Evening journal., 1913-12-24

The hoodoo that followed the old
four-masted bark Pyrennes when,
with cargo ablaze, she was driven
ashore on low-lying coral reef in
the Low Archipelago was not broken
when Captain /. +. Thayer, of San
Francisco. changed her name to
Manga Reva, which fact was testified
to recently when the vessel made
Lewes, Del, with a mutinous crew,
eight members of which are to be
called to trial in United States Court
in Wilmington on January 6.
The Pyrennes was built at Glasgow
In 1891 for John Hardie & Co. A
gallant specimen of the type of four
masted bark SO numerous on the
seas in the eighties and nineties, she
made some mighty fast records for
vessels of her class in the British
colonial trade and was famous in the
South Pacific. II was not until 1900
that her hoodoo made itself appar-
ant.
The Pyrennes, With a cargo of bar
ley, was bound from Tacoma, Wash.
% Leith, Scotland under Captain
Bryce. Her first mate. a Scotchman
named Kerr, is now in command Of
he steamship River Clyde 1t rained
white men. Mccoy and YOUNG we're
md portion of he barley was wet
ed, which later made trouble II
vas Kerr, the mate, who first scented
Smoke aboard the Pyrennes. It was
n the night, and all hands were
oiped up to do what was possible to
prevent the spread OF the fire.
Hatches were battered down and
holes were bored in the decks and
sides and the pumps manned to pour
water on the smouldering barley.
Every seam and vent. except where
water was being poured in, was calk-
ed In order to prevent air from reach
ing the intammable cargo. The crew
worked night and day. but the slow
flames gained headway and smoke
issued in black streamers from a
dozen not quite alright spaces. Baf-
led, Captain Bryce. bore for Pitcairn
/ Island, but no landing could be made
there except by whaleboat. so two
while tho cargo was being slowed
picked up as pilots
With them to navigate among the
numerous reefs and shoals the Pvrenne-
stood away for Manga Resa. which lies
m the Low Archipelago. and where the
cargo could be discharged and rart OF
4 salyaged. Manga eeva l. 2sS miles
from Pitcairn island. and for two .davs
thc fyrennes lay in dead calm the
sea as smooth as oil while the almost
exhausted crew fought the flames sus
tanned for the most part by grog passed
round by a plucky little cabin boy. There
was thought of abandoning the bark ii
small boats, but Captain BiNc refused
20 leave his vessel while there was d
chance TO save any of the cargo. At th,
ind Of the Second day the calm wa.
broken. A fair wind bellicd tho sail.
and the crew took fresh heart Bv tn,
time the little lagoon at Manga Revs
was sighted the sea was running hicl
md noisy breakers dashed over tho cora
reefs that surrounded the island.
True as dart the Pyrsunas sped fci
The narrow opening TO the lagoon. Il
has dangerous to attempt to enter. bu
10 stay outside meant certain disaster
On the crest of monster roller the bari
scudded between the coral jaws of tn
outer reef. just as she seemed poisel
lbove the placid lagoon for second
faw struck her. She swerycd. to star
board. a shudder ran through her franz
- she iarred against rock, then SD
sped into the calm water, but rolln
heavily. The carpenter reported a hol
IN her side as big as the head of a waite
ask, and under the feet of the crew VIII
lad fought for l,er so CALAMITY sh
oegan to settle. In last desperate at
.empt 20 save the ballant bark Captai
Bryce grounded her before she coul
INK.
Men scrambled into the ratlines an
worked like mad over rigging and tackle
hhile the pumps continued to pou