The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-30
Extraordinary Iac.Oisuh al Sea.

The London Gazette ofJuly 10 publishes |
an account Of the extraordinary adventures
of part of the crew of the barque Arracan
of Groenock, which, while on a voyage from
Shields to Bombay, with 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
Muldivc Islands The boats kept company
until the 2Jth, when, finding the currents
too strong, it was agreed to separate after
dividing provisions The master in com
mand OF the longboat then made for Cochin;
the mate in charge of the gig and the sec
ond mate, David Webster, in charge of the
pinnace, with four of the rev. viz, three
men and oae boy, made for the Maldivc
Islands
After two days Webster's boat was in
jurcd 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 March, by which
day the provisions and water had been con
sumed. Shortly afterwards the crew cast
lots to see which Of them should be first
killed to be eaten, and the lot fell upon the
ships boy, IIorner; but Webster who had
the boys life After dark an attempt was
made to kill Webster himself, but the boy
Horner awoke him in time to save himself.
On the following day Webster, having fall
If nfe "cfewTf h aNakf9esa BY the struggles
with which to shoot him. Two hours later
the crew attempted to take Horners life
gain, but were prevented by the determined
unduct of Webster, who threatened to
.bnpt and tbroNy ovarian vi thu fret
who laid hands on the boy. The next day
one of the crew attempted to sink the boa,
b 1t Webster mastered him and prevented
further mischief Two DAYS later the same
N mber of the crew again tried to sink the
loat, and expressed his determination to
AXE the boys life. For this he would have
been shot by Webster had not the cap on
the gun missed fire.
Soon after, putting a fresh cap on his
gun, bird flew over the boat, which Web
ster shot; it was at once seized and de-
voured by the crew. even to the bones and
feathers During the next five days the
crew were quieter, subssting on barnacles,
which attached themselves to the bottom of
| the boat. and on sea blubber for which they
| Owed. The following day some of the men
| became de,irious. One of them lay down
| exhausted, when another struck him sever
al blows on the head with an iron Delaying
pin, cutting him badly. The blood which
| flowed was caught in tin and drunk by the
man himself and the two other men. AZ
forwards they fought and bit one another,
and only left off when completely exhausted
| to recommence as soon as they were able
the boy Horner during the time keeping
watch with Webster.
.Oa the thirty-first day in the boat they
were picked up 800 miles from land by the
ship City of Manchester, IIardle master, by
whom they were very kindly 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
second class. lie is now living at Broughty
Ferry, Dundee.