The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-12-16
Not An Able-bOdied Man on
Board the Ballantyn.
A SAD TALE OF SUFFERING
The Carpenter, Cook and Sailmaker
Die Enroute From Acapulco
Mexico.

Yesterday morning at 1890 1T was
wired over from the Cape that the Re-
lief was Just crossing in with the Brit
ish ship Marion Ballantyn in tow
About 3 o'clock Mr.. James Christie, who
had gone down the bay in his White
hall boat earlier in the day, arrived
back in the city and reported that the
Eallantyn was lying at anchor OH the
FlaNel wharf at Ianzy Point, part oi
her crew down with malarial fever anc
badly in need of provisions. He at once
notified Health officer Walker, who up
ON being app1dsed of the news, secured
Captain Graham, of the launch Fan
ohon, and prepared to start. Mr.. Chris
lie purchased quantity of provisions
which were loaded on the launch, ano
with the health officer. Mr.. Fl. A
Smith, Mr.. Chrisde and an AstoriaG
representative, started off at once &c
the ship.
AS the launch rounded the big vessel
and came up on the starboard side
where the gangway was already down
dozen pale haggard faces peered oven
the bulwarks. The whole frightful sto-
ry Of their disastrous trip was WRITER
on the fever-pinched faces, and 1t need
ed no second glance to tell Of the terri
BILE experience they had gone Through
on their voyage from Acapulco DR.
Walker hastily climed the long gang
way at the head of which Pilot Nc.
Wicker stocd' " looking down at the
launch and its passengers. The health
officer cautioned those on the launch tc
remain where they were until he haC
made AN examination of the ships
crew, for he thought 1t was more thar
likely the vessel would be placed in
quarantine. After the doctor had dis.
appeared over the bulwarks. a line was
run down and the provisions hauled or
board So weak were the poor sailors
that the effort tasl1ed all their strength
and it took three men to haul a So
pound sack ofsfioiir onto the deck. AS
soon ~ tife h6ods were adj up, the re.
porter went to the top Of the gangway
and secured the following story from
Chief Matte Robert Woods, who, as he
related the terrible experiences of the
long voyage, found it necessary to
steady himself against line, SO weak
was he from long illness:
1.-THE Marion Ballantyn is a vessel OF
1921 tons register, commanded by Cap
tain Forrest, and departed from Aca-
pulco in ballast with crew of twenty
seven men. Three died en- route. and
as you CAN see by looking around the
deck the remainder are anything but
able bodied men.
1--WE left Acapulco ON the morning OF
October 25th, and while ten Of the crew
were down with fever. leaving us but
seventeen men to work the ship, we
were glad ito get we'll out of the mala-
rial stricken country. The city was
filled with men, women and children
whose bones ratified with the disease,
and funerals were a common, everyday
sight. No ship ever put to sea in more
delightful weather. The sky was clear
and the air balmy At night the stars
shune forth from the blue southern
heavens, and seemed to be there as
guiding angels to the big ship as she
forged ahead under a fresh off-shore
breeze. As the days rolled by the
safl-nnaker, carpenter and cook became
worse. and after while they were
unable to leave their hunks. The 9TH
ers who were suffering took advantage
of the bright sunshine by day and lay
shivering in their hunks ait night. IT
was not long until the captain took Ill
with the fever, and for periods of a
week or ten days at a time he has been
unable to come out ON deck. We have
all had a round Of the fever and there
has never been day since we left the
Mexican port that we have had more
than seventeen men to work the vessel,
and 1 might truShfully say that the
batter and worst part Of the voyage.
was made with not an able-bodied man
on board.
Just as the Eastern sky was break
ing away from the dark shades Of NIGHT,
on the morning Of November 18th, poor
Pierce, the cook. breathed his last. That
evening he was buried beneath the
blue waves Of the Pacific, and the all
ready faint hearts Of his comrades
grew heavier as they watched his life
less body disappear into the dark wa
ters.
''It is hard for any one VINO has never
suffered the slow tortures Of Mexican
fever to realize the terrible condition
of our crew. Those who were able to
crawl, her,oically went at their work.
The more helpless were tenderly cared
for by the officers and shipmates. and
everything that could be thought Of
was done to relieve their suffering.
On the 2Orh Of last month the sail-mak-
er. Thomas sorenson. died. and in due
time his body received q saiioris burial.
IF the men were by this time thor
ouehly disheartened, they stayed brave
ly by their work. and as We were get
ting into the storms Of the North Pa
cific. their labors were of.imes fraught
With great danger. 80 weak was their
crr,drflro. Two weeks ago tonight sew