Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-27
FROM WAVES AND sAVAGEs.
A wreck on the East Coast OF Africa -Ovsr
six Hundred Persons ON French Trans.
per, Rescusd-An Oficer who Lost eli. nut.
fEey Y,rk Tribune.l

pert Rsscusd-An Oficer who Lost His nut.
New York Tribune.l
The British steamer Lord Of the Isles.
running from New York TO China and
Jaran, which arrived here on "Wednesday
night. on August Esd rescued the officers
and crew and bali OF the passengers OF the
French transport Averyon, which had
been wrecked on the Somall coast near
Cape Gnardaiui, the eastern extremity on
Africa. The story OF the wreck AMI the
rescue was told by Mr.. Evans. tlrst otbcer
Oi the Lord Of tine Isles, to a Tribune re-
porter.
The Averyon was returning home 10
France from Tonquin. She had on board
COO people, including her officers and ere"
and marine guard Of f0rty-tve men.
There were on board many invalid soldiers
from the French army of occupation, and
several officers and their wives. On Au-
gust 20th she went ashore near Cape Guard
afui. There was a heavy sea running IN
on the shore. and the Averyon was
swung around 80 that the sea made
clean breach over her. A native VII
lago could be seen, and soon there
wee 5000 Somalls coDgregated on the
shore. The chei came off TO the ship and
offered TO let the Frenchmen land IL they
would pay $4,000. All the money that
could be collected in the ship odiy amount
ed to 5000. and for this amount the natives
sgreed TO let a party from the transport
land and establish camp In which to store
provisions. The natives were nearly
naked, and were armed with bows and ar
rows. knives, hatchets, and assegais. They
swan Off 20 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 10
effect a landing. His boat was overturned
i'm the surf and the men thrown into the
water. The natives Immediately came 10
thelr rescue. and as they were taking the
Frerchmen ashore stole everything out OK
their pockets aud captured the liouteuants
watch and chain. The lieutenant got q
line to the ship and rigged mp n sling so
that men could 90 10 and from The vessel.
Some provisions were landed, and a camp
was established. One Of the men IN the
first lieutenant's boat was drowned whp
the boat was overturned, 20 that only ten
men were LETT on shore.
The natives watched carefully 10 see that
no more landed. and any attempt 10 rein
force the party at the camp would have
been the signal for general massacre. The
next CAY 3 German steamer, the Massalis.
| came along and TOOK on goo sick soldiers
and women from the wrecked transport.
| She had no room for more and sailed away
leaving the 800 others 10 their tate. The
| sea was rising. the 1900 sayage'
were clamoring for money, and thing
looked black for the Frenchmen
| There were no arm. aboard except
| two small cannon (Which were hrsd
az signals Of distress continually, thf
| rifles % the forty-iye marines, and the pi'
| tolls carried by the officers. on the even
| ing OF August "a, the Lord 0f the Isles
| passing up toward the Gulf OF Alden. hearC
| the minute-guns and ran in 10 the wreck
The sea was so high that nothing could b'
| done that. day, but on the mex
| the boats from the British steamer went OF
| to the Ayeryon and took every on
| aboard the Lord Of the Isles. The say
ages swan around the English boat.
| and tried to stick their hatehet
| through the boats bottoms. The part
| of Frenchmen on shore retreated 10 Oh
AveryOn when they saw that rescue was a
hand. The first lieutenant was the last .
leave the beach. As he placed himself il
the sling TO be hauled on board, the native
surrounded him and cut all she buttons o
his uniform. When he was hallway 10 N
ship the ssvages began 10 haul on the lin
by which the sling was drawn ashore. Th'
sailors on she ship hauled equally hard 10
other way, so that in the confusion tb
lieutenant was overturned and was haule'
aboard feet first. He was nearly surocaieC
when he reached the deck.
Before leaving the Averyon the captai
set her on fire. As the last bOat.load lei
the transport the entire 1900 native
swarmed on board, and when the Lord {
tue Isles sailed away they could be see
shouting and fighting in the midst OF n
flames on the deck of the burning yessc
There was only sixty pounds OF powder o
board, the rest having been thrown oyel
board Just before ths Lord OF the Isle
got out OF sight Of the burning vessel III
flames reached the powder. There WI. a
explosion, the masts went by the board
and several hundred sayages must hav
been killed. The rescued Frcnehmen wer
landed at Alden.