Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-08

A Terrible Tale OF Suffering at Sea
Heroic Conduct.

l reported to you Saturday last, the arrival
linger, carpenter of the recently wrecked ship,
Mabel Clark" of Waldobro'. Since then Mr..
Hiscock and obtained the following facts:
The ship sailed from Liverpool, Eng, March 8,
lS7s bound to Hong Kong, China. On the % of
MAY. at A. NJ, she struck q rock one -eighth of
a mile off the island of Tristan d Acunha, which
is in lat. 81 2 South, long. IL 10 West. She
struck with such force that the cabin was shat
tered, and the sea Immediately made a clean
breach over her, rendering it necessary for
the captains wife and daughter, child ten Years
Of age, to flee to the rigging. Mr.. Hiscock
was struck by while going forward to get
the boats out, and knocked against the rail or
house, breaking his shoulder and nose besides be-
ing cut severely over the left eye. The boats were
stove, aud officers and men had to escape to
the rigging. There all remained until 2 p M. of
the I'd, when the mate in his crippled condition
took to the waves and swan tor the shore, which
by the aid of the natives, he reached entirely ex-
bausted. He was taken from the serf by a native
who with line around his waist, swan out and
grasped him, when those on shore pulled both TO
land An hour later Capt. Sheldon, fearing that
the mast, to the rigging of which thew were
clinging, would not stand much longer, the miz
zen and the main mast heving at that time gone
over the side, hoping to reach the shore
and procure boat with which TO rescne
his wife. child, and the crew, also start.
cd for the island which he reached in tho
same manner as the mate. A part Of the crew al,
so followed, but during the afternoon two or three
of the men were washed overheard and lost ono
DYING in the rigging, and just at dark the second
mate Mr. William Hitchcock of this town al.
temnted to swim to the shore and was L ;llod
among the breakers. Now came the dreadful or
deal for the Captain, when the storm had in.
Gre ased TO such fury that boat could if lanncb
ed. live for moment, with dark mess approa aching
and his wife and daughter still clingipp 10 the
wreck In this situation the night was passed
but when daylight dawned the shin was
still there the mast standing, and the wife and
child still alive. During the forenoon Of the 81
the storm abated, and at twelve o'clock noon the
captain and those of bis crew that had been
rescued, with the natives, with three whole boats
succeeded in reaching the ship and rescuing all
then alive, including Mrs. Sheldon and daughter.
who had been thirtv-six hours in that perilous
situation, with only their night clothing to
shield them from the storm which
portion of the time was hail and snow.
The little girl had most miraculous escape
from death. One of the crew was holding her in
his arms, when violent wave washed her from
his hold, but her long flowing hair caught around
the main brace. holding her until the reeedipg Of
the wave brought her back to the grasp Of the sea
man. She was washed against the rail or rig
ging, breaking out two Of her teeth. She was
then taken to the mizzen top, wrapped in an oil
coat, where she remained until rescued. During