Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-01-09
AT SEA IN AN OPEN BOAT.

shin Company's steamer Advance arrived al
New York, Wednesday, from Rio Janeiro.
| On board the vessel were six members OF
the crew Of the whaling schooner Mary E.
Simmons, CT New Bedford, brought by the
! Advance from Pernambuco. With the ex-
ception Of one man, who is negro haiiing
from Connecticut, the men are all Portu-
gucse. They tell the following story of their
narrow escape from frightful death in in
open boat at sea.
! The schooner was out on Il whaling cruise
and had had but little luck when, OH the
29th of November, she had reached the
the east shore of Pernambuco. at about
noon of that day large school OF whales
was sighted, and with alacrity the boats
were lowered away, the first end second
mates each being in charge of one. The
chase after the valued monsters was spirit.
ed one, and before long each boat bad killed
whale and had fastened on to another.
Seeing this, it was decided to put out another
boat, and spare one being at hand the
third mate was put IN cnarge and started
out to DIN in the chase.
| Before long q large cow whale was speared
by the mate. 1t was more than had been
hargained for, however, as it started Off at
full speed drawing the boat through the
water with terrific force. For ten miles the
exciting run continued, when suddenly the
moDster stopped, then sank from sight be.
meath the waves. In il moment moro she
rose rose again. this time directly under
meath the boat. The little craft nearly cap.
sized. and keeleG over so far as to Gil it with
| water The mep, however. succeeded in
hailing it out somewhat and kept it aloat.
| The oars could not he used, and fearing that
! they would be lost the men lashed them 10
| the seats Just before dark a schooner was
| sighted that was TO all appearances search
| ing for the whaleboat. Every effort was
made to attract her attention, but although
| her lights remained in sight until midnight
she failed to answer the meu's signals and
sailed away.
Left alone 10 an open boat, without water
or provisions, and with no means of making
any progress at hand, the situation oflhe six
men vas desperate one. All night strict
watch for passing vessels waskept, hutnoua
was seen. Shortly after daylighta schooner
was discovered bearing down in the direction
of the boat. All sorts Of signals were made
to her, but all proved vain, for after tac!:ing
three times she shecred o1' leaving the
despairing men TO their fate During the
day seven sails were seen, and each time
the men shouted and waved in an endeavor
| to attract them, but without success.
| The sufferings of the men from hunger
and thirst as we'll ga from exposure we're
terrible. BY the afternoon one of the sea-
men known as Tony became deirous,
and attempted to take his life by jumping
into the sea. He became so violent, raviug
like a.madmen, that his companions were
obliged to lash him to the boat to prevent
him doing injury to himself or them. Dur
ing the night the same watch was kept, hut
no help came, and by morning the men in
tho boat were well nigh seized with the
pangs of thirst and hunger. Shortly after
| daybreak two more vessels were seen, and
again and again did the desperate seamen
try to attract their attention, but like their
previous efforts every attempt proved futile.
At eleven o'clock ship hove in sight, and
to their great JOY the mems signals of dis
tress were answered, and in a few moments
the British ship County of Glare hove to.
With piece Of q broken oar the whaleboat
was padded alongside, and, more dead than
alive. the poor fellows were hoisted on
board Captain Mcneil did everything in
his power for the men, and on the 18th they
were landed at Pernambuco Passage on
the Advance was obtained for them, and on
Wednesday they arrived in New York