The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-15

I two others were missing. The natives
said they had been drowned in attempt.
ing to escape in the boat which had been
carried off by the rest Of the crew. The
captives believed they had been mui der
ed but as this could not be-proved,- and
as if any harm had been done to the saw
ages, they would have revenged them
selves on the next unfortunate captiveS
that fell into their hands, it was thought
best to pretend to- MGsve their own ac-
count.
In this cavern was found the ships
bell, and a quantity of ship stores aud
provisions, all Of which were seized and
carried away. The joy of the captives
may be better conceived than described.
When they were safe ON board the
boats, they Informed their deiiverers that
they had been two months on the island,
and had been compelled to work as slaves,
all but the lady and child, who had been
permitted to wander ireel y over the larger
island. The bell had been suspended
ovev the Branch Gf c tyec G;; t}.e,-,!.,c:n!:.- :
island, and when the Iaan-Oiwar hove in
sight they had been compelled to retreat
with their captors to the iSlet.
The bell had been struck by the lady :;
but after having struck it the second time
two bels'-in hopes of attracting the
attention Of those on board the ship, she
had been threatened with instant death if
she went near it again. When the ship
saiIeA they haA ss3NrNe0 In the Iargw
island, and again retired on the Approach
Of the boats, when the lady had watched
her opportunity, and at the risk of her
lite had struck the bell again.
They ful ther stated that from four to
five weeks before, the captain and the
chief mate, with three lady passengers,
had contrived to cude the savages and
make their escape, with a small stock of
provisions, in a small boat which latter
had been totally destroyed within few
weeks after she had come ashore on Il
reef near the island.
The sloop.of-war, swinging with the
current, had lain with her head towards
the islet, hence the sound. aided by the
still atmosphere and deadened by the
trees, had appeared to those on the quar-
ter deck to come from the bow of the
vessel, and to those forward on the fore
castle to come from the air over the YES
sells bow. They carried the crew aud
paSScngcrs-one gentleman besides the
lady and child--to Prince Edwards Island
where they were landed in safety.
Sometime had elapsed before anything
further was heard of those who had es-
capped in the boat; but at length intrlli
gence was received Of their safe arrival
at Timor, after having suffered great hard
shiIs for want of food 1t was also said
that the captain and one of the sailors.
and a passenger, had been brntally mur-
dered by the savaSes while endeavoring
to swim off to the boats after their com.
rades. So the captiveS were really COR
rect in their SurmSes.
Thus the discovery Of the wreck of the
ship Martha OF Bristol, set at naugh the
old quartprmaster Johns0n's superStitious
theory, and restored to the watch their
allowance Of grog which had been stopped
from them for week ere the captair.,
who had remained on board the Coquette,
had heard of the captives, and the innO-
cencc of the men who had been unjustly
punished had been proved.