WRECK OF THE ELLEN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3871, 28 July 1891, Page 2

WRECK OF THE ELLEN.

A Hanwiasr story. The Deaths of the Ore*. [United Pbess Association.] Sydney, July 27. Peterson, the sole survivor, of the barque Ellen, is now convalescent, 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 delirtouslyand laughing. He thought he was in command of a steamer. Next day the steward became ill, and later on both he and the captain lay down in the boat and died. They did not know the exact time when the poor men expired, but someone went to look at them, found they were dead, and hove the bodies overboard. Two old seamen offered up a prayer over the dead as well as they could with their throats in such a parched condition.

On the eighth day a heavy sea struck the boat and nearly capsized her. Two men were washed out. One sank immediately, " but the other," Bays Petersen, " swam after the boat, and called us to save bim. We could do nothing, for ihe wind and heavy sea droye us away. After we lost sight of him struggling with the waves, we heard a last despairing cry fro an the drowning man. That left only four in the boat." Of these, as already lvlated, 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.