The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-10-04
EXCITING SCENE IN MID-ooEAN.
Mcn Overheard In Monsoon, with
sharks About.


Manchester Courier.
correspondent who was passenger by
the steamship Dacca, which left Madras fol
London on tho lat ult, sends from Alden nm
interesting account of an exciting scene which
he witnessed during storm In tho Indian
ocean. The vessel encountered tho monsoon
Il few days after leaving Colombo, and had
rough time of it until the nth ult, when the
gale became 80 violent that canvas had to DO
taken in, awnings furlod, and things made ~
snug NJ possible.
The correspondent describes what followed:
81 came on deck at 6 a. IN. il was blowing
fierccly, and the spray coming over the sheets
y There were three of US on deck when
the bell struck-a miss, Mr., and myself We
were holding on to our chairs, which were
firmly dashed to the inner cabin skylghts, I'M
der the lee of the ladies' saloon. Part Of the
crow were working hard to get the starboard
lifoboat in-board, when q bigger roll to tho
windward warned us of what was coming ON.
Hold ont some ono shouted. We held ON.
Tho chairs rushed forward on their lashings.
Tho deck stood upright In came the sea,
waists. lifted the lifeboat out of its shacklcs,
carried it overheard, smashing away stanchions
and dayits, and out to sea. Then camc tho
horrid cry of Man oyerboardp
"The helm was put down, the engine re-
vorscd, and back we went on Il search-all tho
more 80 as sharks had been seen round tho
ship earlier in the morning Tho boat was
presently seen some 200 yards off, keel upper
most Soon after tho two men were observed
clinging on to it, Then came an exciting two
hours, during which we steamed after tho
boat which was drifting rapidly toward tho
cast But turninga ship like the Dacca is
very slow business, and as she hung III tho
winds eye jib was hosted 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 unnlanageablo AT last the captain de-
cidcd to lower u boat and the order was given
stand by the boat and soon after lower
who il going in her?' he shouted.
Tho first officer, Mr.. Ingram, sprang over
the side, caught hold Of the davit ropes and
slipped down, but just as no got near her,
great roll of tho ship lifted him clear of the
boat twenty feet in the air. As he came down
again tie boat had drifted forward, and he
was plunged down in the boiling sea for five
or six seconds. Up he came again as the ship
heoled over, still hanging on, and missed by an
ace having his skull smashed against the small
boats side 1t was really terrible sight, and
we shuddcrcl az we looked on, the boat all tho
while being dashed mp and down by the Nio-
lcuca of the waves. But at last his Opportuu-
iy came, and Inc dropped into the stern. At
once lac was followed by the boatswain, two
iromen, and two European sailors the native
crew hanging shamcfully back. One
Of the passengers, II young English officer,
Lieut. Wolf, of the Seventh fusliers, u
ron of Sir Drummond Wolff, volunteered
at once. But the officer i'll charge
would not accept q passengers services while
men Of tho crew could be got At last the boat
showed off, and the oars were got out and ina
terrible sea they set out for the missing boat
Directed by the motions of a man aloft they
got alongside her and took the men aboard
Then began a sharp row back.
We lost sight of her again and again, Won
lcring how shc could live in such a sea. But
still s,Io held on, and got at last under our lee
BY the help of case of oil scattered over the
waves they were comparatively stillcd, a ladder
wa2 let down, and when the last man stepped
on board such cheer greeted him as told him
wH1' we thought Of his pluck and that Of the
gallant; fellows with him. Capt Burkitt was
perfectly cool the whole time, and managed
hi- ship with great skill When the first OIL
Ger got change of clothes and came down
to Che cabin. he received all kinds of congrat-
ulations, and his health was drunk in bumpers
If champagne. On Sunday morning we got
under the Ice Of Cape Guardafui, and so
ended our brush with the southwest monsoon"