The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-21
explorer Of tho seas, Captain Cook.

cAPlorcT Vi tuc seas, captain COOK.
Lord did not find the Galapagos Islands
80 much TO his sund as did an Irishmap, who
let his ship depart without him, and set up
his rest on one of these volcanic islets;
dwelling there for seven years IN hovel
OF his own building, living upon tortoiscs,
seals and fish, washed down with rum
obtained from ships in exchange for the
pota ,s aud pumpkins he busted himself
In raising.
In 1918, an American eailor was taken
OH desc late rock in the South Seas by q
boats crew belonging to II. Nj. 8. Queen
Charlotte, whose attention had been drawn
10 the spot by tho smoke of seawced fire.
He had, three years before been left there
with three companions all of whom had
quickly succumbed, whl'o he had lived on,
sustaining life by feeding upon the flesh of
birds and drinking their blood.
The find of tho Queen Charlotte's men
was not so surprising us that OF the Flemish
seaman Pickman, when, In l616 his shin
grounded near small island rock between
Scotland and ireland. Some of his men
going in search Of eggs, came upon black
hairy creature, who by sigus entreatcd
them to come to close acquaintance and
finding tho strange object to bo really a
man, they took him on board with them
to tell tho skipper his story. 1t was a
melancholy one. He and two others, occu-
pants OF the passage boat between England
ami Ireland, had been captured and after
wards Gust off by French privaleer.
Having nothing eatable save httlo sugar
iSh them, one of the three soon died of
starvation, the others lived to be driven on
the island, where they built hut out OF
what was left Of the boat, and for six
weeks lived upon tho sea-mews, sea-dogs,
eggs and water. Then the partners in
misfortune parted company, one of the N
disappearing, leaving his fororn friend in
utter ignorance OF his fate; he could only
surmlse that he had fallen into the sea
while searching for eggs. Months passed,
and the poor fellow lost all hope OF deliver
ance. Winter came and found him clothes.
less. Compelled to keep within the hut
for days together, he only kept starvation
at bay by catching sea a-mcws as hungry as
himself, by bailed sticks thrust through
the openings in the novels walls. So he
kept himself alive, until the accidental
advent of the Lond)n-bound Flemish
timber-ship released him from his dreary
tlurance.
1t might be supposed thnt q castaway
would receive O DrOthGr unfortunate with
open arms. 1t Was not SO with Pedro Ser.
rano, when he caught sight Of mau float
ing towards the island still bearing his
name, of which he had been undisturJed
lord for nearly forty years. lie jumped
TO the conclusion that Satan had found him
ut last; while the newcomer was not a
whit loss Mortified at seeing creature as
naked as Adam before the fall, with beard
reaching to his waist, and body covered
with brlstles When both had recovered
f6c'" he a,;r their fright, serrano awakenlng to
food his limited larder afforded before his
unnvited guest. For O little while the
pair lived amicably together, but only for
lttle while. Tnen they dissolved part
ncrship, and avoided each o.hor; becom-
ing rcconciled again to embark as friends
ON board ship attracted to the island by
their signal fire. Pedro reached Spain, was
presented to Charles the Fifth, pensioncd
by that monarch, and passed the remainder
vi his days III case and comfort at Papama
Ills companion, less fortunate, died on tue
voyage.