The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-01-18
Lost IN MageJJ6n's Straits.

One might look all the world over with
out finding a coast more bleak. desolate
and inhospitable than that of Terra del
Fuego, and the southern part of Patagonia.
Owing to certain meteoroloe ical causes, the
cold is comparatively greater i'll the south
ern than in the northern latitude icebergs
are found ten degrees nearer Ia the equator.
In the Straits OF Magellan, which are about
the same distance from the equator as cen
trail England, the cold in winter is SO in
tense as to be almost unbcarable. Here
icebergs are found floating, and glaciers
larger in extent than any Switzerland can
boast of the land is entirely covered with
snow, down to the waters edge, while bit
ter. piercing winds rush down the clefts in
the mountains, carrying everything before
them, and even tearing up huge trees IL
their passage. Not pleasant coast this
on which to be cast away and yet such,
in 1867, was the fate of two unfortunate
men who formed part of the crew of her
majesty's ship Chanticleer, then on the
Pacific station and an account of whose
sufferings we propose TO lay before our
readers.
One day early in September a sailing
party had been sent off with the hope of
increasing the ships stock of provisions by
the addition of fresh fish, which is here very
abundant. The nets soon became so heavy
that extra hands were required to haul
them and, as there appeared even then
little chance of the work being over before
sunset, the fishing party obtained permis-
sion to spend the night on shore. Tents
were pitched; huge fires were lighted, with
the double object of affording warmth and
cooking some Of the produce of their sue
cessful expedition blankets were distrib-
uted, grog Was served out, and altogether
the party seemed determined to defy the
cold, showing disposition to be Jolly" in
spite of it that would have gladdened the
soul of the immortal Mark Taplcr. How
ever, after all these preparations 10 keep off
the effects of the biting frost, they were
compelled about nine o'clock in the even
ing to send off to the ship for more blankets
and provisions.
Two sailors, Henty and Riddles. volun-
teered to go on the errand in the ''dingy"
Ia small two-oared boat, aud having OBJ
tanned The desired things, they started to
return {; but when about midway between
the ship and the shore the wino began to
rise, carving the boat to some extent out
of her course, shortly after which she ruck
on a sandbank, and in trying to get her OF
one of the oars was lost. soon they were
drifted out into the strong current. 1t was
now dark as pitch the wind continued to
rise, and although all through the night
they made every possible effort TO reach the
shore, when morning dawned to their alarm
they found themselves miles away from the
ship, and powerless to contend any longer
with their one oar against the force of boz h
wind and tide. They were finally driven
on to the beach in a bay opposite Port
Famine, spot not less dreary Than ITS
name.
The sea was so rough that here for day
and nigh. our two men were compelled to
remain and when on the second day they
yentured to launch the boat. il was upset I;
nearly all their things were lost, and they
were left to endure the intense cold with
out the means of making a fire, with no
clothes but those they wore, and scarcely
auy food. For a while they walked about
irving not very successfully to keep up cir
culation and by-and by the feet of both
began to swell and grow so painful that il
was no longer possible TO keep on their
shoes. Still, although suffering both from
hunger ana cold (Henty's toes being al
ready frost bitten,) rhey kept up their spir-
it's in true British fashion, not for a minute
doubling that sooner or later they would
be picked up and true enough, On tue
fourth day the Chanticleer was seen in the
distance under weight, and standing over
toward them. Taking the most prominent
position that could be found, they made
signs and tried in every possible way to
attract attention, but in vain. Ii they had
only possessed some means of kindling a
fire. they might have succeeded but al
thou h those on beard were atthe moment
Oh the lookout for their lost messmates, no
one saw them; aud the hope with which the
two poor fellows bad buoyed themselves
up faded away as the ship changed her
course, grew smaller and smaller, and by
and by, late in the afternoon, while they
still watched, altogether disappeared.
Although now their only chance OF res
cue was apparently gone, aud the last scrap
of food was consumed, yet the brave TEL
lows did not despair. Their boat was very
leaky but on the 5tb of September, hav-
ing repaired her as far as possible, they
took advantage of fiper weather to endeav-
or to reach some spot where there would
be more probability of getting rescued by
a passing ship, but they had scarcely got
half way across the straits before there was
a terrific snow storm it blew gale the
boat began to fill rapidly; and finally they
were blown back again into the bay, upset
in the surf aud nearly drowned. being uua-
BILE to swim through having lost the use oil
their legs from sitting SO long in water
However, they we're thrown up by the
v uaves high, though by no means dry, and
in this miserable plight and under pitiiess
snow storm, they were forced to reu'ail all
through the night The next day they
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