The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-03-26
SCURVY STRICKEN
Overdue Vessel T. F. Cakes
lowed Into Port.

Captain Reed, His Wife and Two OH
GERS Ran Ship-Mrs. Reed at the Wheel
Quarantine, S. l., March 22.-The Ions
overdue ship L. +. Cakes, which left
Hong Kong July A. 259 days ago, with {
general cargo for this port, and which
had been given up as losL, was toWeC
into port yesterday morning by the
British tank steamer kasbek, Captain
Muier, which picked her up last Thurs
day in lat. $50, long. 6S.44.
The Cakes left Shanghai May IL last
and after completing her cargo at Hong
Kong sailed from that port. The crew
were apparently in the best health, with
the exception of Captain Reed, who had
been ailing for some little time, but who,
under the careful nursing of his wife,
thought himself on the high road to re-
covery. When about six days out in the
China sea a terrific typhoon was en-
countered, lasting several days, during
which the fore and main topmasts were
sprung The vessel was obliged to run
before the gale, which had no sooner
blown itself out than it was followed by
a second typhoon, which blew with great
fury for "a days. The vessel had then
got well out in the North Pacific, and
so far off the regular course that Cap
tain Reed decided to take Cape Horn
rather than the Cape of Good Hope
route. The weather remained good I'M
til Cape Horn was rounded, 161 days out.
In the meantime six members of the crew
had died from various causes. They
were:
Chinese cook, pneumonia Nov. IL.
Seaman Thu mas King, scurvy Dec. 26
Seaman Thomas Olsen, scurvy. Jan. 10.
Mate Stephen G. Bunker, scurvy,
Feb 4.
Seaman George King, scurvy, Feb. 9.
Seaman Thomas Judge, cancer of the
stomach, Feb. H.
One by one the other sailors were
obliged to quit work until on March
only the second and third mates, the
captain and his wife were able to be
about. All were we'll nigh exhausted
and when strong northerly gale sprung
up on that day the brave woman was
obliged to take the wheel, and for eight
hours, without relief and without as
much as a drink of water, she kept the
ship on her course.
Mrs. Reed, the wife of the captain of
the Cakes, is about SO years of age. She
was born in New Hampshire, and is a
descendant of General Stark of Revolu-
tionary fame. She has accompanied her
husband on his voyages to distant ports
for the past four years.
Mrs. Reed speaking of experiences of
the voyage, said that after the vessel |
became short handed she was often
obliged to turn to and help work the ship |
She knew how to steer a straight course
INxy1 o,,1 che
her husband at the Wheel while he
turned to with the crew and made or
furl sail. At other times she hauled |
at the ropes with the men. ION March |
it came on to blow brisk gale" said
Mrs. Reed, land about in the morning
I went on deck and asked Captain Reed
If l could help. Mr.. Abrams and Mr.
Raglan, the two mates, and one seaman
were aloft trying to furl the maintop-
sails, and the Chinese servants were
doing their best to haul the clew lines
Captain Reed asked me to take the wheel
while he helped those on deck, and did
60. 1t was bitterly cold and was not
for the weather, having only
q hood on, but stuck it out until my
husband came aft to see how I was get
ting on and gave me a chance to run be-
low to get big ulster of his to wrap
myself in. From that time till noon I
was steadily at it. The work was not
very hard for me, as I am pretty strong,
and the ship was scudding before the
gale, but 1 was pretty tired before was
Then we had something to
eat and afterward I went back to the
wheel again. Altogether l was at it
eight hours that day"
Captain and Mrs. Reed live at Haver-
hill, Mass. where they have married
son and daughter.