Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-27
THE BEN HAMMOND.

passed through the Str37 IS of Sunda on her
way into the Indian ocean, bound for Mel
bourne. The crew, ali told, numbered eleven
people, and the brig had a miscellaneous
cargo. She signaled tAll well' when going
through the straits, and that was the last
heard Of her for five months Then q sailor
named Charles Renfoe arrived at Sydney
and told a very curious story.
About forty miles off the straits the brig
fell liz with a small sandal wood trader in a
sinking condition. She was carrying lot
of natives from one Of the islands OF Sumatra
10 some port in Java, and had sprung q leak.
The brig had either to stand by her or take
her people of, and Capt Clark decided upon
the former course. Tho vessel had struck a
log or some other floating obstruction while
sailing at a fast rate, and had been badly
damaged about the bows.
This occurred Ii the early morning, and it
was just at sunset that the brig came up with
her. The injured craft had been creeping in
for the Java coast, but as wind and current
were against her she had made very slow
progress. Her pumps were SO small that they
would not throw out what quarter inch hole
would let in, and crew and passengers were
badly ratified. 1t was q beautiful evening.
with every prospect Of continued good
men went aboard of the trader to help him
make repairs. In the course of four hours
they returned aboard with the news that the
small craft was now tight and dry, and they
brought with them several bottles of wine
and some dried fruits as presents from her
captain.
Capt Clark was a kind hearted man, and
as the men returned aboard he distributed
one bottle of wine and share of the fruit
among the men. The brig and trader had
been slowly drifting off before light wind
during the repairs on board, hut now each
hauled back to her course and they We're soon
separated. Renfoe had not been feeling well
during the day, and he was the only man who
did not partake Of the stuff sent aboard 1t
was his watch below after midnight and he
had been asleep about an hour when he was
aroused by confusion aboard. Every man on
watch below as suffering with cramps and
vomiting, and he went on deck TO find the
same state of affairs prevailing. Captain and
mates were down, as well as the men, and the
man at the wheel fell to the deck and began
rolling around just as Renfoe came on deck
While the brig had all plain sail on her the
breeze was light, and as the wheel was made
fast, she took care of herself.
There was no doubt that the crew had been
poisoned by the wine or fruit, though the
trader must have been entirely innocent of
any such intent after the services they had
rendered Recourse was had to the medicine
chest, but nothing seemed to act as an anti
dote. The agony of the men increased with
time, and by 3 o'clock in the morning four of
the foremost hands were dead, while the
others were without hope. Renfoe was dazed
and helpless, and he could do nothing but
pity the poor fellows around him. Half an
hour after sunrise he was the only living man
aboard the brig, aud as he saw one after
another pass away his feelings We're wrought
up to such a pitch that he almost lost his
mind. He could not give clear account of
what followed. He could not say whether
he deserted the brig that day or a week SUBJ
sequently. He did not remember whether
be threw the bodies overheard or left them
where they lay.
Time was a blank to him for the next ten
days, when he was picked up by trader
two hundred miles below the straits and
twenty miles off the Java coast He was
then aaoat III the briggs yawl, and had neither
water nor provisions. His talk was Eighty
and received little attention, and he was car
ried to one of the eastern islands and was
there seriously i'll for a month with fever
When he began to mend of that the particu-
lars of the tragedy came back TO him. but as
the brig had not been seen by any of the
traders his story was not believed He work
ed his way down to Tinor, and from thence
across to Port Darwin, and he finally got
ship from there across TO Melbourne.
The Ben Hammond had been reported lost
in the Indian ocean, but her fate was con-
sidered mystery. Vessels which had pre-
coded and followed her mad met with the
most favorable weather, and thers was much
speculation as to what had brought about
her loss. Renfoes story explained portion
of the mystery, and several craft were sent
out TO search for the brig. She could not be
found or heard Of and it was at last con-
cluded that she had gone to the bottom.
In the month of June, 1865, eleven years
later, passed through the Straits of Sunda /
on the English ship Prince John, bound for
the port Of Melbourne. We had scarcely |
cleared the Java cape when it came on to /
blow a gale from the west. The gale in /
creased 10 hurricane after few hours, /
and although we kept the old ship ailoat. she .
was driven long ways TO the east. We had 4
n terrific wind and sea for four days, and by .
that time our drift had carried lis down TO the .
eastern end OF Java. One morning at about /
say that the gale was breaking, we were /
boarded by sea which swept the ship from
stem TO stern. We were lying to, YOU under (
stand, with the usual watch on deck Three .
OF Us were carried overheard by the wave,
but ] did not see either of the Others was
whirlei end over end and bulfcted about I'M
I'll | thought / should drown before | had
seen the surface, bat after time | was
heaved up 70 daylight, and had no sooner
got my eyes clear than l saw one of our
quarter boats close TO NE. 1t had been torn
loose by the same wave and was floating
right side up, but full of water got hold
Of it. and after resting bit pulled myself
in and secured myself by flashing to one of
the thwarts.
The waves rsn right over me at brief in
tervals, but the weight Of the water held the
boat down unit! she drove like a log. and she
could not therefore upset as she turned broad
SIDE TO the sea
1t was, as l said. about 9 o'clock when
went overheard. At about in the after
noon / sighted land to the north, and an hour
later l found myself driving between two
islands, half an hour later a current set NE
70 the right, and drove in for the land and
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