of the main-topmast yards went through the tank of fresh water on deck, depriving the crew of their only available drinking water. On Saturday a steamer was seen, but although every signal of distress was made those on board took no notice. On Sunday morniog the weather had somewhat moderated, and as all hands had_ been without water for two days, it was decided to abandon the vessel. The longboat was .'provisioned with preserved meats, biscuits. American preserved appleß, pota toes, &c, but there was not a pint of water to be put on board, although the crew's tongues were then parched and cracking, with thirst. The cook, Collins, despite all persuasions, declined to go into the boat, sayiDg that he referred risking his chance ou tbe vessel, and would sooner die in a big craft tban be drowned oufc of a boat. The boat was then ca9t off, and lay-to for about twenty minutes, the captain singing ont to the cook th&t he had still another chance fo come off, and shouting out over the sqaalls that he must be a madman to risk his life by remaining. Collins, however, standing on the poop, shouted through his hands, " No, captain and comrades, I'll stick where I am, and take my 'chance ; good-bye, and God bless you all." The last seen of bim was when he was ■waving his hat and handkerchief to the boat, ,cs she puiled away over the beavy sea. The •aabappy seafarers were at tbis time 150 miles from land, but tbe captain, who seems to have acted with great courage and coolness, concealed: tbis fact from the crew, so as not Jo dishearten tbem. The men pulled away naanf ally night and day, although almo3t dying with fatigue and thirst, and on Monday between 3 and 4 p.m. sighted ian*3. On Tuesday morning as daylight broke, tbey saw a steamer, and redoubled tbeir efforts at tbe oars, tryiog to cross ber so as to get rehef. Tbe men were then dead exhausted, and were quite unable to speak, tbeir parched tongues clinging to the roofs of their moutha. They managed to hoist a distress flag, but although they were close enough to .tbe steamer to make out her name (the Eeilawarra) sbe passed on and took no heed, possibly mistaking the boat'a crew for a party of fishermen The captain then seeing r^was a forlorn hope, rallied all bands for a final poll, and tbey then rowed to Cape Hawke, where they landed en tbe beach in _. a greatly exhausted condition about 4 p.m on Tuesday, beiog utterly worn out from constant baling and being drenched to the Bkin all tbe wbile. The only means tbey had of keeping niive was to place a "small piece of tinned American apple on a spoon, and after sucking the juice chew the remainder to extract what liule moisture it contained. The crew were brought on to Newcastle by the Government steamer Ajix. and the steamtug Gcolwa was despatched in search of the dismantled barque.