The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-02
WAITING FOR A SAIL.
Burning of the British Bark
C0mpadre at Sea.
The Shipwrecked Crew Cast Away on Auek-
land Island-A Diet Of Shellish and
Berries-Rescued at Last.

In letter to a friend in this city Captain
Jones OF the wrecked. British bark Conn.,
padre gives sketch of the dangers and
difficulties endured by himself and crew
before they were rescued and taken to
Auckland. n. z.
The Compadre was an iron bark OF 800
tons. built at Liverpool in 1868. On the
voyage that ended her career she sailed from
Calcutta with cargo of bags bound to the
port Of Valparaiso.
All went well until the vessel was about
$50 miles to the southwark Of New Zealand
when the cargo was found to be on fire. 1t
was blowing half gale at the time, but In
spite of this the crew took off the main
matches and made an effort to subdue the
flames.
A great amount of water was poured into
the hold, but it did not seem to have any
effect on the fire. which rapidly gained
headway. An effort was then made to get
at the fire, but the dense volumes Of smoke
forced the men TO batten the matches down.
Holes were then cut in the deck over the
fire and water pumped into the vessel until
she was half full. Still the fire rapidly
gained in spite of all the crew could do,
and seeing that the vessel was doomed Cap
tain Jones decided to make for the nearest
WlliCu BdpDtutQ W 10
Island, at that time forty miles distant.
The pitch in the seams on deck was bub-
bling when the lookout sighted the island
and every stitch of sail that the bark would
stand was spread, in hopes of reaching the
land before the fire compelled them 20 take
TO the boats. just as the flames burst
THROUGH THE MATCHES
The bark was close to the lee side of the
island ard. Captain Jones at once ordered
the vessel to be beached on narrow strip
of sandy beach. So rapidly did the flames
envelop the doomed bark that the crew
did not have time to save single thing. but
We're forced 10 lower the boats and some OF
the men had to throw themselves into the
sea to avoid the flames.
After reaching shore one of the men was
missed ana his body was found on the
beach the next day. he having been drowned
while leaving the vessel. The condition OF
the tweDty-three men was pitiful as they
were without either food or shelter OF any
kind.
The island, not large one, is totally IN
inha Very little wreckage came
ashore from the burned vessel, but the men
secured what they could and managed 70
build couple of small huts. in which they
got some shelter from the weather TWO
OF the three boats were so badly damaged
as 10 be worthless. and were used to build
another shed, as there was not room In the
others for all hands. Water they found on
had TO make out CD a few berries gathered
from the bushes and such shellfish as they
could find along the shore. Captain Jones
at once realized the desperate position In
which he ard the crew were PLACED, and
knew that unless taken off by passing
vessel they could never hope TO leave the
island. True, they had the boat left, but
even IL they had compass and charts they
could hardly hope to reach
THE NEW ZEALAND COAST,
Distant fully 800 miles, without food or
water. With boat-mast and piece of
canvas q signal was set on the highest
point of the island that might be seen by
passing vessel, while big pile Of brush was
got ready TO be used al night.
The men divided themselves into watches
and kept a sharp lookout for IA sail both
night aud day. But their island prison was
out of the ordinary track of vessels Ia that
part of the world, and for l03 days the poor
fellows lived on the dreary ocean bound
rock until at last they almost despaired Of
ever being taken off
At last the long-l0oked-for sail was
sighted and the half-staryed men set fire 10
the brush heap, hoping the smoke would be
seen by those on board the vessel. To their
great joy the ship answered the signal by
heading for the island, and in a few hours
the shipwrecked crew were safe on board
her. Not long alter they were landed ar
Auckland. There the castaways were fur
nished clothes and such food and medical
attendance as they needed.
Not a man In the entire party had a cent
of money. and Captain Jones tried In vain
to obtain passage to Liverpool for himself
and officers. Most of the crew found shelter
in the various boarding houses, and Cap
tain Jones. seeing be could reach Liverpool
in no other manner. accepted berth as
able seaman on one OF the New Zealand
Shipping Com any's steamers and worked
his way home in that manner.
De was, however, not compelled to sleep
in the forecastle. but was given a closed
berth In the steerage instead. The Gen.
padre was owned by Temlinson & Hodgetts
of Liverpool and was fully insured, together
with the cargo.