The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-06-20
miscellaneous.
ON A RAFT IN THE TROPICS,


-S
Thrilling Adventure OF an Escaped COnVlet-Ihe
SufYerlngs Of the Survivor Relieved by an Amer
can Bark,
The log of the Bark Carrie Long, that
arrived at this port on Monday from
Buenos Ayres, by way of Matanzas,
shows that on Feb. II, when 200 miles
off the Brazilian coast her crew discoY'
cred raft, upon which was a man in
the last stage of exhaustion. The men
of the Carrie Long took him OIL and
brought him to this port. This man,
thus saved by the merest chance from a
horrible death, was found yesterday in
a bunk on board the bark asleep. He is
an athletic young negro, about % years
of age, and, thanks to the kind treatment
received at the hands OF Capt, Park and
his men, he shows no traces of his ter
rible sufferings, He speaks no language
but the patois of the Brazilian negro,
and, IN this tongue, tells his story.
His name is Manuel Francesca, and he
is Brazilian, though he refuses to tell
to what part of the Empire he belongs.
Two years ago he was convicted of pet
ty theft in Rio Janerio, and was sentenc-
ed to penal servitude of five years on
the island of Fernando de Noronha. On
this arid rock, beneath the burning rays
of an equatorial sun, he worked in a
Chain-gang, whose tagging energies were
constantly stimulated by prods from the
bayonets of their soldier guards. After
years experience of this horrible life
Francesca determined to escape or die
in the attempt.
By good conduct and strict obedience
he obtained the position of servant in
the house of one of the officers of the
settlement. At the end of two years he
had, with the assistance of two Compan-
ions, collected a small store of provisions
few bits of cordage, and piece of an
old sail These were conveyed, by night,
to one Of the many barren rocks forming
the Fernando de Noronha group. This
rock they had reached by swim
ming, and here they also collected, from
the drift on the beach, quantity of bam-
boo joints, from which they constructed
a rude raft about ten feet square and two
feet thick. A short mast stepped at one
end of the float, supported their bit
of sail and broken oar, formed their
steering apparatus.
The escape was effected on a dark
night, and they were waited from the
hated island by a light breeze, which
they fondly hoped would carry them to
Cape St. Rogue. 2l0 miles away.
At daylight Fernando de Noronha was
but cloud on the horizon, the breeze
had died out, and the intrepid voyagers
lay becalmed, with the long, heavy swell
of the Atlantic threatening the demoli-
ton of their frail raft. From the first
day they suffered for want of water, of
which their supply was very limited.
Their provisions became thoroughly sat
urated with salt water, and eating them
increased their thirst. On the third day
one of the party was prostrated by fe-
yer, and on the third day his dead body
slid from the little raft, and was seized
by the sharks that lurked beneath it,
and waited for the prey that an unerring
instinct told them must sooner or later
he theirs. On the evening of the sue
Ceeding day errible storm hurled the
little raft hither and thither, at times
completely submerged beneath the huge
waves. francesca Clung to box that
was lashed to the raft amidships, and
his companion Cung to masts. In the
darkness great rush Of water, a snap
ping Of wood, and yell of anguish told
Francesca that his companion had gone,
and the sharks had caught another vic
tim.
For FIVE days more the raft foated at
the mercy o. the waves; but of these
DAYS Francesca knows little. He was
without food or water, and had periods
of Inconsistencies. On the morning of
the tenth day, as the Carrie Long came
bearing down directly upon him, he was
barely able to utter hoarse cry, and to
feebly wave a bit of rag, torn from his
shirt. AS boat from the bark ne2red
the rafc, two sharks left it's shadow and
darted swiftly away. When the rescued
man was placed on the deck of the bark,
he was unable to stand; but in feeble
pantOmime begged for water. A gill Of
water was poured down his swollen
throat, and, half an hour afterwards as
much more, mixed with gin, revived him
so that he was able 10 swallow a few
mouthsful of soup. His body was cov-
cred with running sores, and he was a
most pitiable object; bat his recovery was
rapid, and was perfected long before his
arrival here.
Capt Park is in a qnandary as to what
disposition he shall make of his waif,
and hopes he will run away. When
they arrived at Matauzas, francesca was
muCL alarmed at the presence and ques
tions of the Customs officers Upon hear.
ing his story, the Brazilian Consul de
manded that he should be delivered to
the local officials, and held in Jail unit
his case could be communicated to the
Brazilian authorities, but Capt. Park
said "No. sir; he deserves his liberty af-
ter the efforts he made to obtain it.
saved him from death, and I'm not going
to Consign him to prison. You cannot
take him from under that fIg"-point.
ing to the Stars and Sripes-that flew
from the miz29n peak So francesca
was brought to New York. When res.
Cued he had few pieces of Brazilian
money with him, and a paper contain
ing the warrant for his transportation to
Fernando de Noronha, signed by Bra
lillian magistrate.