New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-12
SIX SAILORS ON 4 CORAL REEF.
THEIR RESCUE AFTER FIFTY-oNE DAYs-wRECK
OF THE MERCURIUs.

THEIR RESCUE AFTER FIFTY ONE DAYs-wRECk
OF THE MERCURIUs.
The London Times of June 81 says: The iron
clipper bark Silver Craig Capt Cohu, which lately ar
rived at Liverpool brought six seamen, the sole sur
vvors of the crew Of the Liverpool ship Mercurus, who
were picked from coral reef of the northern coast OF
Brazil where they had managed to exist 81 days. The
Silver Craig sailed from Islay the afternoon OF the
18th OF May, when about 10 miles fr3m the Roeas Keel
Pernabuco the weather clear and rate breeze
he knew he was aPpr0aching and mace ,nor0 ous
be hut S nf M hs Signal Of distress
flying, and he at once bore down toward q tne
hauled 10 boat out and a e. aei fSE
nearer the island he was enabled to see that me sup
posed flag was 81 s b sa .Sna The silver Craig
was hove within mile and half or two miles OF the
reef and fReh beg 1 had from Wreckage found
on the reef They said they believed themselves 10 DC
the sole survivors OF the snip s Tes whsle e yoyos
from San Francisco to Liverpool They had little or no
clothes but with the exception Ef 9poa brd
sheHsh, fish, and even turtles, drinking nesn wafer
which they sad e 5ne Ssaet about Of
large eggs which had been their principal source OF T9S1
and the d sns too hs
the silver CRAIG supplied them WITH tOgd srS
The Mercurins fine new iron cgpershP OF SsS
tuns She left San Francisco on the oh OF anu
,at sco SCI south long 20 west, in early morning on
the 9sth OF March. It was dark and raining neavy;
The side OF the ship grazed the sharp cage Oh the cor
below the water aud she struck heaviy twice, pelng
snnarenly over ledge Of the rock she soon pegan 10
M aud preparations made for Launching Ine long
boat suddenly the ship lurched out ward Iel over te
edge OF the rocky shelf into deep water ana went down
An shou eight fathoms Her yards had previously Deen
rsned 10 bring her of the reef before she srnck ana
ways to the mass carried down. is SUPPOSED most OF
me crew Those who regained the surface were SWIM
ming about IN the darkness for two hours OF more until
a. as the tide fell they felt they nao saihed
footing on the ledge and when day broke they We're able
to move 10 .ne thare We're only survivors out Of
twenty.two who had been aboard the snip Inc cafpen
.r Usnrv Murray was alive near the reel, put
ire wave came and washed him into one OF the holes
sna cayerns which the sea has worn into the coral
and he was not seen again. In the course oi tne nay
oher survivor was discovered ON another part OF the
reef. - u,o,ocb In thu roornino and
han the day broke all that was TO DC seen OF the Mer
Wiz we're the tops OF her fore and manmast, In the
Sn water Alongside the reef Aferward she partly
ueeR and soIne of the wreokage washed ashore, but
W or cargo which consisted Of grain The
survivors had dreary prospeet pslore he is az
,s coei They are separated at high water, but the
100 hctween them can be walked over az low water
aP bDrb ie very low and have patches of white sand
IN Tho center hut htte OF no grass some lev years as9
the British Consul Ut PerpsmDuco pa9 thsn plan'ed