Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-03
Java N Ia2s.
Captain Dashiels' RecOllections of
the Scene Of the Prevailing Vol
canic Disturbances,
4 kaia Of Ashes-SupersiitiOus
ssilOrs-Batavia the Grave.
yard Ofthe World.

II noticed in your paper an account
Of the volcanic eruption on the Island
Of Java, a short time sgo," said Cap.
tain Dashiels yesterday. Il remember
being in Batavia harboi during the
month Of August, 1928. l do not
recollect the precise day Of the month
but on a certain night in that month
the whole heavens were filed with a
thick mist or smoke which could not
be accounted for. After daylight it
was found that our ship, as we'll as all
the other ships in port, were covered
with a dark colored ashes about halt
an inch thick, and the whole face OF
the water was covered with dead birds
OF every hue aud color. To us on
board our ship this was considered
very strange, and various superstitious
remarks were indalRed in BY the sal
Tors. Indeed our officers were some
what startled at the sight, and all they
could say 10 the men who would ask
them their opinions on the subject
vas, Well boys, | don't know what
to say about it. An old salt remarked
| believe hi is broke loose.
Our Captain was so much troubled
about the affair that he went ashore
to fnd out what was the mater, and
returned late in the evening, when he
relieved our minds by informing us
that a volcano had burst out in one of
The mountains in the interior OF the
island, aud told us it was too far off to
do US any harm. This confirmed the
old salts remark about hi being
broke loose. | have never heard Of
that event since until the papers gave
an account OF a volcano, within the
last few days. Anger is reported
nearly destroyed. This place is on
he Straits Of Sundy, where all ships
stop to have the news sent through by
and TO Batavia to inform the mer
chants Of their coming, it being a
short cut through. This was per
formed by Malays on foot by relays
Upon an examination OF my log
book | have ascertained the time the
first eruption took place, and | will
never forget the fright | went through
on that terrible night. 1t was anu
log to hear the different remarks Of
the men. Some would say, My God,
what is it?' another would say. L tell
you, boys, | believe the world is com
ng to an end | made up my mind
that We would all be 10 kingdom
come before day, but the old salt
still stuck to it that h had broke
loose, aud we would all find it out be-
fore day. | tell you we were all glad
when daylight came. and after it was
found that no harm had been done to
to us we were all set to work to clean
down the ship oil the ashes"
Batavia is considered by all sailors
to be the graveyard of the world. |
we'll remember when we passed Java
Head, the entrance to the straits OF
Sundy; it was on SundsyR evening.
May |, 1925. We we're ell locking al
the land when the remark was made.
Well, here we are, passing in by Java
Head; who will live to see the shir
pass outY Aud sure enough some did
not live, for we left three of our crew
buried on the island, and we were
considered lucky in not leaving more.
for while we were there, which was
about four months, l saw one shiI
lose every man but her second mate.
That was the ship Falcon, Of New
York, and the American Consul had
70 furnish her with a crew and send
her home"
Java is one of the Asiatic islands.
and one, perhaps, of the most sickly
places frequented by ships l have
seen men die by the score with chol.
era and Malay fever, and disentery,
which prevails in that climate. II
was a happy day when the Captain
came from the shore, on the 4th Of
September, 1925, and gave orders fol-
heaving up our anchor and to loose
the top sails for getting under way for
sea, and in a few hours We we're head
log down the straits of Sundy, bound
for Smyrna, up the Mediterranean
with O load Of coffee. What has be,
come ofthat ships crew? There arc
none left but the old salt who now
lives amongst you, so far as he can as
certain, and be is so old that he hal
become p~erfeSS.y 'brssh.