The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-08-25
AsTAETLING AND ROMANTIC
STORY.
sHIpWRECK ON THE ROCAS REEF

SHIPWRECk ON THE ROCAS REEF.
Six sailors, bearing the names respec.
lively of John Coleman, ID. NJ Call,
MILDLY Baptiste, Joachim X ing Dilom-
DO. Charles Lance and Francis Edward
Gray, have just passed through sue
cession of adventures On desert island,
which more than realized the most thrill
ing of the many romantic stories of ship
wreck written for our youth. The fine
new iron clipper ship Mercurius left San
Francisco early in January last on her
return to England, having previously
made her first voyage from the Clyde to
Sydney. She was commanded by Cap
tain Cuthbertson, an experienced navi-
gator, aud all went well with her until
the 25th of March. In the early morn
ing of that day, it being then dark and
raining heavily, the good ship struck Oh
dangerous coral island known as the
Rocas Reef, in latitude 3. 90 s., longitude
1920 w. No one Oh board had thought
Of danger until five minutes before the
Mercnrius struck. The lookout man
then gave the alarm, "Breakers ahead!'
ship was altered, and the helm put hard
"hard overt. But 1t was too late. A few
seconds of that intense anxiety in the
endurance Of which men seem to live
years, and then all doubts were solved
by the Mercurius first grazing her side
below the water against the sharp edges
Of the coral, and then striking Violently
on it twice. She began to fiji Instantly
and as she was hanging as it were over
the ledge OF the rock the word was pass
Ell nisn the long boat. in the hope Of
saving al hands. But while this was
being done, the ship Iurched heavily
outwards and went down like stone, in
eight fathoms water. Ont Of the twenty
two hands on board the Mercurius the
morning found but six alive, and these,
after swimming for two hours and un-
til the tide fell, gained a footing on the
ledge, and proceeded to explore 1t. Their
story reminds one from this time Of
Philip Quarles and Robinson Crusoe, of
Juan Fernandez, the Swiss Family
Robinson, and the ingenious hero Of Mr..
Reades and Mr. Boucicault's novel.
Looking to the sea, the tops Of the fore
and mainmast of the Mercurius were
just visible out of the water; looking
over the islands which were to he their
home, some fifteen acres of barren rock
interspersed with patches of sand, and
connected by narrow istLmus with
another equally barren, Of the same size
met their gaze. One cocoa-nut tree fur
med the only sign of vegetation. 1t
was the sole survivor of those which
were planted there some years ago by
order of her Majesty consul at Pernam-
buco, In order that the reefmay be more
easily seen by vessels on the Brazil or
Cape Horn route, in the direct track of
which it lies; but there had been wrecks
previously, and with the aid of articles
left behind by the survivors, the ship
wrecked men contrived to bend circum
stances to their will. They found two
iron tanks deposited in convenient po-
sitions and filled with water, as well
a considerable quantity of broken tim
Der, out of which they built themselves
q log hut. They, found too, that pear
Of price. a broken knife, n hammer, 4
two ounce weight, and large copper
bolt, and with these clumsy tools they
they made two boats out ofthe planking
strewed about the rocks, fastening them
u
the broken timber Of other wrecks. 1
does not appear that the poor fellows
had any thought of escaping in these
boats; but they were enabled to make
fishing excursions and to sail with sig
. nails flying, in search Of passing ships
in the early morning and in evening
when the SUMS fierceness was subdued
They had 10 clothes and except theii
, hut no shade, and tropical heat wa