Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-02-27
AN AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE.

on the tnlfu voyage tnlu sue maue anu
after she had become famous in the
history of navigation and the geograph
ical discoveries of our country.
The first time the Beagle sailed
from England was i'll the year 1926.
She started with the Adventure to ex-
plore the Straits of Magellen, the west
ern coasts OF Patagonia, and the Terra
del Fuego.
| The two vessels returned toward the
close of 1880. In December of the fol-
lowing year, the Beagle was again fit
ted out. and sent to explore the prin.
cipal groups of islands in the Pacific,
especially the Society Islands, and
portion of Australia. She returned in
the autumn CT 1886
In 1887, she sailed again for Austria
liza, and this third voyage my friend
Fitzmanrice and myself undertook to-
gether l have spoken Of the previous
voyages she made, although in no way
connected with the incident I am
about to relate, from that feeling of af-
lection which every person gets for
ship that has borne them through
storm and danger, had been veritable
home during long and eventful
months.
The scientific knowledge of my
friend--his talent us an artist-his
spirit and energy, had early made him
considered one of the most useful
members of the expedition.
During the exploration OF the south
ern coast of Australia, toward the west
of the gulf, between Aruhim and Van
Dieman's Land, he fulfilled with great
success several important missions,
and, in particular, discovered the
source of the stream called Adelaide
River, in honor of the queen dowaeer |
of England. One day, in this region,
he and / were out together in boat,
at the farther extremity of little bay,
in order to compare the compasses and
measure the destinations.
Fitzmaurice had tried to take a posi-
ton on the group of hills known as
Escape Cliffs. but the iron ore in the
rocks made the needles of the magnet
deviate SO much that we were obliged
to establish ourselves upon bank of
sand on the shore of the bay.
We had been working hard for sew
eral hours night began to approach
the moon rose in full splendor peculiar
to that latitude, and it was time for
us to think of taking our departure.
started for the boat, carrying with
me one of the instruments, while Fitz-
maurice fingered for few moments,
gazing about him, entranced by the
beauty of the scene which appealed so
to his artistic fancy.
| had almost reached the boat when
there suddenly rose behind me a terri
BILE clamor of human voices. L have
no hesitation in avowing that the un-
expected tumult, in the midst of
and solitude, sent cold
thrill of terror at my very marrow.
believe that the strongest nerves Of
the bravest man that ever lived could
not have resisted that first impulse Of
horr at the terrible cries which so
broke the stiffness.
I turned, and upon the summit of
the cliffs above Fitzmaurice saw large
company of the natives. armed with
iavelins, which they seemed just ready
to aim at my unfortunate comrade,
while uttering those tiendish yells of
rage and triumph.
could have fed, gained the boat,
and soon put the length of the bay be-
tween myself and danger, but, thank
God, not even for second did the
cowardly thought cross my mind.
/ did not stop to think I saw only
my friend, alone, unarmed, exposed to
the fury Of those merciless savages,
and finging down my burden, ran
back to share his fate whatever it
might be.
The nearer reached the place the
more imminent appeared the peril.
One Of the natives, who looked like
the animating spirit of a troop of de-
mons, was haranguing his companions
with ferocious energy, his gestures
plainly showing that he was urging