Wichita eagle., 1889-01-11
A SHIPWRECKED CREW.
THEIR TALE OF SUFFERING ON THE
SOUTH AMERICAN COAST.

Kept At Sea by the Sight of Cannibsls.
Feastins on Mussels and Sea Grass
Boiled-A Party Of Ten Evidently Swal-
lowed Up by the Breakers.
An extraordinary story of shipwreck and
suffering was brought to Liverpool by the
captain and officers of the iron bark Glen
more, of Carrickfergus, which left Mary
port, Cumberland, for Buenos Ayres, with
cargo of iron rail on the 4th of December,
1887. and which was wrecked on a sunken
reef off Cape Diego, on the South American
coast, on the Sth of April Mr.. James Nor
gan, the second mate. has given the follow
ing account of the experiences of the crew:
1t was blowing a gale and showing at the
time. We got out the lifeboat. and the
whole crew. sixteen all told, embarked in
her, without being able to obtain any pro-
visions or any clothing. At daybreak we
pulled seward, for the frowning precipices
on every side, towering thousands Of feet
above the sea- seemed to render a landing
hopeless. Several of the crew were pros
trated, and lay helpless in the bottom of the
boat. At one point, where the cliffs were
somewhat lower, party of ten or twelve
Fuegeans, naked and all men over six feet
high, appeared on the cliffs. They gesticu-
lated and shouted, but all the seamen could
distinguish were the words "knipe' tknife)
and biscuit Not liking their appearance,
and knowing that they had reputation for
cannibalism, the crew again put out to sea.
REFUGE AT LAST.
The following morning, the 9th, sighted
Staten island, and succeeded in landing
about S o'clock. at Flinders bay. Here We
obtained the first drink of water we had had
since leaving the ship-about forty hours
The next morning we found a case of curry
on the beach, and this, with some berries,
which we found ON stunted bushes, made us
sorry breakfast. We then launched our
boat and proceeded down the land, intending
to make st. Johns, where there is a light
house maintained by the Argentine Republic
By p n. we were all utterly done up, and
we landed at Port Cook, VIII re We Toasted"
on mussels and limpets, which was all we
got that night.
The next day we proceeded, and landed at
st. Johns utterly exhausted. We were most
Hospitality received. Most of us were suffer
ing severely from frostbite, and all of US
from utter prostration, but we were carefully
tended, and in about fortnight had all re-
covered On our arrival we were informed
that we had come at good time as the re-
lief steamer from Beenos Ayres which is
supposed to visit the lighthouse every three
months, was due in a few days. She, how
ever, failed to arrive, and we afterward
ascertained that she had been wrecked on
the voyage out from Buenos Ayres. Pro-
visions soon began to fail, though we had fair
shelter ard fire, for which abundant fuel was
found on the beach
We at first had biscuit and timed beef, but
gradually came down to seaweed, boiled or
raw at choice, few fish, caught with hook
and line in the bay, now and again seal, an
unlimited supply of mussels, penguins and
steam BIRDS" in the capture of which two
dogs on the island were very expert. They
had, however, to be soaked in vinegar, Of
which there was, fortunately a good supply,
for twenty-four hours before they could be
eaten, so strong was their tishy flavor.
THE MISSING SIXTEEN.
When we had been on the island for two
months, and things were about at their
worst-for there is nine months winter and
three months bad weather. passing ship
was sighted and ten of our party put off to
intercept her. She signaed their arrival,
and we supposed that they put back with
provisions TO fetch US OF; but we never saw
any more Of them, and could only conclude
that the boat on her return was svamped
and all her crew drowned. Shortly after
this our troubles were increased by the ar
rival of seven of the crew of the British bark
Cordova, which was lost close to the same
point as our own ship. Ultimately, on the
18th of September, the relief steamer arrived,
and on the 18th we babe farewell to our in
voluntary quarters.
Morgan added: During our stay on the
island story was told to us by the lighthouse
people, which l simply repeat. About eigh-
teen months before our arrival there the
crews Of two vessels landed on Staten Island,
about twenty-five miles from the Lighthouse
and were apparently ignorant Of its exist
cnce-indeed it has only been established
about Eve years. After an interval Of some
weeks sixteen of the thirty-two arrived az the
lighthouse with report that the others had
died They were taken of by the relief
steamer The sequel is that shortly before
or arrival the lighthouse people, exploring
the region of the reported landing of these
men, found a little above high water level
three or four beef barrels. which on exami-
nation were found 10 contain human remains
sailed down. | hesitate TO say what the in
ference must be.-BoS.on Herald