St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-13
NEWS BY AN ALBATRoss.
Tidings From Shipwrecked
Crew Borne in a Novel Way.

Crew Borne i'm a Novel Way.
We mentioned the other day that
some Shipwreeked sailors were supposed
TO be waiting for relief on the Crozet
Islands, far south of Madagascar
toward the Antarctic circle. The facts
that have led to this SuppoSition are
very remarkable, even when compared
with the extraordinary and romantic
stories of other caStaway sailors, says,
the New York Sun:
The British ambassador at Paris re-
Gently informed the French government
that a cable dispatch had been received
from Gov. Robinson, of South Australia.
reporting that on Sept. ~ a dead alba
trOSs was found upon the beach at Free
mantle, around whose neck was fastened
small piece of tin upon which had
been scratched in French:
Thirteen shipwrecked men took refuge
upon the Crozet islands on Aug. 4, 1887"
About the time this report reached
Paris the French newspapers mentioned
the probable loss of the three-maSter
TamariS. owned by the house of Bordes
" Son, of Bordeaux. The vessel left
France early last year for New Gale
dOnia in the Pacific ocean. Had she
proSpered on her voyage news should
lIOlll
ago. Her proprietorS and sea captains
generally believe that in midsummer
she could not have been very far from
the Crozet islands. Her crew numbered
thirteen men.
The Crozet islands are four or five
little Specks of land rising in the In
dian ocean, far south of the usual track
of vessels. The ramariS, il is believed.
is the only ship that was likely to be in
these waters. at the probable date of the
disaster. The winged messenger that bore
the news TO civilization made a journey
of over 1000 miles, with few chances to
rest on the way. This wonderful flight
will rank with the best of the many
stories that are told of the albatrosS' re-
markable powers and endurance on the
wing. Sailors believe that the 'man-o,
war bird sleeps on the wing, and nat
uraliSts tell us that its immense wing
bones are as long as its body. aad that it
is capable of flying featS that are I'M
equaled by any other bird.
The French minister of marine at
once sent instructions to the commander
of the naval division in the Indian ocean
TO dispatch the transport Meurthe as
soon as possible to the CrOZet islands,
and 10 take the unfortunate SeafarerS, if
he found them. to the island of Reunion,
whence they may return home by
steamer. The interest of the British
govI rhment has also been aroused, and
her majeSty'S ship. Thalia, which re-
Gently lett England for Australia. was
ordered to call at the Crozet islands in
search of the thirteen shipwrecked
sailors.
There are, happily. good prospects
that the crew have been able to support
life on the barren rocks where they
have taken refuge. Plenty of fish can
be caught there, and more that one ship
wrecked crew have found the Crozets
an endurable refuge until relief came.
The crew of the Sealer StrathmOre, who
lived OH one of these islands for some
time, Gubsisted chiefly on penguin flesh
and eggs. There is hope, also, that the
caStawayS were able TO reach land with
a considerable supply of food from their
snip stores.
If these men are found and restored
to their homes. no description of the
albatroSS will hereafter be complete
that does not tell the wonderful story of
the bird that was the means of letting
the world know that thirteen poor cast
awayS in the waste of southern waters
Sorely needed SuccOr