Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-14
Terrible SuTeringS.

has rarely been equalled in the history Of mari
time disaster, has been brought to light through
llr. John Saville, first officer of the American
ship Golden Hind, who reached New Orleans
from Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. The New
Orleans Times of January 9th, SAYS
The wreck of the ship Golden Hind has al
ready been recorded, but the unparalleled sui
tcriugs of the portion Of her crew who yet sur
vlve we believe has never yet been made pub.
lie. In long interview yesterday, Mr. Savlle
detailed all the fearful particulars, and we give
the trightful story IN his own words.
THE FIRST OFFICER S NARRATIVE.
The American ship Golden Hind. Captain
benjamin. +. Robbins, left New York on the
18th of February on a voyage to San francisco.
When in a latitude of St. GATHERINGS We ex-
pcricnccd series of heavy westerly. gales,
which continued for nearly month with great
violence On the 18th Of June last when on
the west side of Patagonia, and at the Pacific
entrance to the straits of Magellan the plntals
and sudgcons Of the rudder gave way and 1t
iloatcd off. Three days were consumed in
constructing a temporary one OF spare Spars
Itlastcd about week. but in another heavy
rac this was also carried away, and we driftcd
1T the mercy of the winds. On the second day
after this last disaster, the Golden Hind
STRUCK BETWEEN TWO ROCKS,
one forward and one aft on the western coast of
Patagonia Three boats we're hurriedly pre-
pared, the men put on extra suits OF clothes,
laid in small quantity of provisions, and at
clock that evening lowered away. La the
hurry of departure nearly all of our nautical
Instruments were left on board, and 10 fact,
many articles absolutely necessary. There
were three boats lowered, the first under the
command OF Captain Robbins the second CON-
mandcd by myself, and the third in charge Of
Mr.. Webb, the second mate. Each contained
seven men. Mr.. Webb asserting that he knew
the situation better than we did, parted compa-
ny almost Immediately, and it being then quite
dark, we lay under the Ice of the land until
morning. The sea at the time we left the ship
was breaking over her foreyard and during
the night she beat to pieces on the rocks.
SEARCH FOR TIE MISSING BOAT.
The next morning the last vestige Of the
Golden Hind had disappeared, and search,
which continued two days, was made tor the
other boat, but no trace of her could be seem
We had long ere this concluded that she was
Swampcd, and that her entire crew were drown
ed Upon examination it was found that we
had small box and bag OF hard bread, the
latter soaked with sea water, about twenty cans
of one cracker to each man and one can of beef
to fourteen was at first issued, but this
speedily decreased to half cracker, and finally
We did not taste meat no more than once q
week
WITHOUT A COMPASS.
4 few days after VIC left the wreck the cap
tain S boat was swamped, and We lost our COM
p;l>S, the only instrument we bad, and a guam
tity of provisions An attempt was made to
reach Sandy Point, Chilian convict settle
mcnt, and the coaling station of the Pacific
mail steamers, about two.thirds the way through
the Straits of Magellan, but our course could
only be determined by the sun and stars
THE DREARY ASPECT.
1t was then mid-winter the mountains along
the coast were covered with snow and ice, and
the mercury must have been several degrees
below zero. We pulled close to land, working
all night in fair weather, and during heavy
bIow landing and going irto camp.
There were plenty of scrub trees along the
coast, and as we were provided with two hatch
cts and good supply of matches, fire was
always to be procured. During these visits we
secured quite good supply of shcl.hsh, re-
srmbing the muscle, but we found that this
diet brought on constipation, and the entire
PARTY became uuwcli.
ILLNESS.
For about twenty days the men held out ad
mraby, but in the bitter cold 4 number were
iroSthilten, and our legs and teet were terribly
swollen.
On going into camp we constructed te1t Of
the boat 5 sail and mizzen-roya sail with the
oars. II fire was built in the centre and the
fourteen men sat around it the night through.
We suffered terribly from loss OF sleep, as no
one dared TO remain away from the fire for fear
OF freezing to death, and the tent was too small
To hold all in reclining position.
At the end Of the twentieth day the general
debility from insufficient food and the extreme
pain i'll our limbs rendered the progress slow,
aud very often we camped tor several days at
time. The allowance of bread had been re-
duccd to.
AQUARTER OF A CRACKER A DAY,
and very often the men did without for day
or two together to help out the supply. Their
conduct throughout the dreadful ordeal was
most courageous. Every man rendered implicit
obedience, and although the ravages of hunger
rendered each almost an animal, the general
welfare was never lost sight Of
Almost the entire month of July was spent IN
pulling in what we believed to be the direction
10 Sandy Point. The only human beings We
met were an Indian and two sQuaws in canoe.
They treated US cordially, and willingly ex
changed duck for small quantity of tobacco,
but they had no other provisions. We had
secured from the ship two rifles, and one of the
crew shot duck, but the powder became wet,
and our weapons were useless \ dead duck
found among the rocks, was also secured and
eaten. but with the exception Of the shell fish,
this was the only food We secured
HUNGER.
In the latter part of July the weather became
irarinily tcmpestuous, and after several days of
trulilcsS hutfcting, we went into our last en-
campmeut. 1t was terribly bleak and desolate
spot, shut out from the sea by high cliffs, and
TILED with low stuntcd trees. We found, how
ever, few roots some berries, and strange to
say, little celery, and, not knowing whether
the vegetables We're poisonous or not, each man
rartook ravenously of whatever he could find