The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-10-26
SUFFERING AT SEA.


Five Days in an Open Boat Under TrOpi-
cal Sun-Only Two Men Out of Seventeen
saved.
Following, says the New York World,
the story is told by Henry Berliner, who
embarked as first officer on board the
bark jeanette
'tWe left Bristol, he says, Sin March
last, bound for Manila, Philippine
Islands. Our cargo consisted of gas
coal and six very large kegs of powder.
1 embarked upon the Captains agreeing
to give me the first officers berth and a
third interest in the vessel, upon my
paying debt of 50, 500 which he owed,
and which it was necessary for him to
pay before leaving the port. Nothing
remarkable occurred until within about
six days sail from the Cape of Good
Hope, when we found the coal on fire.
All matches had to be shut down tight
and everybody had to sleep on deck, as
the gas from the burning coal would
allow no one below. We altered our
course for Cape Town, hoping to get
there before our vessel should be burned
through; but when we had still four
and half days sailing to do we were
becalmed. The Captain then ordered
me to provision the small boat
and have it ready for launching.
I had directed some of the men
to go for the provisions, and also
for water, and was myself in the
boat, loosening the tackle, when
loud explosion aft threw me into the
water. Fortunately, the boat followed
\ 4 - A
Guiding the Captain anc his wife, jumped
overheard and succeeded in picking
them up, all well except the man at the
wheel, who was found dead. Only one
of the kegs of powder had exploded,
but, fearing that the others would soon
follow, we tried to get as far as possible
from the bark. We had but one oar,
but picked up spar and made it answer
for another, while every one used his
hands to propel the boat out of danger.
"The next morning we found our
selves safe distance off, but without
either provisions or water. We suffered
terribly that day. What we wanted
most was water. There was hot sun
overhead and our thirst was excruciating.
Some of us drank the salt water In sheer
desperation. That evening the Captain s
wife died ; the next morning the Captain
and four men. On the fifth day after
leaving the vessel there were only my
self and George Fillmore left out Of the
seventeen who got into he boat. The
sharks followed us all the time, and
often came near upsetting us. On the
fourth night there was a little rain, and
we-ah that were left--spread out oul
clothes to catch what we could; then
wrung them and caught every drop we
could to Stake our thirst. On the fifth
evening we two, the only survivors, laid
ourselves in the bottom of the boat tc
die. Such. however, was not to be ou1
fate, for about midnight we drifted
against the ship Essex, Capt. Hender.
son, from London. We were too fal
gone to know how we were taken on
board by our rescuers in fact, it was
eight hours before we were able to speak
or take note of what was going on
about us.
"The Essex took us to Cape Town,
Capt. Henderson doing all he could for
us on the way. Arrived there, we were
put in hospital, and received the kindesi
treatment until we'll enough to be about
which took a full month. Wishing tc
get home at the earliest possible day
urgently requested the American Con.
sui to send me by the first conveyance.
He put me on board a schooner which
took me to Barbados, w. /. I was
taken withchi and fever on thevoyage
and had to remain In hospital there
four months before being able to &C
further. The brig Mary Gardner took
me to New Bedford, where I arrived
less than two weeks ago.
Here I am now," he said further,
"utterly broken in health and in purse,
for the money which, had saved in years
of seafaring was invested in the Janette,
and is gone with her to the bottom OF
the South Atlantic. Owing to the fact
that we had powder on board we could
not get the vessel insured. I did not
like the risk, but Capt. Garland arguing
that as we could get six times the cost
price for the powder at Manila, I con
scented, and now all is gone"
MIR. Berhner further. states thai
amongst the seamen who died and were
buried overheard were three Americans
namely, Julius Manning and John Stark
of New York, and Richard Stevens, O
Westport, Mass. His companion, Fill
more, who was saved with him, he states
has been sent to San Francisco from
Cape Town. ta@AA&ss
Effect OF RecOil in Rifie-ShOOting.