San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-21
EXCITING SCENES.
Men Overheard in Monsoon, With Shark, ,,o.,

Men Overheard In Monsoon, With Sharks Abo,,
Manchester Courier.
A correspondent who was a passenoa,
by the steamship Dacca, which isit
Madras for London on the lst nil
sends from Alden an interesting account
of an exciting scene which he Witnessed.
during a 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 80 violent
that canvas had to be taken in, AWNINGS
furled, and things made as snug as DOS.
sible.
The correspondent describes what
followed:
al came on deck at 6 q. M; it was
blowing fiercely and the spray coming
over the sheets. There wers
three of us on deck when the bell struck
"a Miss, Mr.. and myself. We were
holding to our chairs, which were firmly
dashed to the inner cabin skylights, nm.
der the lee of the ladies' saloon. Part
of the crew were working hard to GET
the starboard lifeboat in.board, when a
bigger roll to the windward warned us
of what was coming.
"Hold on I some one shouted
1--WE held ON. The chairs rushed for.
ward on their lashings. The deck stood
upright. In came the sea, over the
gunwhale, over the taffrail, up to our
waists, lifted the lifeboat out Of its
shackles, carried it overheard, smash
ing away stapchions and davits, and
out to sea. Then cane the horrid CRY
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
morning. The boat was presently seen
some 200 yards off, keel uppermost.
Soon after the two men were observed
clinging on to it. Then came an OK.
citing two hours, during which we
steamed after the boat, which was drift.
ing rapidly toward the east. But turn.
ing q ship like the Dacca is 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 we're rolling heavily and un-
manageable.
"At last the captain decided to lower
boat, aud the order was given Stand
by the boat and soon after Lower
"'Who is going in herr? he shouted.
"The first officer, MIR. 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
lifted him clear of the boat twenty feet
in the air. As he came down again the
boat had drifted forward, and he was
plunged in the boiling sea for five or
six seconds. Up he came again as the
ship heeled over, still hanging on, and
missed by an ace having his skull
smashed against the small boats side.
It 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 boatswain, two fremen and two
European sailors, the native crew
hanging shamefully back. One of the
passengers, young English officer,
Lieut.. Wolf, of the Seventh Fusiliers,
son of Sir Drummond Wolff, volun.
teered at once; but the officer in charge
would not accept passengers services
while men of the crew could be got. At
last the boat showed off, and the oars
were got out, and in terrible sea they
set out for the missing boat. Directed
by the motions of the man aloft, they
got alongside her, and took the men on
board. Then began a hard row back
eve lost sight of her again andagaln,
wondering how she could live in sucha
sea. But still she held on, and at last
got under our lee. BY the help ola
case of oil scattered over the waves
they were comparatively stilled, lad.
der was let down, and when the las1
man stepped on board such a cheer
greeted him as told him what we
thought of his pluck and that OF the
gallant fellows with him. Capt. Burklt
was perfectly cool the whole time, ana
managed his ship with great sKlii:
When the first officer got change "
clothes and came down to the cabin, DO
received all kinds of congratulations,
and his health was drunk IN bumpers
of champagne. On Sunday morning.
we got under the lee of Guardatu, anu
so ended our brush with the southwest
monsoon"