Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-08-08
Extraordinary HerOism at Sea.


The London Gazette publishes an ac-
count Of the extraordinary adventures
of part of the crew of the bark Arracan,
of Greenock, which, while on a voyage
from Shields to Bombay with a cargo
of Goals, took fire from spontaneous
combustion of her cargo, and on the
18th of February was abandoned by
her crew, who then took to their boats
and endeavored to make for the NAL
dive Islands. The boats kept company
until the Goth, when finding the cur
rents too strong, it was agreed to
separate, after dividing the provisions.
The master in command of the long
boat then made for Cochin, the mate in
charge of the gig, and the second mate,
David Webster, in charge of the pin.
mace with four of the crew, viz, three
men and one boy, made for the Maldive
Islands. After two days Webster's boat
was injured by heavy sea, and could
not keep up with the gig, and lost sight
of her. From this time the pinnace
was kept working to windward until
the 9th of March, by which day the
provisions and water had been con-
sumed. Shortly afterward the crew
cast lots which of them would be first
killed to be eaten, and the lot fell upon
the ships boy Horner but Webster,
who had been asleep, was woke in time
to save the boys life. After dark an
attempt was made to kill Webster him.
self, but the boy HorDer awoke him in
time to save himself. On the following
day Webster, having fallen asleep, was
awoke by the struggles of the crew for
the possession of his gun, with which
to shoot him. Two hours later the
crew attempted to take Horner's life
again, but were prevented by the de-
termined conduct of Webster, who
threatened to shoot and throw overheard
the first man who laid hands on the
boy. The next day one of the crew at.
tempted to sink the boat, but Webster
mastered him and prevented further
mischief. Two days later the same
member of the crew expressed his de-
termination to take the boys life. Fol
this he would have been shot by Web
ster had not the cap on the gun missed
fire. Soon after, putting fresh cap on
his gun, a bird few over the boat,
which Webster shot it was at once
seized and devoured by the crew, even
to the bones and feathers. During the
next five days the crew were quieter
subsisting on barnacles which attached
themselves to the bottom of the boat
and on sea blubber for which they
dived. The following day some of the
men became delirious. One of them
lay down exhausted, when another
struck him several blows on the head
with an iron Delaying pin, cutting him
badly. The blood which flowed was
caught in a tin and drank by the mar
himself and the two other men. After
ward they fought and bit one another,
and only left off when completely ex
hausted, to recommence as soon as they
were able, the boy Horner, during the
time, keeping watch with Webster. Or
the thirty-frst day in the boat they
were picked up 600 miles from land by
the ship City of Manchester, Hardie
Master, by whom they were very kindly
treated and brought to Calcutta. Web
ster, who by his conduct was the means
of saving the lives of all in the boat
has had conferred upon him by the
Queen the Albert medal Of the second
class. He is now living at Broughty
Ferry, Dundee.