The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-10-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the London Courier of 10Th August
ACCOUNT OF THE CREW OF THE
STIRLING CASTLE.

Yesterday Mrs. Eliza Ann Frazer, the widow
of Captain Frazer, of the ship Stirling Castle,
which was wrecked on q coral reef in the pas
sage from Sydney to SINGAPORE, in May 1888,
came to the Mansion house, accompanied by the
captain of the vessel in which she arrived in this
county, and female at whose house she was
received upon coming to London, for the pur-
pose of mentioning the particulars OF her dread
iul adventures amongst the inhabitants OF the
shores to which the crew resorted as refuge
from the not more appalling dangers of the
ocean.
On the 10Th of May, 1885, the Stirling Castle
left Sydney for the purpose of going to Sinca-
pore. On the ID, when they approaching
Torres Straits it blew very fresh, and there be-
ing Il current near the Eliza Coral Reefs, WhicE
the vessel was unable to resist she struck on the
reefs about nine o'clock at night, when the cap
tain incapable, on account of the hazy
weather, of making observations. There were
about eighteen men on board, two boys, and
Mrs. Frazer, the Captains wife. Two of the
men who were ut the wheel were killed when
the ship struck, and the cabins were dashed into
the hold, together with all the bread, beef, pork,
and other provisions. The crew, when the tenn
pest ceased, contrivCI to cut away the masts, in
the expectation that the ship would right herself
and she did in some degree change her position,
but not to any serviceable extent; they therefore
determined to get away as well as they could in
the longboat and the pinancc, which they had
contrved TO keep secure the two other boats
which were attached to the ship having been
swept away by the fury of the elements. They
knew that they were TO the northWard OF More
ton bay, Il portion of the settlements of the Eng
lsh Crown, and they determined to make for
that place. Accordingly, having worked with
the most desperate industry until four o'clock
on Sundny, they quilted the vessel and took to
the boats
The ships carpenter the cook, the cooks
mate,J Frazer, the Captains nephew, the boat
swain, r. Stone and Bill Lorton, Il seauan took
to the pinnace; while the Captain, his wife, the
Chief Mate, the Second Mate the two boys, and
the rest Of the crew, took to the iongboat. -Four
days after they committed themselves to the care
of Providence, Mrs. Frazer was delivered OF
child, while up 10 her waist in water, in the long
boat. The infant was born alive, but after few
grasps was drowned and the chiefmate wrapped
up the body in a part of his shirt, which he tore
from his back for the purpose and let it go along
with the tide. The poor mother could not ac-
count for the extraordinary vigor with which
she was able to bear up against the caamily,add-
ed to the other calamlties to which she was
doomedsto be exposed. Tortunutcl Y she was for
some time in a state of insensibiiity and was not
for a considerable time after the child was con-
signed to the deep, aware that il was brought in
to the world from which it was so rapidly hur-
ried away. For great many days they ondeav-
ored in vain to reach Moreton Bay, being all the
time without any food except small quantity or
:he lees Of hops which they had found III cask
ney SulIcEcu ufcdululy lloil 'iiIIsl 40 "Cii us
hunger while in this awful situation. At last
they reached large rock, to which they fasten-
ed their boats. and they went in quest of oysters
and water, but their disappointments were mul-
tplied upon them and they stretched themselves
along i'm expectation of speedy release from
their sufferings by the interpositon of another
tempest In the morning those who belonged
to the ong-boat were astonshed to find the pin
mace and the men who had occupied her had al
together disappeared. These unfortunate fe-
lows were never heard of more, and their com
rades in calamity could not njecture what their
motive could be for making an experiment, by
themselves without the aid OF the experience OF
the captain and mates, whom they left behind.
The Captains aim was, all along, after they
had been Obliged to quit the ship,to reach More
ton Bay, but finding that the ind and current
were dead against his oLject,and his companions
being reduced to the extremity of lying on their
backs in the boat with their tongues out to catch
the dews that fell, he resolved to make for the
nearest land. 1t was a choice of most awful
evils, for he knew that the shore, which it was
probable they would reach was visited by tribes
OF savages They bore away before the wind,
prepared to meet death inwhatev er shape it might
present itself, and os exhausted with sufferings
as to be cnreless whether they were TO die by the
hands of the natives, or to be overwhelmed in the
waves. AT last they came within sight of land,
and soon afterwards their boat ran into and land
ed in "a place called Wide Bay. They were now
about 100 miles to the north of Moreon Bay,
which is the principal of the penal settlements to
winch the incorrigible convicts are sent to pass
the remainder Of their days in uninterrupted Ia
Dor; ana Just as they touched the land they
caught the sight ofvast crowds of naked savages,
VINO soon approached the beach, evidently de-
lighted with the prize that presented itself. The
savages surrounded the boat, and raising it up
carried it up from the beach to the bush, with its
crew, just as they were. The moment they laid
the boat on the ground, they began to str p the
the men of their clothes, commencing with the
captain and chetMficers. John Baxterthe sec
ond mate, endeavofed to hide shirt ornament
in which his aunts hair was contained, having
willingly yielded up every thing else; but the
savages became Infatuated at the attempt at con-
cealment, and beat him dreadfuly. 1t is unne-
him. They broke in pieces the watches and
chronometers, and each took portion of the