TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS AT SEA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 116, 20 December 1879, Page 2

TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS AT SEA.

The agents of German schooner Noorbtirg (Messrs.. • Nuzller and I'd.), which put in liore on the loth instant, in distress, furnish lis with tho following, particulars of her voyage from China to Queensland, which discloses and exceptionally terrible view of the haidships of those who "go down to the sea in ships," and bring out in strong .relief tho heroism and endurance of a fragile woman. Thu Noorburg, a Hamburg vessel, sailed from Foochow on July 11, for Melbourne , with a cargo of tea. lier crew consisted of Captain H. Boldt, mate, four seamen, and a (-'bincook; The captain's wife and child wore also on board. - The vessel took tho East l.'assage, and held an easterly course ill 2o dcg. K. lat., making 12 sec. in tho watch until the meridian lGodcg. E, was reached ; light east and south-east thoughour. During this part of the passage the heat was intense. South of the. Solomon Islands a vessel—the only one- during tho voyage —was sighted, but although anxious to speak the distance w.as too great to signal her. On August 1, an island of tho Caroline Group was sighted in heavy rain and squalls from the north-cast. On August 2(! land) was again sighted, which turned out to be tho island of Nuna ,Solownii Group. At this timo the crew were all sick, the captain being the only one who could move about a little, and be consequently did not think it advisable to land or communicate with tbo shore, the islanders by repute being cannibals. One of the hands died on .September lit, another on Septombor 20, a third on October, 1, and a fourth on October !), leaving only one sailor (thu mate) to assist thu captain to work the vessel. Up to this time the heat was unbearable and tho mill continuous, and the captain was forced to niako a southerly course by tho strong westerly set of the current uud by easterly winds. After leaving the Solomon group, strong easterly winds were experienced, and a south-west course was shaped for Moroton Hay. On October <i a strong east-south-east gale was encountered. Tho mute was just able to crawl about, and the Chinoso cook was unable to go aloft. The captain's wife, a small slonder, and not by any means strung woman, bravely took the helm, and her husband, with heavy swolleu logs, and affected respiratory organs, attempted to furl the sails but he could not remain sufficiently long ill the rigging, and he had to' allow the sails to blow away. The vessel had been making water since October 1. On October 5 the leak was discovered, aud tbo captain, although vory bad, had ~~ho lowered overboard into: tho water >yhilo ho plugged the holes, but when thafwork was finished there wero no hands to puhip the vossel out. On tho evening of Oetobor 13, Capo Moreton light was sighted but the wind coming round during the night to W. and W.8.W., tfcey stood up with this wind, and on tho afterneqh of the 14th the pilot boarded the sohooner aud brought her into tho anchorage. On reaohing port only the captain's wife was tolerably well. She, after the deaths of tho seamen, took her turn at tho wheel, and helped to oavigato -tho vessel, to port, tho poor lady, being incited by the fear of being left alone in tho midst. oL the ocean with her little oh»ld. ThF Chinese cook was no sailor, and oould nofl evou inako himself useful on <leck'?llW mate was' wasted away to a skeloton by dtSOOM, and tho captain's logs were swollen and hit hands covered with sores so as to prevent free action. Mrs. Boldt, as well as doing work as a sailor, nursed tho nick and cheered them, and wt hoartily agree with our informant, who says that her services doservo recognition at the hands of the uuderwritora for at assisting to savo the vessel and cargo. Suoh was thu heat of the weather during tiro firpt parr, of tho vovago that tho fowls and li\c Mod died." The turvivon-

of this disastrous pass&g* are, w« under., stand, progressing favor»ttjr towards . re. eovery under the treatment of Dr. Rendlo. —Queenslander.