Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-04-02

] hunks, IN which there wero an adxe. 4
spade, and little wearing apparel They
| saw some pig tracks, but no pigs. As
have said before, their covering at night
was grass, and the weather being bitterly
odd, their beds were not as comfortable as
they would have liked. They managed 10
catch seals enough to live upon. IL was q
long lime before they knew how to use the
skins for clothing, they we're so hard, but
at-length they discovered that by pairing
the dried skins close to the roots of the
hair they could obtain very soft material
And 30 they managed to live on. The
history of one day was the history Of all.
In September, after they bad been On
the islands for over four months, they
were all attacked with an alarming sickness.
Their stomachs began 10 swell, then their
limbs most of them thought that their
last hour had come. 1t somewhat resem-
bled scurvy, as when they pressed upon
the swollen part the indentation remained
for some time; they learned afterwards
that 1t was disease known TO old whalers
as the "cobler."
On the 9Th of October a ship was seen !;
they were on an island at the time which
they called Rabbit Island, as they found
rabbits there. They instantly multiplied
their IRE, and four of them gave chase in
q boat, but without success The ship
passed, and vas not seen again. This had
the effect of depressing their spirits con-
sidera5ly. The sufferers were positive in
their declaration that the smoke from their
fires must have been seen on the ship So
October and November passed. They had
an agreeable variety in their food about
this Time in the finding of some sea fowls
eggs, and they lighted on rusty ak in the
stump Of an old tr,e directly In front of
one of their huts. Then, beginning
to be worn out with hope deferred, they
determined To make an effort for their own
deliverance. They fitted up one of their
two boats, decked her over with seals skin,
provisiored her with seals meat, about
thirty gallons OF wafer in seals outlets,
the flesh Of three goats, and about twenty
dozen of co ked eggs. On the 22d Of
February, 1867, they started without CON-
pass or nautical instrument of any SOFT.
They thought that by steering east-north-
east they would make New Zealand. This
was an error, as the cour should have
been north or little to the west OF north.
At the time OF the start the wind was
southwest, but on the first night it shifted
10 the northwest, with rain, and blowing
very hard. Those who were left upon the
land were very hopeful Of a successful re-
suit to the venture of their conn AIDES; but
some weeks passed, and then they knew
that in all likelihood they would never
meet their comrades again in this world.
There Is one hope still the boat may have
made Campbells Islands. which are about
100 miles east of the Aucklands.
February passed, and March. In the
latter month they found a stave on which
was written in charcoal Minerva men,
l officer-Leith May 10Th, 1864 March
18th, 1865" April and May slipped by,
and the men had almost given up hope.
but they gathered great pile OF wood,
were seen. In the month of June they
caught small pig. They kept her for
three months, and then they killed her.
Then occurred an event which occasioned
much sadness. On the 81 OF September
old David Mcclellan died. He had worked
with them and suffered with them. 1t was
ike losing the chief part of their dying
hope to lose him. Ii was like fore
shadowing of what was coming swiftly TO
themselves. They had seen other death
beds, but death was never SO dreadful 10
them before. AS the old man was passing
away from this earth, the earth which had
been so cruel and Yet 50 kind, as the light
OF lite was fading ont OF his patient, weary
eyes, and as the dying breath came slowly
and hsfuny from bis imploring mouth,
there were tears ana signs IRON those
around him-tears and sigas for him who
would Deyer again in this world look with
eyes Of love upon bis wife and BARNS
tears and signs for themselves, IS If they \
felt upon their own hearts the shadow of
the doom Of their dying friend. lie was
buried in the sand-hIll on EndeIby leland.
About this time they were very well Oft |
for food. They succeeded, by means Of an
Ingenious hook made out of a half inch |
bolt, in catching number of pigs; and |
they found some wild potatoes. They sent
sdrift the inflated bladders of the pigs, at |
tached TO which were slips It wood, on 1
which was written an acco ut of their |
sad condition, in the hope Of some ship |
picking one up. They also made small /
boats Of about three feet in length they I
attached TO each heavy piece vi iron, so I
as I'D turn the little craft by the stern, to 1
keep her before the wind, and cast them /
out upon the waters On the deck Of each |
We re carved all the particulars of the wreck /
Nearly dtspairing, and yet ciipgiDg To- the I
hope, growing fainter day by usy, Of be.
ing rescued, tne little baud lived Oh, adopt /
ing every means within its power OF assist /
ing in its own deiiverance
On the 18th of November, 1867, more
than eighteen months after the wreck OF
the General Grant, the nan on the look
out saw sail The signal fires were
lighted without delay, but the smoke did
not appear 20 attract notice. -Onthe 21st
the brig Amherst was sighted, running
from the South along the East coast The
boat was launched, was observed from the
brig, and the sufferers taken on board. 1t
is almost needless TO say that they were
treated by Captain GilrOy and his officers
aud men with kindness and consideration.
The joy of the rescued sufferers was great.
" Words" "says one, cannot express our
feelings Of joy for such deliverauce from
hardship and priyaiioD, during g per cd Of
eighteen months" They were taken on to
Southland, New Zealand, where they were
received aud provided for.
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