Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-10-31
ghIPwreck and PIraey ON me Ar.AI..
Coast.

count Of the shipwreck OF an English
vessel on the coast of Arabia, and the
capture and detention, or death oI
the Captains wife and several of the
crew, BY the maurauding Arabs:
"On the Sd Of June, it appears, the
Mary Florence, Of Shields, Captain
Short, bound to Alden, with Goals
made the highland of Cape Guarda
fui. When about nine miles to the
northeast Of the cape, the Captain
bore for Alden. Between nine and
ten O'Clock, P. NJ. the vessel struck
on sand bank, and there being a
heavy sea on, she drifted shorewards.
Next morning some of the natives
swan off to the vessel and appeared
very friendly. Finding he could not
get the vessel of, the master got an
anchor ashore, and bent a hawser TO
it from the masthead. On the Sc
cond morning he commenced float
ing the stores on shore, sending to
guard them his firs; and second mates,
the steward and three seamen. Soon
afterwards the natives came crowd
ing to the beach, appearing to be
all armed, and headed by chief
They pretended to be quite friendly,
and the chief appointed a guard OF
his own people to protect the stores,
Deceived BY these appearances, the
captain continued to send his stores
ashore, until the great bulk of them
were landed; and finally his unfortu-
nate wife was sent ashore, by means
OF sling.
The captain was about TO follow,
but it would appear as If the landing
og the female was the signal for the
Arabs to let loose all their worst
passions. The poor woman was at
once seized and carried away, and
those of the crew Oh shore were at
tackled with spears and driven into
the water. The chief mate shouted
to the captain TO come to the rescue
Of his wife, and the latter attempted
to get out the pinnace. The rope
broke, however, and the boat ffoated
ashore. The natives tried to launch
the pinnace, but owing TO a very
heavy surf, they did not succeed
The hands on shore were seized
the Arabs went TO prayers-and i'm
mediately afterwards proceeded to
plunder the stores. In this work
they were employed all night, in the
course Of which the captain heard
shrieks, but he never again saw any,
thing of the unfortunate detenus.-
Next morning the chief and his fol-
lowers were seen strutting about in
the articles of European clothing they had
stolen. The captain and the remain
der Of his crew now proceeded to launch
the long-boat, putting into her all the
provisions that remained to them. They
anchored about 800 yards outside the
vessel. hoping to hear something of their
comrades
In the meantime the natives gained
he vessel by swimming. and proceeded
to break her up, carrying
lway by piece-meal the brass stanchions,
sails, &c. They finally attempted 10
gain possession of the long boat, when
he captain put to sea with a fair wind
or Alden. On getting eighty miles up
he coast. however, the wind veered to
he north east, and the boat was obliged |
o put back. Some Of the crew attempt |
ID to get in water at Cape Felix but
we're chased from the shore. About .
en- miles lower down, they succeeded |
n getting ten gallons, paying for the 1
iame with a gold watch and other valu-
lbles. They then ran down the coast
If Africa, enduring great privation, the
allowance of water being only one gill /
| day, with hardly anything to eat. On
he 18th OF June they anchored about
800 yards from the shore, within ten
niles of a small bay in which the Dewan
vas lying, without, however, being
ware of the proximity OF the vessel.-
his was about one hundred miles SOUTH
'ast of Cape Guardafui. Here the ma
ives were very little better than those
t the cape. They swan to the boat,
earched for money, and took the chro-
Iometer, sextant, &c. One Of the ma
ives, who could speak little English,
owever, informed the Captain tEat a
essel lay around the point. He imme-
lately dispatched note stating his cir
Mr.. Jeffery replied. prom
sing every aid in his power, and as soon
s ne could discover the position of the
oat, which the Captain had forgotten to
he proceeded overland to res
ue his unfortunate countrymen.
In getting up the anchor 10 come |
shore, a sudden squall struck the /,
oat, and capsized her, when one Of |
le seamen was unfortunately |
Those who could swim {
OF on shore; others clung to the s
oat, the natives laughing and clap
ing their hands, and offering no as
stance until the captain held out a
sward Of three Spanish dollars a
cad for every man they aided. On /,
effrey's arrival he found the captain
nd his people in a state Of starva-
on, and stripped Of nearly every
,inO He nt,rchaead ebaar for,l- !