Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-11-07
Saved from the Savages.

Saved from the Savages.
The British steamer Lord of the
Isles, running from New York to
China and Japan, which arrived in
New York on August %, rescued
the officers and crew and halfOf the
passengers of the French transport
Averyon, which had been wreck
ed on the Somali coast near Cape
Guardalui, the eastern extremity
of Africa. The story of the wreck
and the rescue was told by Mr..
Evans first officer of the Lord Of
the isles, to reporter.
The Averyon wds returning
home to France from Tonquin. She
had on board 600 people, including
her officers and crew and a marine
guard Of forty-fve men. There
were on board many invalid
soldiers from the French Army Of
occupation, and several officers and
their wives. On August 20 she
went ashore near Cape Guardafui.
There was a heavy sea running in
on the shore, and the AveryOn was
swung around so that the sea made
a clean breach over her. A native
village could be seen, and soon
there were 5000 SOmals congre-
gated on the shore. The chief
came off to tue ship and offered to
let the 'Frenchmen land if they
would pay $4,000. All the money
that could be collected in the ship
only amounted to 5000, and for
this amount the natives agreed to
let a party from the transport land
and establish a camp in which to
store provisions.
The natives we're nearly naked,
and were armed with bows and
arrows, knives, hatchets and
assegais. They swan Oh to the
ship by the hundred, but the marine
guard, stationed with loaded rifles
in the chains, prevented their
boarding the transport. The first
lieutenant Of the AveryOn started
with eleven men in a boat to effect
a landing. Ills boat was Overturn-
ed in the surf and the men thrown
into the water. The natives i'm
mediately came to their rescue,
an / as they were taking the French
men ashore stole everything out of
their pockets, and captured the
/ lieu, euant's watch and chain. The
lieutenant got line to the ship and
rugged up a sling so that men could
90 to and from the vessel. Some
provisions were landed and a camp
established. One of The men in the
first lieutenan's boat was drowned
when The boat was overturned, SO
that Ouly ten men were left on
shore.
The natives watched carefully to
see tLat no more Landed, and any
attempt to reinforce the party at
the camp would have been the
signal for a general massacre. The
next day q German steamer, the
| Massalia, came along and took OF
800 six soldiers aud women from
the wrecked transport. She had
no room for more and sailed away,
leaving tue 306 Others to their
fate. The sea was rising, the three
thousand savages we're cIamOring
for money, and things looked black
! for the Frenchmen. There we're
no arms aboard except two small
cannon (which were fired as signals
Of distress continually, the rifles
of the forty-fve marines, and ,he
pistols carried 10y the officers. On
the evening of August p, The
Lord of the Isles, passing up to-
ward the Gulfof Alden, heard the
minute guns and ran in to the
wreck.
The sea was so high that nothing
could be done that day, bUo Oh the
next Tue boats from the British
steamer went off to the AveryOn
aud took every one aboard the
Lo.d of the Isles. The savage
swan around the English boats,
and tried to stick their hatchetS
through the boats bottoms. Aie
party of Frenchmen Onn6re re-
treated to the Avery when they
saw that rescue %C at hand. The
first lieuten9was the last to leave
the beach. AS he placed himself
in the sliutO be hauled Oh board,
the nativ,surrounded him and cut
all the baons off his uniform.
When heas half way to the ship
tue saves began to haul on the
Iinc b,wlich the sling was drawn
asho& be sailors on the ship
hauled eQOlly hard toe other way,
80 that in e confusion the lieuten-
ant was ovturned aud was hauled
aboard fee 6rsC. lie was nearly
sulfocated Then he reached the
deck.
Before Icing the Averyon the
captain setter on fire. AS tho last
boat load Il che ira nsport the en-
tire 1000 natives Swarmed on
board, and hen the Lord OF the
Isles saile(away they could be
n Il