HELPLESS IN STORM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 875, 20 January 1930, Page 9

HELPLESS IN STORM

SHIP BLOWN ACROSS ATLANTIC OCEAN BOATS SMASHED—WHEELHOUSE GONE LONDON, Saturday. One of the most amazing voyages on record was revealed when the coastal steamer Neptune, 129 tons, anchored off Tobermory, Mull, one of the Hebrides Islands off the west coast of Scotland. The tiny ship left St. Johns, Newfoundland, 47 days ago with 10 men and one woman on board, bound for Newtown, a coastal station. 100 miles away. She never reached there. Instead the little craft encountered a storm. Almost before she was out of sight of the land a huge wave carried off her wheel house, smashed her boats and bulwarks, and left her helpless. The Neptune was blown and drifted right across the Atlantic through the storm. “I had no idea of our position after the storm,” said the captain, Job K. Barkow. “My knowledge of navigation is very slight, for on our usual route we are seldom out of sight of the land. Therefore, though a large steamer gave me my course I was little the wiser. “I picked up a light on January 14 and thought it was Eddystone, but it proved to be Skerrymore, on the west coast of Scotland. We lived on our cargo of fruit, but our water was rationed—one glass a day.” Mrs. Humphreys, wife of a member of the crew, stated that for long periods she was confined in the forecastle with the men. It was impossible to remain aft owing to the tremendous seas. Four of the 10 male passengers on the Neptune were bound for Newtown, • -