Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-09
BOARDED BY MAN EATERS.
TWO MEN AND A BOY ON SHIP AT
Tackled BY cANNleALs.

Escape-Fighting Against Great odds
Rescued at Last.
After had recovered from a terrible seq
sickness and had become reconciled to the
/ limited fare Of the ship-"salt horse, n "dun.
derfunk," "hard tackn and ropy water
/ quite enjoyed the life on the sea.
We had been out four months without
raising whale, and my friend, the mate
bad told me that must be Jonah, when
one morning the welcome cry Of There she
blowsr came down from the masthead
The ship was laid to, and soon all the boats
were lowered, and the cook, cabin boy and
myself were left to keep ship"
We watched the flying boats as the sailors
bent to their oars, and there was at least one
longing pair Of eyes following their course.
Superstition is strong among whalemen, and
the hint that was, perhaps, the cause Of all
previous III success kept me from being
among the blubber hunters
We were about two miles from the island
Of New Guinea, or Papua, where the people
In those days rather hankered after roasted
white man, but as many whaling vessels
visited them they hardly dared practice their
cannibalistic propensities, so we felt little if
any fear from that source The ships boats
were soon lost sight Of as they drew behind
the land, and we busled ourselves in various
ways to pass the time away
THE UNwELcoME VISITORS.
Some six hours passed, and the cook began
to grow uneasy at the long absence Of the
men, fearing that some accident had befallen
them.
Two hours moro passed, and still no signs Of
the boats. was coiling rope near the miz-
Eenmast when i heard the cook exclaim:
well, fob de Lawd's sakel" Thinking be
had sighted the boats, went to his side and
looked in the direction of the islands.
The sight that met my gaze was not
pleasing one, and confess to a cold chill
creeping up my spine. Coming toward us
from the shore, and making excellent time,
were no less than six canoes, each one con-
tanning eight or ten of the islanders, their
black skins cleaning in the afternoon sun
light, while their bushy heads gave them
hideous appearance.
"What does this meanf' asked
"Dis chile 'fraid he mean trubble,n an
swered the cook. "Sumf'n'don happen to de
boats, an de rascals know we heah, an dey
mean to take vantage Oh 1t.
you don't think they will hurt US, do
your asked the cabin boy, and his face grew
pale
Don't know CANT count on what dem
debbls viii do. We got to hustle roun' lively
anyway, an git ready for EN-"
Under the cooks direction we prepared
the matches so they could be secured firmly
from the Inside, and after collecting all the
available munitions of war we awaited their
near approach with what composure we
could
When within speaking distance the cook,
who could talk the lingo after fashion,
asked them what they wanted They said
they wanted tobacco, and that they had fruit
to exchange for it.
As the bottom of each canoe could be plainly
seen, and no fruit was in sight, we were forced
to think that the visit was hostile one, espe-
cially as each native carried "a lance, and the
cock ordered them to come no nearer.
Two of the canoes kept on, however, and
as they paid no heed to the order we pointed
our guns at them, and when within a few
yards the cook whispered, "Firen and we
fred
Our pieces were loaded with buckshot, and
at such short range could not but prove eff /
fective. Four men in the nearest canoe fell ,
into the water, and two from the other, while
it was evident that a number were quite badly /
The canoes quickly turned and Joined those !
that had stayed behind. Wild gesticulations /
and loud jabbering followed, which soon quiet /
ed down, and in a short time the entire fleet
was headed for the ship. We did not wait
for them to come very near before we blazed
away at them.
We emptied all our pieces, of which we had
4 dozen, and had the pleasure of seeing quite
4 number of our enemies fall into the sea, but,
as no time was allowed to reload, the guns
we're useless by the time the canoes had come /,
alongside.
DANGERS COMPLICATED.
But we had other weapons-spades, lances
md harpoons, all sharp as razors, which we
lad brought from below-and these were
hurled with frantic strength. They did good
ervice, and many were killed or disabled,
put their numbers were too many for US, and
Don there was a score of black heads looking
'ver the tail Of the ship.
Each taking a lance, we rushed for the
latches, and hastily slipping through them,
made things fast on the inside and felt safe
or time at least, hoping that our men
would arrive in season to relieve us The
black rascals could be heard moving around
he deck, and it was not long before they
OllilueliEeu 70 ply open lle uhlGueS.
After what seemed years to us, their per-
istent work began to have effect, and we
new that another hiding place must be Sc
ured. The cook had a plan ready, however,
nd as the matches gave way by his direction
We concealed ourselves in some empty oil
asks in dark corner of the hold and awaited
developments
The blacks were unable to locate US, and
hon, hot e1ar- b,1 ]
urned to the deck we crawled out from our
uncomfortable quarters
But now danger that we had not fore
sen menaced us. When we were driven be-
Nv a dead calm prevailed, but now we could
ear the water ripping under the ships bow
nd realized that she was under considerable
galway
With a crew that knew nothing about
andling vessel tho chances were that we
rould soon be ashore. Even the cooks black
ice blanched little as he took in the situa.
on.
On the ship went, we knew not whittier
ach moment we expected the shock.
We were upon the point of rushing on deck
-hen our ears were gladened by a shout
nat we knew came from American threats, ,
ollowed by a scrambling on deck, and when
e venLured to peep above the hatch what {
as our joy to find the ship deserted {
Not'a moment too soon had our deliverance {
1me, for less than hundred yards of /
ne OF white breakers was to DO seen.
bringing to the wheel quickly put the ship {
bolt, and as she lay to our boats came along
d., the men came aboard and we were safe.
j. a Taber in Boston Globe