Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-20
Strange Adventures OF q Shipwrecked
GrnW

Strange Adventures OF q Shipwreoked
Crew.
The London bark Silurian was instru-
mental on her recent passage to Valpa-
raise in rescuing nineteen of the crew
OF the American ship Oracle. which
foundered at sea. The story of the
wreck and the subsequent adventures
OF the crew as related by the command
er Captain H. Morrison), is of the most
interesting kind. From Captain Morri-
sons statement il seems that the Oracle.
ship of some 1900 tons. left San
Francisco with a cargo of grain for New
York in the early part of the present
year. On the 9th of March heavy
weather was encountered. and the tire
mendous seas which came over the
vessel filled the decks. and portions of
the bulwarks had to be cut away. One
wave demolished the wheel-house.
whilst another smashed the cabin sky
light, simultaneously flooding the cabin
The crew had to cling to the rigging to
save their lives. One poor fellow named
Richard Mason. who was unable to re-
tain his hold, was washed overheard
life-buoy was east adr.ft. but nothing
further could be done for the man, who
persisted before the eyes of his
helpless comrades. The vessel
herself was at this time in a
most critical condition. Land was
sighted on the following day. but no
soundings could be taken, and the yes
sci subsequently got into the breakers
and went ashore, although all that was
possible was done to- avert it. The
crew then launched their four boats.
and after provisioning them pulled for
the shore. The provisions were landed.
and the men were preparing to board
the vessel to get n further supply, when
she disappeared. BY taking observa-
tons the Captain found that he and his
men were on Herschel Island. The is
land, which is about five miles long by
one mile broad, was perfectly dcsolate
and uninhabited. The men made
tents of some sails they had, which was
the only shelter available. The provi-
sions were stored, and each man was
allowed two biscuits and a little meat
per diem. 1t was known that sealing
schooners visited the island, and each
day a good lookout was kept for these
vessels, but none were found. There
were eight islands in the vicinity, and
each day one was visited, with the hope
OF finding some friendly vessel. At last
one of the islands, known as the VOL
laston, was visited by the Captain,
mate and five of the crew, when
they found two native families
apparently living in a wretched
condition. They were in a
perfect state of barbarism, but never
theless treated the sh;pwrecked people
with the utmost kindness, giving them
what food they could. This consisted
of mussels, fish and berries The only
particle of covering possessed by the
natives was the skin of a seal. This was
movable, and was placed by the natives
to cover that part of their bodies most
exposed to the weather. The weather
was very cold, keen wind blowing
across the island, accompanied by sleet
and snow. The only weapon of defense or
aggression possessed by the natives was
n sling. Some spare clothing was dis
tributed amongst the islanders -princi-
pally old trousers, which were donned
unfortunately by men and women.
The backs were generally placed in
front, to the amusement of the sailors.
To test the accuracy of the aim with
the sling, an exhibition was asked by
the mate, who erected a target The
first shot failed, when the native, in a
fit of rage and disappointment, almost
tore off his civilized garments, after
wards taking aim when accoutred sim
ply in his sealskin. On each attempt
the mark was struck. The seven
men again put off in their own
boat, and for two days and two
nights suffered terribly. On the third
day vessel was sighted, and after sew
eral hours of desperate pulling the ex-
hausted men came up with the German
bark Bessel. At first the Captain of the
vessel thought the shipwrecked men
were pirates, and for some little time
persisted in his refusal to allow them
To 60 on board. However, they were
finally taken on the bark, but on no ac-
count could the German Captain be in
duced to go to Herschel Island for the
remaining seventeen of the crew, and.
with favorable wind, he proceeded on
his voyage to Valparaiso. After being
twenty-eight days on board the Bessel
the seven men were landed at Valpa-
raise. Captain Morrison was Just on
the point of going before the authori-
ties at the latter place to ask for an ex-
peditiOn to be sent out in search of his
crew when he saw several of the very
men in Valparaiso. 1t appeared that
the English vessel SiluEjan had gone by
the island and rescued the seventeen
hands, bringing them on to Valparaiso,
where they had been landed couple
of days before their comrades. The men
seemed none the worse for their adj
venture, with the exception of the sec
ond officer, who was left behind in the
hospital.