The Osceola times., 1882-10-21
EXCITING SCENE IN MID-OCEAN.
Men Overheard in n Monsoon with sharks
About
Manchester Courier.

Manchester Courier.
A correspondent who was a passenger
by the steamship Decca, which left
Madras for London on the Isl ult., sends
from Aden an interesting account Of an
exciting scene which he witnessed dur
ing storm in the Indian Ocean. The
vessel encountered the monsoon few
DAYS after leaving Colombo, and had
rough time of it until the 18th ult, when
the gale became so violent that the can
vas had to be taken in, awnings furled,
and things made as snug as possible
The correspondent described what
followed:
81 came on deck at 6 a. m; it was
blowing fiercely, and the spray coming
over the sheets. There were
three of us on deck when the bell struck
"A Miss, a Mr.. and myself We were
holding on to our chairs, which were
firmly lashed to the inner cabin sky
lights, under the lee of the ladies' saloon.
Part of the crew were working hard to
get the starboard life-boat in board,
when a bigger roll to the windward
warned us of what was coming. Hold
on p some one shouted. We held on.
The chairs rushed forward on their lash
ings. The deck stood upright. In came
the sea, over the gunwales, over the taf-
frail, up to our waists, lifted the life-boat
out of its shackles, carried il overheard,
smashing away stanchions and davits,
and out to sea. Then came the horrid
cIy of Man overboardp
'The helm was put down, the engine
reversed, and back we went on search
all the more SO as sharks had been
seen around the ship earlier in the morn
ing. The boat was presently seen some
200 yards off, keel uppermost. Soon after
two men were observed clinging on to it.
Then came an exciting two hours, during
which we steamed after the boat, which
was drifting rapidly toward the east.
But turning a ship like the Dacca is q
very slow business, and as she hung in
the winds eye jib was hoisted to bring
her round. By the time this was done
the boat, with its pitiful looking crew,
was away two miles and more to leeward,
and we were rolling heavily and un-
manageable At last the captain decided
| to lower a boat, and the order was gwen,
stand by the boat and soon after,
| lower Who is going in her" he shout
ed.
"The first officer, Mr.. Ingram, sprang
over the side, caught hold of the davit
ropes and slipped down, but just as he
got near her great roll of the ship lift
| ed him clear of the boat twenty feet in
the air. As he came down again the
boat had drifted forward, and he was
plunged down in the boiling sea for five
or six seconds. Up he came again us the
ship keeled over, Still hanging on, and
missed by an ace having his skull smash
ed against the small boats side. 1t was
really terrible sight and we shuddered
as we looked on, the boat all the while
| being lashed up and down by the violence
of the waves. But at last his opportunity
came, and he dropped into the stern.
At once he was followed by the boat
swain, two firemen and two European
sailors, the native crew hanging shame
| fully back. One of the passengers, o
,ung English officer, Lieut.. Wolf, of the
| Seventh ftlsillers, a son of Sir Drurmond
Wolf, volunteered at once. But the
officer in charge would not accept pas
senger's services while men of the crew
| could be got. At last the boat showed off,
| anu lHt OdlS WtIt Sol Out anu III WI
rible sea they set ont for the missing
boat. Directed by the motions Of man
aoft, they got alongside her and took
the men aboard. Then began hard row
| back.
1--WE lost sight of her again and again,
wondering how she could live in such q
sea. But still she held on, and got at
| last under our lee. BY the help of a case
of oil scattered over the waves they were
comparatively stilled, ladder was let
down. and when the last man stepped
on board such cheer greeted him as
told him what we thought Of his pluck
and that of the gallant fellows with him.
/ Capt Burkit was perfectly cool the whole
time, and managed his ship with great
| skill When the first officer got change
of clothes, and came down to the cabin,
he received all kinds of congratulations,
and his health was drunk in bumpers OF
| champagne. On Sunday morning we
got under the lee of Cape Gurrdafll and
so ended our brush with the southwest
| monsoon"