Show FOUNDERED AT SEA the bark don nicolas which sailed from newcastle on march ath foundered about midway between the coasts of new south wales and new zealand a week later after battling with the waves in a heavy storm which lasted several days there were unmistakable signs that the don nicolae career was about finished it was decided to abandon her and the crew which consisted of the master first and second officers cook boy ani an I eight seamen besides two passengers took to the boats several of them were badly cut by the casks and movables mova bles washing about the decks and the second mate received a nasty cut on the head one man was waa driven against a water cask by a sea and struck with such force as broke one of alb ribs several others were less seriously injured but the chief officer was knocked down by a sea and sustained a nasty sprain to one of his ankles it was in this disabled condition the crew took to the boats to face the dangers of the storm hundreds of miles from land in the haste baste to get olear clear of the ship it had been omitted to bring a compass away in the boats so that st earing by the aid of the stars at night and sun by day was the best that could be done owing also partly to this the hurry burry and partly from a motive of avoiding overloading the boats the provisioning of the boats was extremely limited there were ten gallons of water fifteen pounds of biscuit three or four tins four pounds each of preserved beef and a small quantity of butter and some cheese on the a topsail schooner was sighted about f four our miles off it was about 7 in the morning and frantic efforts were made to call the attention of those on board but owing to the tremendous swell they were not seen and the schooner passed out of sight A short season of cold weather was followed by a scorcher and a calm the men were dreadfully thirsty and were quite too much exhausted to pull the boats three days later a refreshing shower fell an oilskin jacket and a sail spread out caught about two quarts which was eagerly divided among them the rainfall was followed by a sight of two steamers at 2 p m but they passed on and at 4 pm land and was sighted to the great joy of all at 6 pm the smaller boat with the second mate and three men cast off and made post haste toward sydnea ayd neb heads both boats were later rescued by a steamer and brought safe jy to port without the loss lose of a man the vessel started originally from san francisco where she is owned for melbourne in command of captain thomas everston Sv erston who was seized with a dangerous illness at sea and the present resent master m ter captain thomas olaf gustafson then chief officer fearing captain s condition navigated the ship into melbourne for medical assistance captain everston Sv erston succumbed to his affliction and captain gustafson was appointed to the corn com mand |