AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 199, 15 November 1879, Page 3

AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE.

The German schooner Noorburg, from China, for Melbourne, put into Moreton Bay on Oct. 14, after a Yoyoge which discloses an exceptionally terrible view of ths hardships experienced by those “ who go down to the sea in ships,” and brings out a remarkable instance of the heroism and endurance of atragile worn n The vessel sailed from Foochow on July 31 for Melbourne, with a cargo of tea. Her crew consisted of Captain H. Boldt, mate, four seamen, and a Chinese cook. The Captain’s wife and child were also on board. The vessel took the East Passage, and held an easterly course in 25 deg N. latitude 12min to 14min in the watch, until the meridian 165 deg E.wjfes reached, light east and south-east winds prevailing throughout. During thif part of the passage the heat was intense. South of the .Solomon Islands a vessel'—the only one during the voyage —was sighted ; but although anxious to speak, the disfance was too great to ''"signal her. On August 1, an island of the Caroline Group wassighted in heavy rain and squalls from the north-cast. On August 26 laud was again sighted, which turned out to be the island of Buna, Solomon Group. At this time the crew, were nil sick, the captain being the only one who could move about a little, and he consequently did not think it advisable to land or communicate with the shore, the islanders, by repute, being cannibals. One of the hands died on Sept. 15, another on Sept. 20, a third on Oct. 1, and a fourth on Oct. 8, leaving only one sailor (the mate) to assist the captain to work the vessel. Up to this time the heat was unbeatable and the rain continuous, and the captain was forced to make a southerly course by the strong westerly set of the current and by easterly winds. After leaving the Solomon Group, strong easterly winds were experienced, and a southwest course was shaped for Moreton Bay. On Oct. 3 a strong east-south-east gale was encountered. The mate was just able to crawl about, and the Chinese cook was unable to go aloft. The captain’s wife, a small, slender, and not by. any means strong woman, bravely took the helm, and her husband, with heavy swollen legs and affected respiratory organ’s attempted to furl the sails, but be could not remain sufficiently long in the rigging, and be bad to allow the sails to blow away. The vessel bad been making water since Oct.' 1. On Oct, 5 the leak was discovered, and the captain, although very bad, bad to be lowered overboard into the water while lie plugged the holes, but when that work was finished there were no bands to pump the vessel out. On the evening of Oct. 18 Cape Moreton light was sighted, but the wind coming round during the night to west and west-south-west, they stood up with this wind, and on the afternoon of the 14th the pilot boarded the schooner and brought her into the anchorage. On reaching port only the captain’s wife was tolerably well. She, after the deaths of the seamen, took bet turn at the wheel, and helped to navigate the vessel to port, she, poor lady, being incited by the fear of being left alone in the midst of the ocean with her little Chinese cook was no sailor, and could not even make himseif useful on deck, the mate was ■wasted away to a skeleton by disease, and the captain’s ' legs were swollen, and his hands covered with sores, so as to prevent free action. Mrs Boldt, as well as doing work as a sailor, nursed the sick, and cheered ■them. Her services deserve recognition at the band of the underwriters for assisting to save vessel and cargo. Such was the heatoi the weather during the first pru t of the voyage that the fowls and live stock died. The survivors of this disastrous passage are progressing < wards recovery.— ’h-isbane Courier.