A TERRIBLE VOYAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 104, 31 May 1909, Page 4

A TERRIBLE VOYAGE.

SUFFERING OF A CREW. Freinautle, May 0. The British barque Westiield arrived at Freniautle on Monday forenoon' with a full cargo of phosphates, after being 173 days out from Middlesbrough. The tog-Cook showed that the Barque left Middlesbrough on lath December, meeting bad werfther right away. The winds caught tlTe craft and carried her northwarct, the captain stating that he had great difficulty in weathering Farne Island. The sail's were frequently blown away, while the crew remained in their clothes seven weeks on end. This buffeting with the waves continued, and it was not until Bth January that the barque was worked dawn to a position practically equal to tlie starting-point. Tlie ci ew was much knocked, about during such fearful weather. One of flis mates pulled out a seaman floating in the water as the waves' brought him within reach. The man had his leg injured by the falling gear; and had since, suffered from rheumatism. Eighty dav s from when the voyage started the Line was reached. During a considerable part of the voyage the waiter-supply ran short, but some rain was caught in tlio tropk-s. As a safeguard, however, each man's daily supply was then reduced from a gallon to half a gallon. So the vesa'cl still had water on her arrival. The stores become very low, and tho captain states that b 0 could see the bottom of the bread locker, but still had ra.lt meat and plenty of peas. Captain Donaldson pays a high tribute to tho endurance of the seamen, and says tho mates were all young and a tough lot, which saved t'li<; situation, adding that with • old urates the men would never liavc got through. Many times the crew was absolutely played out, hut came again like heroes.