Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-01-10
Life on A Desert Island.

A large ship of the most dishevelled and
seedy appearance standing towards us from
the south, signalling that she wants to speak.
We lie to. and boat comes on board. 1t is
the Elizabeth whaler, out three years, and
now bound for the Cape. She had lately
touched at the Crozet's Islands, and taken off
three Englishmen wrecked there two years
before. They came off to us in the boat, and
their story was as follows:
They made part of the crew of schooner,
fitted out at the Mauritius for the whale-6sh-
cry of the south, and which bore up to the
Crozets in search of water So heavy was
the surf that no boat could be sent ashore,
ard after trying all round the group for
landing place without effect, they were driven
at last to run the schooner ashore OH the
smOothest beach they could find, where she
soon went to pieces The main body of the
crew built themselves boat out of the timbers
of the wreck, and, embarking in her, were
never more heard of. Our three sailors built
themselves hut il little cuve, where they
found spring of fresh water, and there sub
sisted PLEASANTLY enough, il appeared for two
years, having abundance of tirewood from the
wreck of the schooner, and amply supplied
with provisions in the sea animals and birds
with which the Island abounded, and which
were perfectly tame and fearless A diet Of
penguins and seR-lions seemed to agree well
with them. for they were uncommonly fat
and though exposed much 10 the weather in
their Robinson Crusoe life, had the fairest red
and white complexion ever saw. mention
this, as there may be some natural kalydor or
smandine in the air of the CroZsts, which our
RDv nfh
are trying after in vain. The three men had
remarkable air of simplicity and credulous
confidence, acquired no doubt by so long an
association with sea-calves, boobies gulls, &c.
On inquiring into their mode of procedure,
they told me THAI, having no fire arms, it was
necessary TO keep on good terms with the
other inhabitants; and although dead body
must occasionally be seen about, still their OBJ
lect was TO battle the coroner as much as pos
sible. They accosted their seals with hank
ness. stealing, however, if possible, between
the water and them; and being provided with
a short club. gave a nonchalAnt tap on the
nose to some unsuspecting victim, quietly
dividing the jugRlar vein of walrus, walked
away, leaving the bystanders to imagine what
accident they pleased. In the case of the
large penguins, with whom they were in the
habit of Tomping, for exercise, they danced
them off to some quiet nook, and then privily
despatched them. But the walrus was their
piece de resistance, and Supplied them as well
with oil for their lamps as ivory; of which,
and the rich feathers Of the large grebe, they
had collected valuable stock. In the spring
they feasted luxuriously, not only upon eggs
but young albatross chickens, which attain
nearly their full size before they can fly. These
good times they dwelt upon with much gusto.
The winter they described as very severe
with tremendous gales and snow storms
During the two years no vessel came IN sight
A Transport Voyage to the Mauritius.