TERRIBLE PRIVATIONS:

Temuka Leader, Issue 2234, 30 July 1891, Page 1

TERRIBLE PRIVATIONS:

Petersen, the sole survivor of the barque Ellen, is now convalescent in Sydney. He gives a harrowing description of the sufferings endured by the unfortunate men in the boat. On the sixth day after leaving the barque the captain became mad, and moved about the boat talking deliriously and laughing; he thought he was in command of a steamer. The next day the steward becanie ill, and later on both he and the captain laid down in the boat and died. They did not know the exact time when the poor men expired, but when some one went to look at them they were dead. They hove the bodies overboard! Two old seamen offered up a prayer over the dead, as well as they could with their parched throats. On the eighth day a heavy sea struck the boat and nearly capsized her., Two men were washedput; one sank! immediately, hut the other, says Petersen, “ swam after the boat and called to us to save him, but we could do nothing, for the wind and heavy sea drove us away. After we lost sight of him struggling with the waves we heard his last despairing cries. That left only four in the boat.” Of these, as already related, three were drowned when they had almost reached safety. According to Petersen the vessel was an old hulk and many of the men had misgivings about her seaworthiness.