Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-31
THE pERILs OF THE DEEP.
ApRrFT At SEA.
The rreanpy Voyage or the Dona zOyla ans
aer Helpless Crew.


Herald. Whether the voyage OF this
fever and scurvy-haunted vessel Is 10
be crowned with loss Of life cannot yet
he told. But after the forty-three days
spent within the valley Of the shadow
of death and in the vale OF corruption
death lis elf can have few terrors for the
stricken crew.
The particulars Of the Dona Zoyla's
extraordinary voyage were hard to
gather Yesterday. She lay quietly at
anchor off Tompkinsville, and able
hands from the shore had been sent on
board to put things in order and attend
TO the wants Of the sick men who re-
NAMED on board. One of these was the
mate. Knivre, under whose command
the voyage had been made. He was
the only one out Of eight able to be
about. Two others were fast recover
inc. while a fourth was too sick 10 be
sent ashore. The other four seamen
had been sent to Brooklyn in a tug and
taken to Long Island College Hospital.
A reporter called in the afternoon and
was told that they were doing very
well, but that they were very sick men.
The only man who could give the
particulars of that terrible trip was
the mate. and he. like most Norwegian
sailors. possessed little fund of OBJ
seryance, but took the hardShips Of the
sea as a matter of course, even when
they carried him to the borders of the
grave. Mr.. knivre could not speak
enough English to count. and the facts
of his story were obtained through an
interpreter.
SAILING FROM BRAZIL.
About two months ago the pOns
2ovla was at the port of Marolm, Bra
I'll. small town in the affected district
Of that feyer-stricken country. After
discharging her outward cargo she took
on a return cargo of sugar, and filled
the water-barrels with such drinking
fluid as the place could boast Of 1t
was demonstrating and smelling
stuff, and probably was the cause ofSub-
sequent Suilerings. Before the vessel got
under weigh the men began to drop down
| into the sick-list. A hurried depart
ure was made, but the fever with which
the men, among others Captain Co
yanssen. were afflicted grew 50 alarm
ing in its nature that the Dona Loyla
put into Aracaju, and the captain and
two men were sent ashore to the h0spi-
tai dangerously sick. The rest Of the
crew were more or less affected by the
trouble, but they grew better, and it
was decided to run for New York.
The barkentne left Aracaju on the
18th Of April, with Mate Kniyre in
command. and a crew of eight men in
stead Of eleven. 1t was hoped that the
air Of the open sea would restore all
hands to their usual health and strength.
Vain hope
The trouble began soon after leaving
port. The hardy fellows, drinking The
poisonous water. because they hal no
better to drink, gave up one by one and
crawlcd into the forecastle, there to toss
at regular intervals in the delirium Of
intermittent fever. Those who kept up
| didiyided their time between the duties of
seamen and nurses, but soon there were
only three MON able to be about, then
two, and finally the mate alone, and he
was sick himself.
Then a new horror developed itself.
| The vessel, short of hands to work her
properly, was making very poor pro-
gress, and the fresh provisions gave out.
Scuryy, that loathsome disease Of the
prison and the badly-fed ship, broke out
in its most violent form, and the mouths
Of the unhappy men were soon black
with The sores Of this dreadful disease.
The men suffered dreadfully, and death
to any of them would have doubtless
been happy relief.
THE LONELY MAN OF THE SEA.
Eight days ago the vessel was north
Of Cape llatteras. How was she to
make port? The winds were not unfa-
yOrable, but there was no one to take
advantage Of them. The fore and aft
sails were set. but the others were fly
ing loosely. With true Norwegian for
titude the mate hung to the wheel hour
after hour. striving to work the craft
northward. But it was little more than
derelict--a living notwithstanding
helpleSsly about at the mercy of
wind and current. Could any stu
alton be more horrible ! 1t was
scene in which the weird pen
of Edgar A. Poe would reyel. The
helpless yet uninjured ship, which a
slight gale would send to the bottom of
the sea the writhing and loathsome
humanity in the forecastle the weak
but undaunted fellow at the wheel
Only a few miles away the longed-for
harbor. Within sight, passing and re-
passing vessels, and TO one to raise sig
nails Of distress even. This was the
story Of the Dona Zoyla for eight sue
cessiye days.
HELP AT LAST.
! ~ thSIh tHC tuE NldNAOIui ouLnluc
looking for tow, bore down to the
DOna ZOyla and hailed her. Yes, she
wanted tow. There was no doubt
about that.
Whats the matter aboard--Sick? "
"Yes, but for Gods sake don't
leave US. 1t is not infectious"
Leave you Never fear What's
the matter? Scurvy and fever, eh ?
Well, here's some ice and fresh vege-
tables. Now, then, let us make fast
and off we CO."
And so they came into port.
At quarantine the doctor makes his
examination with a Shudder. No,
nothing infectious here, but you'd bet
ter be getting to the hospital in a
hurry if you don't care to patronize
the sailors cemetery. Go ahead.
Crawford, to the anchorage Off Temp
kinsvile.
When old Captain Transegaard, the
outside clerk Of Funch, Edge 4 Co. s
| pk;nN,ne, bouea ouI an oil Nnrorau,a, .,