Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-10-01
SHIP REACHES PORT
WITH STRICKEN CREW
scurvy and Moon Blind
ness" Attacked Sailors.
RoUoA VOYAGE OF MONTHS,
5uffeted by Winds; lmpeded by Gains
Lack of Fresh Meat and Vegetables
Cause of Pitiable Condition of the
Caaroen

Lack Of Fresh Meat and Vegetables
Cause of Pitiable Condition Of the
Seamen.
New York, Sept s0.-Seven Of her
crew were lying i'll with scuryy in Its
worst form and others were suffering
with moon blink" when the British
ship Kentmere trailed in from the sea
yesterday, after q voyage of 1877 days
from Hiogo, Japan
Her sides were rusty, her yards COCK
billed, her canvas untidy. while bar
nacles and vegetable growths COW
cred the vessels underbody.
It had been voyage of misery for
the crew of 20. Indeed. it is said that
the men will make bitter complaint
to the British consul against Captain
Burch, the skipper, for keeping them
on salted meats for months at time
while the Kentmere doubled on her
course, In contrary winds, or drlfted
in calms that lasted for weeks.
1t was declared on board that the
ship had travelled a course that,
Strengthened out, would circle the
earth, in her long voyage from the
east.
The sick men were in the forward
house, In hunks. covered with blank
cts Four of them were absolutely
helpless. Their limbs were swollen
and covered with boils. due to the
diet of salted provisions. Their
teeth were loose and rafting In their
mouths They were pitlable objects.
In health they had all been stalwart
Swedes. Out on deck three other In
valids sat on the main hatch as the
vessels port anchor splaShed over
board off the Upper Quarantine station.
Six others of the crew were suffering
from moon blindness or moon blink, "
as the sailors call 1t. caused by the
moons rays shining in their faces as
they slept,
Ten of the crew were able to work
at the mast, but even they showed
incipient evidences of scurvy. Down
In the vessels hold were tubs of cam
phor, camphor oils. curios, porcelains,
bamboos in bundles, manganese ores
vegetable wax and straw braids-not
single thing that could have been
eaten In place of the salt horse" that
the crew had to subsist upon.
THE voyage seemed never ending"
said one of the men. For three
months we did not get even decent
lime juice 1t was salt horse all the
time. Pea soup was served part of
the time, but that was salted. 1t
was either salt pork or bee for the
most part.
THE ship dipped and rolled even in
a moderate breeze. She had enough
vegetables growing to her bottom
planks to have planted a farm. 1t was
exasperating to see the way that voy.
age dragged If the old Flying Dutch.
man couldn't make better time, then
l don't know"
The vessel stopped at st. Helena to
| land man who had an iron splinter
| in his eye, for surgical treatment.
| There some potatoes were taken on,
and these were the only fresh vege.
tables the men had had for more than
three months. They fell on the pota-
| toes greedily.
Deputy Health Officer L'Hommidieu,
who boarded the ship. at once ordered
| her detention. He said the men were
all suffering from NAL nutritious and
gave orders for the especial treatment
of the four helpless ones The ship
was thoroughly fumigated. and orders
given that not a man would be allow.
ed to leave the ship or go on board OF
| her from shore.
Captain Burch said tho Illness was
due to the running out of fresh provi.
sions. The ship. owing to the growths
upon her under body, did not make
more than "a miles in "a hours.