Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-06-08

boat, taking with Kim also lao gallons of
water. For the first week matters went
on very satisfactorily, but after this
calms and headwinds were encountered
which continued for at least q fortnight.
On the twenty. sixth of September he
crossed the line, having then fair winds.
subsequently, however, calms set in,
and very little progress was made, 80
little, indeed, that Gilfoy found it neces-
sary to shorten his allowance of food;
but before this he was unable to eat
1t was Gilfoy's habit to sleep three or
four hours before daylight, but in this
he was very often disturbed by the
knocking of fish against his boat. Very
often sharks came near to the boat, and,
after taking mouthfuls of small fish.
would disappear. Gilfoy, however,
was very much afraid of the
sharks, and made harpoon
from boat-hook, and with this he
speared any one that came within his
reach. The sharks, however, soon be-
came aware Of the danger in going too
near the boat, and after this kept safe
distance off. Several were struck with
the improvised harpoon, but Gilfoy was
unable to draw any of them near the
boat When, however, he went below,
llS loullo tlldh OllS Sl1dIhS NSutuItQ
dangerously meas his boat, and in order
to keep them off lie had to resort to
stratagem. Eaus.. time when he retired
to rest he put his shirt in the place
where he was accustomed to sit, and the
sharks, still thinking he was there, did
not venture near. On November 10 the
brigantine Iropic was spoken and GiItoy
was enabled to rectify his compass, hay
ing. previously been guided by dead
reckoning. He also received from the
vessel a quantity of fruit. On the 9th of
December he was sailing along rapidly
when his boat was suddenly cap
sized, and GiIfoy was thrown
into the water. He managed to
great exertions he succeeded in right
ing it, though Immediately afterward it
| was turned completely over a second
time. Fortunately he was again able to
right the craft, but found that most of
his provisions and water had been lost
and spoiled by the salt water. He was
then / 400 miles OFF Cape Sandy. Ittook
him seven days to put his vessel in or
der, and he again resumed his voyage.
Shortly after this sword-fsh struck the
boat causing it to leak very much, and
it was not observed by Gilfoy until the
boat was very near full of water. By
the capsizing of the boat Gilfoy lost his
watch and compass, and he therefore
On the 7rh of January he caught
a bird which had flown on
his boat, and four days later he caught
second one. The bird in this in
stance alighted on top of the adventur-
er's head. Both of them were very ac-
ceptable for food. On the 14th of Jan
nary Giltoy ate the last of his provisions
"A two-pound tin Of preserved meat
which had lasted him for week. On
more than one occasion flying. fish was
caught, which WAS eaten without cere-
mony. Gilfoy was now becoming raw
enous for want of food. The 10Th OF
January brought another disaster, the
rudder of the vessel giving way, but this
was counteracted to certain extent by
temporary contrivance which he rig
ged up. OFF Cape Bellonia island
another bird was caught, but by this
time Gilfoy's hunger was becoming too
great for him to bear, and as a last resort
he took the barnacles from the bottom
of the boat and extracted what he could
from them. On the twenty fourth he shot
a bird with his revolver, but was unable to
recover it from the water. The next day
he was fortunate enough to catch an
other bird, and this did him for two
meals. He cooked it over a few broken
matches. Sunday and Monday passed
without any food, and by this time being
careless which way the vessel steered
he lay down to sleep A short time
afterward he awoke and to his surprise
he saw vessel short distance off, and
which was evidently making for him.
This proved to be the Albert Vittery,
which rescued him and landed him at
marlborough, Australia. Gilfoy is a
man 80 years of age. at latest accounts
he had almost completely recovered.