The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-06-07

"But / see that the narrative OF my
suferings is painful to you, and must
hasten TO a conclusion. Suffice il to say.
that after blank period of twenty seven
days-as afterwasds learned found
myself In one of the state-rooms Of 9
splendid steamer on her way from BON.
bay to London, and surrounded by three
persons, whom soon recognized as be-
lug fellow,passengers on the ill.fated
Liebling. They were engaged in dressing
and washing my limbs and neck. NY
arms and legs possessed little sensitive
ness and were covered with decay ing
flesh, especially my right leg and left
arm. 1t was a cool, but sunny, Southern
September day, and I learned that we had
doubled the Cape, and were fast approach
ina the line, and in not many days, if We
had luck, We would be landed in the great
Metropolis. My friends soon left me a
lone 10 my own reflections, and as soon as
| thought Of the past, l was siezed with
an uncouquerabie logging 10 learn how
was rescued from the beasts or whatever
they were, and how | was found, and ia
ken aboard the vessel. l had just fallen
into doze, when | was awakened by the
entrance of one of my friends, Hans Frcin
er, who, in reply to my inquiries, ad.
dressed me in the following language:
"You recollect, Mr.. Thomas (my
name, said he, that Of the four boats
three got safely out from the ship. with
my two companions were in tie last
After great suffering and many dangers
we arrived at Port Dauphin in safety -
Here. as there was no vessel in port, we
had TO wait till one mig ght arrive. We
never heard Of the wrecked Liebling nor
the other boats. Becoming wearied of
the mouotony of the village, party of
ten. myself included, on the second day
after the wreck, procured arms and made
an excursion into the interior of the island
We must have proceeded about 15miles,
when we discovered pyrty ofthe natives
approaching us and bearing burthen.-
We hailed them, and they halted till we
came up. What was our aatonishment
on finding that it was human body
which they bore along, And our rnxie-
ty was further increased when we per-
cieved that its arms and legs were swell
ed to twice their usual size, and that the
eyes were enti rely hid beneath the swoll-
en- flesh of tine face. Large leaves Of a
strange herb were tied about the neck
and ankles. We saw that the body lived,
bui ina strangely stupeGed condition, and
from the time Of discovery, we ccnject.
ured that the person was one Of The Lieb-
ling's crew. By means ofsigns We lealn-
ed that the stranger had been found not
far off; and on consultation, we divided
into two parties, the one bearing the body
to the village, and the other, including
myself, returning with the saysges to
where they had ionnd the stranger. We
hoped to get further report of the crew Of
tbs slip. We were conducted to cave,
where we observed there had recently
been fire, and on entering the cavern,
what was our astonishment to find the
entire floor covered with dead and dying
serpeutsI Some had only been scorched,
and some were burned to crisp. We
learned from the savages that they had
been hunting a quadrupsd peculiar to
their island, which was found in hollo "
trees, from which it could only be driven
by smoke; and that passing on noun
tain side. they heard in a cave a human
cry. They rushed up, and seeing the
body lying motionlcss among den Of
snakes, they set on fire the leaves in or
der to destroy the serpents. Most of the
snakes had soon fed into the deep recess
es, and the leaves were so nearly burned
up that they rushed in and bore away the
body. They saw that the body already
began to swell, and they hastened TO pc
culiar mineral spring where they ba.hed
it, knowing from experience that the
waters had a powerful virtue in counter,
acting poison. They then tied some herbs
on the body and were coming to the vii
lage when they met us. We now return.
ed to the village and found what, after
many days, we recognized to be your
body in horribly mutiated state; not q
hair was on your head, and the entire
skin had come of from your neck, legs
and arms. After several days; under the
care Of the surgeon, your case was pro
nounced hopeful, and two days after, you
with all who were saved from the wreck
embarked in sloop which had been driv
Ell into Port Dauphin by heavy gale
In two days we dissmbarked Oh the isle
of Mauritius, where we soon rc,embarket
on this vessel, which touched at the islanC
on her way from Bombay to London.
These facts from my fellow passengers
were light to the darkness of some expe
rience which hitherto lay wrapped il
mystery, scarcely need explain.
"But you have not told me-" said
"what that pricking was"
Do you not perceive" said he, ''tha
Che cracking In the bushes was the sp
prvach of the natives--that the serpents
alarmed at their approach, ran into tn,
cave, alarming me so that | cried for hel
that the picking of the birds was th
striking Of poisonous fangs into my flesl
that the pricking ofmy entire body, AM
the succeeding numbness, was caused BY
the burning leavea which lay around ant
over my body-that the beings wto Dor
me away and plunged me into the foun
tain were the natives and that the strang
voices we're only the accents Of an un
known tongueP"
"Tt is all very clear now" | replie