The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-09-08
Perils by Land and BY Sea.

A correspondent of the Times Q,
India gives the the following account
Of remarkable escape:
"ADEN, june l1.-One of the most
remarkable escapes from the perili
attendent upon q disabled steamer al
sea, and the wonderful good fortune
which brought safely through dan
gerous country q party Of volunteer
from the ship, herewith send you
The steamer Vixen, Capt Milne
from Calcutta for London, encoun'
tered bad weather, and shortly before
reaching Alden she ran out Of Goals
and everything available on board
was burnt. She then drifted down
on the Arabian coast, some one hun.
dred and fifty miles from Alden.
After anchoring, the Captain and
surgeon, Mr.. j. w. Matthews, went
on shore to see If wood was procur.
able, but none was to be had. The
doctor and second steward, with two
Lascar boatmen, now volunteered ID
proceed to Alden through the Somali,
and other tribes on the coast, which
was consented to by the captain.
''Starting on the afternoon of the
9TH Of June, they walked all night to
avoid what rascals might be on the
way, while some friendly Arabs &C.
coInpained them, and made detour
to obtain camels of q sultan named
Hyder. On reaching him they were
most Hospitality received, great state
even was observed and salutes fired
The sultan kindly congratulated
them on their getting safely through
sOme hostile tribes, and he offered
them a boat to Alden but the wealth.
er being unpromising, this offer was
declined. The journey was now re-
commenced, partly on foot and part.
ly on calnels when prOcurable. The
tribes through which the adventur.
crs passed were In such q state Of
poverty and wretchedness that no
provisions could be obtained ; so the
poor fellows suffered very much in
consequence, and their sufferings
were aggravated from want of water
also; the intense heat, too, nearly
overcame them. However, with
pluck. though driven almost
to desperation they persevered, and,
without any rest or food for twenty
four hours, they reached Alden on
Sunday the 11th. The surprise that
awaited them here is hardly to be
for the Vixen was lying
in Alden harbOr, and all belonging
to her safe! She had got some Goals
from bungalow procured at Alden
by the chief officer, who, some days
previously, had sailed from his
ship in an open boat for the purpose
of getting assistance.
"When the weary and foot-sore
arrived at Alden, and the
community had become aware of
their dangerous trip, they manifested
the greatest delight, AMI numerous
were the congratulations bestowed.
Had bad weather come on at any
period from the steamer breaking
down, while she was at anchor, or
when the small boat was on Its way
to Alden, a different tale might have
had to be told. AS it turned ou;, il
was a remarkable escape from dam
gers which were sufficiently threaten
ing 10 make all on board ever re-
cir visit to the coast OF |
Africa and all that followed.
81 am not versed in diplomatic |
but it is in my mind that,
seeing how generously and royalty
Sultan Uyder treated the poor way
farers on their land journey, ought |
not some special mission to be sent |
10 his cxcellentcy, direct from the |
British government with suitable |
acknowledgement and something !
more substantial besides? think so.
On the way the members of the mis-
ion might give the people and tribes
o understand that il they protected
white men (and the black men, too,
or that matter) cast on their mercy
or food and guidance, they would
DC repaid and rewarded. r..