The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-10-28
EEkGISM

Fiction never furnished a more thrilling
episode Than Is embodied in the truthful ac-
count OF the extraordinary adventures of
part Of the crew Of al English vessel. The
barque Ar1ecan, of Greenock, while on u
voyage from Shields to Bombay, i'll mid
winter, with a cargo Of Goals, took fire from
spontaneous combustion OF her cargo, and
was abandoned by her crew, who then took
to their boats and cuueavored to make for
the Maldive Islands.
The boats kept company for three days,
when, finding the currents too strong, it
WIS agreed to separate, after dividing pro-
visions, The master, in command of the
)on5-boat, then male for Cochin; the mate,
Ia charge Of the sig, aad the seconi-1nata,
David Webster, i'll Charge of the pinnace,
with four OF the c~rew-ramely, three men
and one ~boy-n.ata for the Maldiye Is
lands.
Ai5er two days, Webster's boat was in
Jnrei by a heavy sea. and could not keep up
with the gig, ana lost sight of her. From
this tinle the piaaace Wiz, kept working to
wludward for the space o. seventeen days,
by which time Tie provisions and water had
oaen CONSUMED
SHORTY after sa-i, the crew cast los ia
Gee Wl.un OF ,--ata sIo,-i be first ktleI to
be eaten, at.4 lha 10. lei upon the ships
boy, IUrner; but Webster, who had been
asleep, was aWa191el ii time 10 save tle
hogs lie.
Af,cr dark, al attempt was made to kill
Webaer himself; but the boy Homer
awol19 HIN III tine to save himself. Or the
following day, Webster, having fallen
asleep, vas Awakened by the struggles of
TIE crew Ter The possession OF his gun, with
which 70 sloot Lin.
Two hours later the crew attempted to
lake horaer's lie again, but were prevented
by The determined conduct of Webster. who
threatened TO snoo. and shrow overheard tne
lrot man who laid Laads on the boy.
The next day one Of the crew attempted
to sink the boat, bat webster mastered Inn,
anI prevented further mischief. Two days
later the same mamber OF the crew again
tried to sink taa boat. and expressed his de-
termination to take the boys life. For this
he wotid have been shot BY Webster had
not the cap On the gun missed fire.
Soon AFTER, putting a fresh cap on his
gun, q bird few over The boat, which Web
.,,u .I,4 T. x.. - o.>a, .oI.,I a-l a.
voured by the crew, even to the bones and
feathers.
During the next five days the crew were
iquieter, subsisting Oh ~Darnacles, which at
tached themselves to the bottom of the
boat, and GA sea bltibber, fof which they
'divea.
The following day some of the men be-
t came delirious. One Of them lay down ex-
!; hausted, when another struck him severa
blows on the head with an iron Delaying.
pin, cutting him badly. TIL blood which
flowed was caught III a tin, and drank b.
the man himself and the two other men.
Afterward they fought anu bit one an
+ other, and only left OFT when completely e2
/; hausted, to -re-cOmmence as soon as the,
were able, the boy Horner, during the timo
keeping watch with Webster.
l On the thirty-frst day in the boat the.
| were picked up, six hundred miles from
land, by the ship City of Manchester, an
tIken to Calcutta.
Webster, who by his conduct was til
: means of saving the lives Of al IN the boat
! had conferred upon him by the Queen IL
Albert Meda.-FMla. sat. Night