Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-27
PRAYED FOR RAIN.
A Shipwrecked Crews Petition An
swered-Capt. PassmOre's Thrilling
Narrative

/
From the Mobile Regtster.
Maj. George B. Clitherall has just re-
ceIyed a very interesting letter from his
friend, Capt. PassmOre, OF the ship AL
bula, relating the incidents of the wreck
OF that gallant vessel and the suferings
OF the Captain and survivors of the crew.
Capt. Passmore is very well and favora-
bly, known here, and his vessel was one
Of the largest that ever fastened to Mobile
wharves. The narrative will be read
with avidity.
NO. 80 FERNHILL STREET.
LIVERPOOL. Feb. Z, 1861
DEAR MAJOR: | am pleased to write
you that | am home again after a rather
hard experience.
sailed from Buzzard inlet for Shang-
hal on Aug. 10. / was laid up at the time
with three serious stab wounds. which |
rec ved from negro mutineer, one of
the crew. / had just got over this when
on Oct. IA we were caught in severe cy-
clone about 200 miles from Loo ChoO
islands, and although the Albula was ly-
ing to the wind under bare poles, she was
capsiZed and ten OF the crew were swept
away. All the deck houses and cabins
were washed away at the same time; also
all of our provisions and fresh water.
masts, when the ship righted. leaving
only the lower iOremast and the fore yard
standing. Myself and eleven others were
left with the ship full of water, and with
bulwarkss and stanchions broken and
swept away. All the boats were gone.
Next day, when the storm subsidized, we
found one can OF preserved meat, contain
ing about five pounds. This was all there
was left, and there was not one drop OF
fresh water.
On the fifth evening after the wreck we
all knelt down and prayed for rain, and,
although it was a bright, clear, starlight
night, in short time our prayers were
answered by a heavy shower of rain.
Our suferings from thirst were awful
up to that time. We obtained fire from
some pistol cartridges which we found
near where my cabin had been. We
rolled one up in a piece of cotton shirt
and exploded it by striking II with an iron
bolt. We found some Goals before the
windlass in TIE coal locker. We then
took the ships bell and made kettle o.
it, and boiled some of the raln-water. We
then found about one pound of grease,
which we scTaped from the inside of an
old slush barrel. With one spoonful of
grease and about a quart of water, we
made soup. and each one of us had about
a quarter of pint for breakfast and the
oohC HhahhANy AoA supper
We at different times caught three little
land birds, three small flying-dsh and two
small d0lphips. This was all the food
there was for Twelve OF us for eleven days.
On the evening of the tenth day
SAIL HOVE IN SIGHT.
/ When it was dark we attracted the at
tention Of the ship by burning torches at
our foremost head. which were seen. and
/ the ship stood by US all night. Next day.
/ sunday. Oct. Is, we we're taken on hoard
/ the Marquis OF L0rne. OF st. John, N. B.,
4 from Hong Kong for san Franc SEQ. where
/ we were landed on the Atm Of December.
We were in a very exhausted condition
! when we were rescued. I do not think
we could have lived much longer. The
| captain and his wife treated us with the
greatest Kindness. Capt. RAYMOND and
| had met before at RIO de .laneirO, ard we
remembered each other. When we landed
! in San Francisco. the people treated us
very kindly, and for myself they very
kindly gave me funds with which to reach
my home.