The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-06
ELEVEN DAYS OF TORTURE
JAMES DONNELLT's STORY OF MS TOr.
AGE IN 4 SHIPS nom
slowed Away without Food or WATER. VIVA
Efforts TO Escspe-shouts for Helpful
Ing with Thirrt-Uncon.ciou.ness al Ina,

Efforts to Escspe-shouts for HeIp-I,urn.
Ing with Thirst-Unconsciou.ness at In.,
Soon after the steamship City Of Chester
was made fast to her pier upon her arrival from
Liverpool on Friday. tho sailors who Ind
opened tho hatchway leading TO the third ~
orlop deck. found a man lying there uncon.
scious. The hatch had not been lifted since Tho
steamship left Birkenhead pier. opposite Liver.
pool and the officers knew therefore that tho
man had been confined in that place for eleven
days. He was sent to st. Nincents Hospital
and by the most careful nursing he had 40 far
recovered yesterday afternoon that he was able.
in n feeble voice. and with much effort. to tell
the story Of his sufferngs. He must have been
n brawny fellow once. for his frame Is large but
the skin was drawn tightly over the bones OF
his face. and the blue veins upon his forehead
through which the blood feebly coursed were
painfully conspicuous. He did not complain o,
hunger. however but Of intolerable thirst and
he begged his attendants to give him purs
water. and rebclcd when they offered him
weak doses of brandy and water lie looked
about him yesterday afternoon in dazed man.
ner. and oiten appeared he one who had lust
awakened from u troubled and eXhauslug
sleep. and 1t was ut times a task for him TO ex.
ercise his memory.
NV name is James Donnclly." he said. ina
voice US faint us dying man t., and my home
is in Dumbarton. Scotland. / am boiler.
maker aud in my twenty-irst year. | had m
uncle and aunt living IN hotel at 0lneyyilla.
Rhode Island, and | wanted, 70 see them and
also to try 70 find work. But had no money 70
como with
Here Donnelly heaved sigh and closed HE
eyes as il to gain breath and strength. Al
length he continued: " / mnde up my mind 10
over to BirEenhead where the Ciry Of Chester @t@s
lay and went aboard OF her on the 22d Of Sep
TENDER had nothing with mo but II bottle Of
Scotch whiskey. aud / offered this TO one OF the
sailors If he would show mo where | could hide
myself. he drank the whiskey with some OF
hold. 1t was very dark there and the air was
foul. but had made up my mind 10 come 10
one way or an thor"
Here lust the inintost flicker Of n smile passed
over the wan and shrunSen features. and with
the same sad and hollow toned voice he went on.
fell through an open hatchway into the loves;
place. Ii was awiully dark down thore oh.
awully. and there wasn't any air. | couldn't
get out crawlcd around upon NV hands and
knees and felt some ing soft. 1t felt like meat.
! tnsted IL and found II was salt boef. ute "a
little. but 1t went against my stomach Then
felt the steamer Earring and heard the water
and knew that we had started and that had
been ia the place over night. Then the time
got out and to make myself heard. but could
not; couldn't ent anything. but | grew, Wild
with thirst. | would have given worlds. II | had
had them. for Just one glass OF water. and It
used to torture me thinking how clear anu cool
able TO tell when It was daytime because |
heard the people moving about on deck. and
heard the bells. but | couldu tell how many
days had passed since we started. At last got
wild. | shouted and screamed. gQt harrcl
stave and pounded on the ships side with all
INV might. and finally | managed 10 find the
hntchwny leading TO the orlok deck. AMI after
struggling all duv. crawlrd up to IL. But this
place was no better than the other. grOuei
around IN the dark TO see IL could find some.
thing to eat or drink. stuck my hand into 4
box Of salt and atr n handful. Then my thirst
grew burning like. Ii gave me extra strength.
/ called for hours. and al the same time | was
gasping for air and light. The darkness was
awful. l talked loud to myself for company,
and suppose l Slept some. One day found
the strength, but managed 10 thrust STICK
between the hatch and deck an inch or 50.
Tint let In little air and light-not much-hut
how welcomed H. Then dog saw the stick
and caught mold Of II and broke Il. The hatch
fell anu II was all dark again. That was terri
the ship going and heard the water Finally
made IL desperate ciiOrt 70 burst open the hnten.
aud remember falling back to the deck. Then
seemed to be going 70 sleep. and | remember
nothing more until felt some one throwing
water on my head. wondered where | was
saw faces bending over me. saw the ligt
and then the awful thirst came back Thenl
seemed TO doze OH again. and when | woke W
| was here"
Donnelly was sadly exhausted after telling
this story. and begged Tor more water. Dr.
Hospital thinks that Donnclly must have lain
unconscious in the hold for four or five days
DOnneiy had said 10 the Doctor earlier in the
day that he supposed when he went into the
hold that the sailor who had shown him where
70 20 would take steps 10 release him after no
would be allowed to work his passage 70
America.