The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-01

On the a2d OF july last the American
brig Sh6lehoif, 9la tons, was dispatched
/ boy Messrs. Glldemeister, Mueeke a CO.,
from San Francisco, bound TO Callao with
cargo. Her crew and passengers mum
bered in all twelve. She had a rough
voyage down, and ON the night of the Sd
Of July was caught in cyclone. For
tunately the steamship Moses Taylor,
icll in and boarded the wreck OF the brig,
Found one man, the captain, alive ON
the forecastle deck, la Rn exhausted con-
dition, All others. crew passengers,
had died from starvation. The captain,
who had been man OF 235 pounds, was
found an emaciated skeleton, and when
discovered in the foreeastle Of his wreck.
cd ship weighed less than l20 pounds.
The sutlerings he endured for over three
months cannot be told he literally sub
sisted ON his own fat, as he had nothing
10 eat His prOyidential rescue came at
the last moment, for il is believed il was
his intention 10 end bis sunerings the
same day by taking vitriol and ink.
From the HGraiida G,Isstte we CLEAN the
following particulars Of the disaster:
On Thursday. October 10, al s A. NJ,
sail was discovered by the wheelman on
the steamer Moses Taylor. The vessel
lay directly in the steamers track aud
appeared 10 be disabled, having but one
mast standing, and only her lower top
sail set, running before fresh southeast
wind. On approaching her it proved 10
be brig. apparently deserted. NO per
sons appearing in sight ON board. A
sail spread over the foreeastle and tent
ngged In the foretop crosstrees showed
that the crew had occupied these places
for some time At every lurch the sea
made q clean breach over the vessel from
stem To stern. To all appearance ID WAs
o wreck which had long been water-logg-
ed, and her crew taken OF by some pass.
ing vessel. Her stern wis broken away,
the bulwarks on both sides gone, and her
sails flying from the loremast ia mgs
On reaehing the wreck the steamer stopp-
ed, and Captain Bennett sent off boat
10 ascertain whether any persons were
ON board, aud il none, whether any re-
cord could DO found respecting her.
The sea being quite rough, tho brig
lurched heavily. and the boat approached
her with some difficulty. She was board
ed, however. by the third officer and q
seaman from the steamer, who imme,ii-
ately went aloit into the foretop, aud
finding no one. went into the focccastle
where they discovered a weak, omaciAted
man. who exclaimed, as he saw them,
Great God Almighty, am ! saved "
He vas lifted into the bstat and taken 20
the steamer. the only article brought
with him being . small canvas bag c0n-
tanning WAntical almanac, and q vial en-
closing n sheet Of paper, with the date of
the wreck and the names Of the c-ew and
passengers. II proved 20 be the Ameri-
can brig Shelehof. 2A9 tons register of
San Franciseo, bonnd 20 Callno with n
cargo 81 lumber. The survivor wus Cap
tain LaIder Hopken. The brig was caught
in "a cyclone on the night OF Jnly 81 the
same date Of the solar eclipse. Soon az
ter midnight, when the cyclone was az
is height. she was thrown on her beam
ends and found 10 he rapidly filing, and
in order 90 prevent total loss Of the yes
sci and her company, her maintopmast
was cut Away. and she righted-un No
time was allowed 10 save any provisions
or clothing from the cabin. aud the crew
we're Obliged % retreat to the forctop 90
prevent being washed overheard. as every
wRve made clean bseach over her The
mate Mr.. johnson, died first six daysR
ter the disaster. Two hAd-harrrls OF sol
mon, half-barrel Of tongues, and q box
Of China starch we're fshed up ont Of the
hold. but the drinking water was oil
found 10 be brackish. Thei salmon,
tongues, starch, and few Ash eanght
with n hook from time To time, aud ocs
caAionally q little rain water caught in n
sail, and always more orless hrackish from
the salt spray. were all that the ships
company had 10 suhaist on. Captain
HophEns account 81 the sufferings of his
ulep and passengers Is a most heartrend-
ing one After the death of tho mate. ON
the 9th Of July. none occurred tiIi Sep
tcmber 9. when they began 90 become
delirous aud weak from hanger aud
thirst, and several died OK jumped oyer
board in then delirium. Bqils and dis
ease, induced by hunger aud sall water
added 20 the intensity ofthair suffcrings.
Nine or ten days before the ktcamer res
cued him. Captain Hopken states that
bark ran down 10 the wneck. hosa 10 for
q ieS minutes, and then squared away
without sending of boatoF making any
effort to rescue tbeliyes OF those on board,
Of whom there were eight then living.
The bark csmg so near that persons
could be seen moving about on her deck
Those on the brig were SO weak as 10 be
unBblr 10 stand. hut got ON their knnes
and waved pieces Of sailcloth, hoping 10
attract attention Their feelings, as they
saw the bark square away when so near
them, may be better Imagined than de-
scibed. Their last hope being gone,
they hay down. and one after another
died or Ieaped overheard. s'aF