, 1873-05-10

to be devastated by hurricanes anu Cdl Cu-
ouakes, it shares that in common with
many other places, though the latter are
exceptionally rare, and there is no country
without its climatic drawbacks. Still,
with the incidents of that disastrous Goth
October, 1867, fresh in peoples memories,
it would be useless to insist too strongly
on a favourable view of this part OF the
subject.
Busy as we were all the week, the days
passed quickly along, aud, having coaled
the previous day we weighed and stood out
to sea on Saturday morning, for the pur-
pose of making magnetic observations, re-
turning in the afternoon, and mooring IN
the inner harbour, in readiness for a final
start next day. Late that evening, how
ever, we received news that a dlsmasted
British ship was lying at anchor in an IN
secure position among the Islands some
fifteen miles to the eastward Accordingly
we proceeded early next morning under
steam to render her assistance. We found
her at single anchor in the Sound close to
st. Johns Island, with a jury mainmast
and an apology for a Jury mizenmast stand
inc, besides the foremost and t~oIetopmast,
and with a crew totally inadequate to
navioate her among the islands, since
they only numbered niue, all told. Their
story is one of those curious tales of the
sea which every now and then awake the
sympathy and command the admiration OF
all readers. One stormy day towards the end
of January last, the good ship ROWantree,
Berry, master, bound from New Orleans
to Liverpool, fell in with a large iron
British ship, named the Varuna, which
had lost two Of her masts and otherwise
showed symptoms of distress. On com
inc near, the entire crew OF the latter, 81
in number, were seen to take to their
boats and make for the RoWantree, where
thew were received with all the humanity
customary in such cases. They reported
that they were proceeding on their voyage
from New York to Liverpool with a mis-
cellane0us and valuable cargo, when their
ship was thrown on her beam ends by q
violent squalI, and that they had been
obliged to cut away two OF the masts to
riqht her, that she was making water bad
", and was totally unSeaW0rthy. The
Rowantree remained by the Varuna all
nioht. AMI an examination OF the latter
ship was made next day, when it was
found that the water in her had not in
creased. The possibility of navigating
her into port was then discussed, and
the Commander of the V%aruna, Captain
Kerr, called for volunteers from her W
crew to take their chance with him in
that vessel. No one, however, coming
forward, Captain Berry gave his own
chief mate, Mr.. c.. Davis, the option of
undertaking the risk with some of their
own people, and he accordingly went
on board the Varuna with nine men to
attempt the almost hopeless duty. This
occurred in lat, 80 n, lon. 60 w. The
Rowantree then proceeded on her voyage.
This gallant handful of men navigated the
ship..a large one OF some 100 tons-for
ftty-one days, and finally succeeded, with
indomitable pluck and after enduring great
hardships, in bringing her to an anchor in
the spot where we found her. No one
can fail to admire their hardihood and
skill, nor dispute the opinion that they
deserve a handsome recompense. Mr..
Davis was absent in st. Thomas, whittier