WRECK OF A BARQUE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2916, 24 March 1891, Page 2

WRECK OF A BARQUE.

(l!Y ELECTIUC TELEGRAPH. —COFYJUO]IT. Sydnky, March, '21. Tile crew of the barque Don Nicholas arrived here to-day in boatsbelougiug to tho vessel. The barque left Newcastle for San Francisco on March 4, with a cargo of 1800 tons coal, and Captain Grustafson reports that when only five days out a heavy storm was encountsred, during which the vessel sprang a leak. The pumps were started but as the crew were unable to cope with the water two of tho ship's boats were lowered and preparations made tor leaving tho Bhip f The water increased with such iapidity that the crew were compelled to leavo the barque when about .300 miles off the coast of Australia, and shortly afterwards she disappeared. Tbe boats were very scantily provided with provisions, and owing to an oversight the compass was left behind, but the captain managed to take observations by means of a broken chronometer. Those in tho boats consisted of I,'j of the crew and two passengers, and the ration served out to each man was one soda biscuit and half a pint of water per day. After nine days during which the occupaats of the boats suffered severe privations, they reached Sydney Heads to-day. The Don Nicholas was a vessel of 07«5 tons register.