DISSATISFIED SEAMEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3554, 20 June 1912, Page 7

DISSATISFIED SEAMEN.

CRUISE OF THE WH IN LATTE R. THE STORY TOLD BY THE GREW “WHY DID WE DESERT?" [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, June 19. The veil which enveloped the circumstances surrounding the unexpected appearanc eof the Norwegian barque Whinlatter at Ahipara Bay, on the west coast recently, has gradually been lifted and the truth revealed. “Why did we desert?. A biscuit a day, with little prospect of getting anything better, was enough to make any man desert,” remarked one of tbo sailors named Petersen, narrating the circumstances which led to the trouble.

Petersen said that the night before the Whinlatter sailed from Rio the crew obtained a number of bottles of whisky' and they spent the night in drinking. When the mate ordered all hands oil deck the next morning to weigh anchor the men refused to work until they were supplied with more liquor. This led to considerable trouble, and, to make matters worse, some of the seamen complained that they did not have sufficient clothing. For some time after leaving Rio all was well on the Whinlatter, but although the quantity and quality of food provided satisfied the men it be-, came "evident that the supply was not sufficient to satisfy the demand until the vessel readied New Caledonia, where she was- bound. “For five weeks we got nothing but one biscuit a day and a quantity of water,” continued Petersen, “and very bad biscuits they were. No one would be satisfied with one biscuit a day even if the biscuits were of the highest quality, hut these biscuits were condensed food, which was not fit for a dog, and Then you ask me why I deserted. Consequently sail .was set for New Zealand, and some days ago the Whinlatter arrived at Ahipara Bay. Soon after anchoring, the captain* and second mate rowed ashore to obtain provisions. Presently they returned to the ship, bringing a small quantity of tinned meat, potatoes and onions.” " According to Petersen, the captain would not heed the men’s objections, and he said there was enough food for twenty men for the remainder of the voyage. “Six of us accordingly decided to desert,” continued Petersen. “We got one of the boats and took it into the forecastle-in the dead of the night. When all was quiet on board we lowered the boat and rowed towards the shore. As we did not know the coast, navigation was difficult, and after we had gone some distance the boat struck what- I think must have been a reef, and we were thrown into the sea, On reaching the beach we made inland for some two miles, where we lighted fires, dried our clothes and settled down to spend the night in the open. The weather was cold and wintry. We slept out at nights, and at one time we had only had one loaf of bread to divide among six of- ns for two.days. Eventually we reached Wlumgamumu, and hoarded a steamer for Auckland.” “What are you going-to do now?” Air Petersen was asked. “I don’t know. AYe have passed the education test, .mid we do not want to go to sea again. We are going to try to obtain employment somewhere about here,, and become citizens of New Zealand.”