Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-02-16
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.


ThIrty-thrcc DHy=-AImo-i Driven to Cam
nibnIi-m BY Hunger and Thirst.
William Jones, a sailor, gave New
York reporter n thrilling account OF the
loss of his ship in mid-ocean by fire
and of his subsequent adventures in an
open boat. When the fire was discov-
cred the ship was headed for land, but
after sailing three days the flames burst
through the hatchways and the crew
took to the boats. From this point the
sailors story continues as follows:
When daylight came and no chip was
to be seen in any direction, the captain
gave orders for the mate and second
mate to follow him with their boats.
Then he headed toward whore the land
lay, and we followed in his wake. We
kept close in sight Of the captains boat
all that day aud all the next night. We
did this until the third night after the
ship sunk. Then it came on to blow
carly in the morning. We kept in sight
Of the other boats for while, but after
a biz we couldn't make either Of them
out so we hallooed to them, but there
wasn't any answer. W. felt pretty
blue as We lay on our oars and waited
for the morning to come. At
daybreak we looked all around for the
other two boats, but nothing Of them
was to be seen. We had no chart or
compass, and we had nothing to tell US
whereabouts the nearest land was. We
knew that our only chance lay in being
picked up by some vessel Our food
and water were both running short,
and there was no signs OF any rain,
and nothing like fish had been seen in
the water around the boat Our chances
looked pretty bad on the afternoon OF
the twenty-second day We passed in
that small boat. We had been on short
allowance for some time, but that after
noon We drank the last drop OF water
and eat the last crumb Of provisions
that We had on board.
We hadn't seen q single sail since
the ship was burned, and the men
almost despaired of any help coming 70
US. We didn't care TO sleep the night
after the provisions gave ont, and as
soon as the light began to break next
morning We looked around ior q sail.
The second mate had q Bible, which he
read us a bit during the day, and as no
ship was 10 be seen We thought we'd
put our trust in the Lord. The next
morning nothing was in sight, and our
suTerings from hunger and thirst began
10 be terrible. We didn't mind the
hunger 20 very much, bat the thirst
was killing ia. II it had only rained q
bit we'd have caught some water and
could have stood it. Things went
on this way some hve or
six days. We had read the Bible
and put our trust in the Lord
every day, bat still no ship came in
sight. The hot weather made our su!-
ferings still more horrible. was get.
ting crazy from the thirst. some one
proposed that we should draw lots on
the third day il the provisions gave
ont. The one that got stuck was to be
killed, and the rest Of us was to drink
his blood and pick his bones. But the
second mate says no; that no cannibal
business would be allowed on that boat.
told him We was going to have Apme.
thing TO eat. lie said !: wasn't going to
be human flesh. Just then my ewes
rested on the loaded gun in the bottom
Of tho boat I picked up the gun and
/ cooked i, and then aimed il at the sec
ond mate. He didn't move, but Just sat
and looked at me. / was crazy from
thirst and hunger, so pulled the
trigger. II wouldn't go of, though
tried to fire it again. The powder
must have got damp, and laid
the GIN down for moment. Just then
some one seized il and flung il over
/ board. In few minutes was cooler,
and VIZ talked the matter over. We
concluded that we wouldn't be cannibals
for while longer at least. Every
morning the sun rose hot like ball Of
fire, and, after blazing down on us all
day, 1t would set again without show
ing us any sail. Several times jumped
| overheard and tried TO drown myself,
but somehow | would swing back Ia
the BOAT and crawl on board and take
my place among the rest. Two orthree
times | got overheard and swan along
the bottom Of the boat under water,
and tried to find some bar.
nacles to eat, but none had
grown there. | couldn't sleep al
all nights, but I laid awake and tried
to think the noise Of the waves was
I mada bv fountaina of fresh water A