, 1874-08-09

E1fT1"EU1E1TE sen
The London Gazette Of July 10. publishes OF
| accoant Of the extraordinary adventures of part
| OF the crew of the bark ArracaD, Of Greeuucl1.
which, while on voyage from Sh 1eldsto Bombay
with cargo Of coal. took ire from spon-
tancous combustion of her cargo, and on the
18th Of February was abandoned by her crew.
who took TO their boats and endeavored to make
for tho Ma!dlye Islands. Tie boats kept COM
p:nv until the 30tb, when, finding the currents
TOO strong, 1t wes agreed to ecpar ate after d1vi
ing the provisions. The maater III command Of
the gboat then made for Cochin the mate in
charge Of the gig aud the second mate, David
Webster. III charge Of the pinDnce, with four OF
the crew:-yiz tlree men aud one boy,-made for
aiafdiye 1slands- After two DAYS Webster 8 boat
was injured BY heavy sea, aud could not keep
mp With tho gig, and lost sight Of her. From
this timo tue pinnace Was kept working to wind
ward uu:ii tho 9tll OF March, by which day the
provisions and water lad been consumed.
Shortly afterwards tho crow cast lots which OF
them fhond be first be killed to be caten, and
the lot fell upon tho chips boy Hornes; but
Webster. who had been asleep, WIS awakened in
time to saye tito boys life. After dark al at
tempt WAS made to kill Webster himself, but the
boz horner awoae him 10 time to save himself.
On tho following day Webster, having fallen
asleep, WAS awakened by the struggles OF the
crew for tho possession Of lis gun, with which to
shoot him. Two hours lster tile crew attempted
70 lake Horner's life again. but we're prevented
by the determined coEducE OF Webster. who
lN1CL[EDEu tu SEgbl GUQ LHIQN DfElEO1TU [lG
first man who Iaid hands On the bov. Tho next
dag one Of the crew attempted to sink the boat,
but Webster mastered him and prevented further
mischief. Two days later the same member OF
the crew again tried to sink the boat, and e1-
pressed his determination to take the bows life.
For this he would hare been shot by Webster
had not the cap OIL the gun missed fire. Soon
after, putting fresh cap on bis gun, bird flew
over the boat, which Webster shot; it was at
once reizcd and deyoured by thu crew, even to
the bones and feathers During the next Eve
dayB tbs crew were quieter eubsistlng on
bafnacies, which attached themselves to the bot
tom OF the boat and on Sea blubbor, for which
they diyel. Tho following day some Of the men
became de1irious. One Ct them lay down e1-
hausted. when another struck him several plows
on the head NTH iroa Delaying pin, cutting
him badly. The blood which flowed was caught
In . tin and drunk BY the man himself and the
two other men Afterwards they fought and |
bit ono another, and only left of when COM
pleteIy exhausted to rtcoc,rence rs BOON as.rhey
were able; the boy Horuer during the time keep
ing watch With Web:ser.
On the thirtv-tirst day in the boat they were |
picked up GOO miles from lind By the ship Caty /
Of Manchester, uardle master, bv whom they
wcro very kindly treated and brought to Calcutta |
Webster, who bY bis conduct was the means OF
81 ring the lives Of all in the boat, has had coz
feE1cd upon him by the Queen ths Albert medal
of the second class. He is Dor living at
Broughly Ferry, Dundee.