The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-08-12
Extraordinary Ker0ismas ast~sSea.
The I.ondon Gazette nnhlishrs an ac

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The London Gazette publishes an &C.
count of the extraordinarI adventures
!. of part IF the crew of tie bark ARA.
can. of Grpenoci,, which. whilst on Il
voyage from Shields to Bombay with 4
cargo O GOALS, took lire from spontane-
ons combustion of her cargo, and Oh
the 18th Of February was abandoned
by her crew, WHO then took to their
boats and -endeavored to make tor the
Ma d We Islands. The boats kept com
pauy until the Goth, when, finding the
currents too strong, it was agreed 10
separate, after dividing the. provisions.
The master, in command OF the long
boat, tl,en made for Cochin; the mate,
in charge of the gig, and the second
mate. David Webste1, in charge of the
pinnace, with four of the crew. viz:
three men and one boy, made for the
Maldive Islands. After two daysWeb-
ster's boatgwas injured by u heavy sea,
and conld not keep mp with the gig,
and lost sight of her. From this time
the pinnace was kept working to wind
ward until, the 9th of March. by which
day the provisions and water had been
consumed. Shortly afterwards the
crew cast lots which of them should be
FIRST killed to be eaten, and the lot fell
upon the ships boy Horner, bnt4Web-
;,ter, who had been asleep, was woke
in time to save the boys life. After
dark an attempt was made to kin
Webster 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
determined conduct of Webster, who
threatened to shoot and throw over
board the first man who laid hands on
the boy. ~ az.
The next day cue 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 again tried to sink
the boat, and expressed his determina-
ton to take the boys life. For this he
would have BEN shot by Webster had
not the cap on his gun missed fire.
Soon after, putting a 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-bluhber for which they
dived. The following day some of the
men became delivious. One of them
lay down exhausted when another one
struck him several blows on the head
with AL iron helaying-pin, cutting him
badly. The blood which flowed was.
in Il tin and drunk by the man
himself and the two other men. After,
wards they fought aud bitone another,
and only left off when completely ez
laus.ed, to recpmmence as soon as hey
were able; the boy Horuer daring the
time keeping watch with Webster
On the thirty first day in the boat they
we're picked up 500 miles fl rom land By
lhe ship City Of Manchester, Hardie
master, hy whom they were very kind
~ treated and brought to Calcutta
Webster, 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 Sc
nond class. He is now living at
Broughty Ferry, Dundee.