Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-01-29

May the deeds of our intellectual ex-
istence, be FURNISHED gems, shining
lights, unto the minds of coming ages.
THE STORY OF A WRECK,
The number of shipwrecks and disas-
tiers at sea is relatively far below what it
formerly was. Improved marine archi-
lecture more accurate instruments, and
superior knowledge of the art of naviga-
ton, assist in keeping down the average
of calamity; and the application of
steam, the use of iron in ship building
especially on the compartment principle
and the increasing stores of meteorol-
ogical and Typographical information
within reach of the seaman, all tend to
safety. Now and then, however we
hear of a catastrophe. that recalls the
dismal experience of the past. Such an
instance is that of the Inflated brig She
lehof, which was found floating water
logged in the Pacific, near the Sandwich
Islands, some weeks ago. The wreck
was seen one morning by the lookout on
board the steamship Moses Taylor, from
Japan, bound for San Francisco A SOL
ltary man was taken off the brig, the
only survivor of the crew and passengers.
He was the Captain of the Shelehoff,
Luder Hopken, and although, when res
cued, he was at the very door of death,
he has recovered so far as to be able to
tell his story.
The Shelehoff cleared from San Fran
cisco for Callao on the 22d of July last.
Her cargo consisted of lumber, and her
crew of the Captain, two mates, stew
ard, and four sailors. There were like
wise four passengers. Rough but not
dangerous weather attended the begin
ming of the passage, but on the 1st of
July there was dead calm. The mas
ter employed this in a way common on
shipboard, by painting his boats and
otherwise setting things in order. In
clearing away for the purpose he had
the hawser cOiled up and slowed in the
forecastle; and this act was providential-
ly the means of saving the Captains life
and of prolonging the lives of others
On the Sd of July the ship was overtak-
en- by heavy squalls. Canvass was rap
idly shortened, until at last by nightfall
the Shelehoff was under bare poles But
even this brought no safety. The wind
and sea increased to prodigious violence,
and it became evident that the vessel
was caught in cyclone. On the morn
ing of the 4th of July the Shelehoff was
on her beam ends, the sea making a
clean breach right over her 1t seemed
certain that she would founder and, but
for the lumber, she doubtless would have
done so. By night with infinite labor,
the masts were cut away, and the ship
partially righted. But the lumber on
the tween" decks had got loose, and
carried away the sky-lights, wheel-house,
and companion-way and had jammed W
the entrance to the cabin. 1t was found
that this was quite immovable, and that
it was impossible to get at either pro-
visions or water Meanwhile the brig
was filled by the sea, and her stern,
where there was less lumber, had settled
deeply, and was completely washed by
every wave.
In this desperate condition. without
food or drink, or control over their YES
sci, and out of the track of any probable
passing sail it is little wonder that the
luckless mariners thought their case
hopeless. Still, they battled vigorously
for life. A barrel of tongues and
sounds foated up to them. They man
aged to get from the hold two half bar
rels of salmon and box of starch. The
water butts were stove in, and not q
drop could be had from them A sal
was, however, rugged in such way that
some rain water could be caught. The
lumber being lighter than the vessel, and
the latter full of water, now began tc
press the deck and sides asunder, and
the peril was imminent that the Shele-
hoff would go to pieces. At this mo-
: ment the hawser came into play; 1t wa:
dashed seven times around the entire
hull of the brig, and the threatened dan
l ger was thus warded off, Yet, although
, safe for the time from drowning, the
crew were now tormented by thirst Ii
vain the Captain begged them not t.
t drink salt water. Some of the miserable
men swallowed quantities of it. Their
7 great boils burst out on their bodies
they were attacked by dysentery, anG
presently died in raging madness. Ii
: spite of all the privations endured, il
, was not until the 18th of October, near
t " four months from the time the Shele
l hoff was thrown on her beam-ends, thai
e the last survivor, except the Captain
t expired. This was a passenger by the
A name of Ashley Crane. After his death
the Captain gave up all hope and lay
r down, hoping soon to follow his las
: companion. 1t was ordained otherwise