The New York herald., 1875-08-26
THE PLAGUE OF THE SEA
GERMAN BARK AFFLICTED WITH scUnvr-

A GERMAN BARK AFFLICTED WITH sCURvY-A
HORRIBLE voYAGE-TwELvE MEN DEAD.
Tho following story OF the cruise of the bark Bremen
from Liverpool TO San Francisco is Published in the
San Francisco Call
Sailed February G. Crossed the Equator in the At
lhntic March 13, longitude 26 deg Passed River
La Plata March 80 and Falkland Islands April Is. Was
of Cape Horn April 23 Crossed tho Equator July 10,
longitude ia deg. west In tho North Atlantic had
moderate weather which continued TO River La Plata;
thence to 80 deg south in the Pacific strong gales from
westward Was thirty five days from 30 To so In
the South Pacific had fine weather and good south
east trades to deg 80 min north thence had
continuation OF northery winds to 80 deg north,
143 deg west: thence light winds 10 within throo
days of port after which strong northwest winds The
first case of sickness the 18th of February, and
after the other taken down, and by the time the
Equator in the Pacific was reached there we're only
eight well enough to assist in working the ship There
now
TWENTY-FIVE MEN LAID UP
They have been of very little since passing Cape
Horn; about able to be around but unable to do any
aborous work. Thus being short-handed considerable
adverse weather greatly prolonged the passage, and
great praise due Captain Leslie for bringing his ship
safely to port with small a The ship in every
respect is in first rate order March 13 at midnight
the refused duty and threatened to the second
officer rather roughly. The Captain was called mmc
datcy and the disturbance was quelled without any
serious result.
The following is list of deaths, all coIored with
exception February %, Charles Pawey, died of
sumption; June II, j. Moran, died of consumption;
June % Robert Matthews, died of consumption; June
"a John Adams died of affection of the throat; July s.
Charles Edwards died of affection Of the throat; July g.
William Laurenson, died of venereal disease; July a.
John Summers died of affection of the throat August
T. James Kear, died of affection of the throat August
g. Christopher Sawyer died of affection Of the throat
August O. Samuel Kellam, died of affection of the
throat August Q, Edward Paulscn, native OF Den
mark, disease of the lungs; August 16 Benjamin Smith,
affection of the throat Those who died OF affection of
the throat appeared to be more or less suffering from
scurvy.
CaH reporter had opportunity of visiting the
Bremen in company with the British Consul and one Of
the consignees Captain Leslie who must have been
haras IN O
port under such extraordinary circumstances, in
communicative mood and answered all questions with
aacrty and desire to explain. The owners OF the
ship among those assailed by Mr.. Plimsoll as
UHscRUPULoUs MONEY MAKERS,
who neither whether their ships swim sink
provided they are able grab the insurance. At the
time the Bremen sailed difficult obtain,
and colorcd men were shipped-ffty of them. The
whites Oh board comprised the Captain, three officers
the carpenter steward sailmaker and two stowaways
few days after leaving Liverpool one Of the men died
of pulmonary consumption. Before reaching the Horn
scurvy developed itself in unmistakable symptoms
among number Of the crew, and Off the Horn the
disease had reduced the much that temporary
shelter was rugged on deck, and FIVE
employed in active duty with the others resting below
and OF them detailed for relief on call When the
ship got into ATTITUDES the reaction from the cold
weather Off the Horn violent, and as the Captain
expressed it, 'The colorcd men
DROPPED OFF LIKE sUNFLowERs."
The last OF the twelve who died dropped
board in sight of port Another fortnight at and
the mortality might have been doubled as only two OF
the coorcd able 10 keep their legs deck.
The vessel was well provisoned. There was not only
the ordinary amount of beef and pork salted, but
plentiful supply Of canned vegetables and Australian
mutton and anti -scorbutics The mutton up 10 the
time OF reaching the Horn served twice month,
and in rounding the Horn twice a week, thereafter
three four times n week Lime juice given in
triple doses and il lasted well throughout the voyage
Captain Leslie says he is skilled in ship medicine, and
utterly loss 10 account for the prevalence of
wy unless be that the before being shipped had
come OFF long voyage and thus peculiarly
ceptiblc to attack His log shows that number OF
them refused 10 take lime juice and persisted In the
fsa the penalty OF death Despite the length Of the
voyage the provisions lasted in sufciency for all with
the exception of the -four and n consequence Of this
the supply of bread reduced by one-fourth. The
men who sick had proper change their
tionsrce sago preserved potatoes oatmeal and other
vegetable diet being served TO them regularly together
with medicines of which latery the supply short
A
DEATH AFTER DEATH OCCURRED,
the greatly scared and seemed to have pre-
monition that few OF them would outlve the voyage
The funeral service read by the Captain with APP
propratc solcmnity in every instance all the
being mustered aft and at the conclusion the body
dropped overheard shrouded in blankets and bedding
During the latter part Of the voyage It became difficult
in the extreme to navigate the vessel and 10 take ad
vantage OF the winds. The whito aboard were all
OF the the Captain could rely upon, and these
all cnfecbled by extra work and want OF Sleep Had the
Captain put into Valparaiso and selected fresh
he would probably have saved the lives Of number Of
his and brought his vessel quicker TO port, but
this is matter of judgment, and In such
should be ccnsurablc although his discretion may be
questioned The British Consul proposes to summon
court Of inquiry forthwith and the events OF the voy
age will no doubt receive thorough investigation. In
all likelihood the inquiry will be public. 1t is
what remarkable that until within few days from port
of scurvy Captain Leslie attributes this circumstance
20 superior physique, from himself downward the