PLUCKY SEA VOYAGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5032, 10 May 1877, Page 3

PLUCKY SEA VOYAGE.

The Sydney Herald says It is very rarely that we have to chrouicle an instance of so plucky a sea voyage as that which terminated yesterday by the arrival of a small ship’s open boat from Howe’s Island, from which place to this port she has safely carried three ablebodied seamen, named respectively Alfred Brown, Charles Smith, and Michael Fitzpatrick. For seven days these men have been cooped up iu this little craft, which seems to have suffered little if anything from its rough usage. These men belonged to the crew of the American barque S. M. Statson, Captain Curtis, which left Newcastle on the. 10th March last, with a cargo of 1150 tons of coal, for San Francisco. When about 700 or 800 miles to the northeast of Newcastle the vessel sprauk a leak, and notwithstanding that’ every endeavor was made to keep the water down by means of the pumps, the water was found upon sounding the well to be fast gaining upon them, and the captain after a time decided to bear up for Howe’s Island, where he beached his vessel, as he found it impossible to keep her afloat. The captain, his wife, children, and crew were safely landed, and at once set to work as soon as they arrived on shore, to make comfortable quartern for themselves ; but the three men mentioned as having arrived yesterday, determined upon leaving their comrades upon the island and making tracks for the mainland. Having procured one of the ship’s boats, they raised her gun wale as a greater protection against the sea, and having taken in a stock of such provisions as they deemed necessary, they set sail in their miniature vessel, and, after a long voyage for so small a craft, have arrived in Sydney. They applied for lodgings at the Sailors’ Home, where, however, the superintendent was unable to accommodate them, on account of the institution being full, but he-was successful in obtaining for them accommodation elsewhere. So far, as we can learn, there were altogether about twenty persons on board the barque, all of whom were safely landed on the island. On leaving Howe’s Island they had a strong gale from the eastward, and having left the island with the course given them by Captain Curtis, ran merrily before the gale. This breeze lasted fourteen hours, then followed a calm of eight hours, afterwards light easterly winds for twenty-four hours. On the sth inst. they had smart easterly squalls, on which date at midnight the wind shifted in a heavy squall to south, bringing up a very heavy sea, and they were compelled to drogue the boat, and with the assistance of the oars kept her head to sea. The gale lasted to the 7th inst., whoa they were enabled to again attempt L.. make for the land, and at 8 p.m. on the Bth they reached Broken Bay ; here they anchored, and at 3 a.m. on the 9th got under way again, and entered in safety Sydney Heads. On landing at the Circular Wharf their weather-beaten, countenances attracted the attention of a gentleman, who, on hearing their story, kindly gave them £1 to provide themselves with some refreshments. It may be mentioned that Captain Curtis was anxious that one of h : s officers should proceed in charge of the boat, hut one and all refused. Mr. Williams, the American Consul (the vessel being under the United States flag), has taken steps to bring the remainder of the crew from the island. All available property belonging to the vessel has been safely landed.