STORM DRIVEN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 7, 6 December 1926, Page 10

STORM DRIVEN

CUTTER FROM NOUMEA. PERILOUS VOYAGE. FOOD AND ' WATER SHORT. BRISBANE, Nov. 25. After battling with the elements for 12 days and nights, during which time the provisions ran short, at 32ft cutter from New Caledonia, which had been blown out of her course while bound for Surprise Island, sailed up the Johnstone River yesterday afternoon flying signals of distress. The boat carried T. Enmore, who was in charge, and a crew of four coloured men, dressed only in loin cloths. None of them could speak English, but, through an interpreter, it was learned that the boat is named Topsy, and was engaged in the Guano trade at New Caledonia. On November 12 the cutter left New Caledonia for Surprise Island, 80 miles distant. On the first night out a violent storm was encountered, and the cutter was blown off her course. Enmore found it impossible to pick up his bearings, so resolved to head westward, in the hope of striking the Australian coast. Boisterous weather, with heavy seas, was experienced, but the little craft battled on, and eventually the Queensland coast was reached. LIVED ON TURTLE EGGS. Each one of the party had only one small meal and one drink of water daily,. owing to the need for rationing supplies. The supply of food ran out before Australia was sighted, but, fortunately, the party passed a small island, on which they found a nest of turtle eggs, and these provided them with food for .the last two days. On arrival the men were all cheerful, and little the worge for tlieir experience. Their first appeal was for tobacco.