Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-07-20
Mr.. H0LDEN'S NARRATIVE.
A Romantic Story of Shipwreck,
Captivity and Suffering.
CAST AMONG BARBAR0US SAVAGES.
Horace Holden Subjected to Unheard OF
Sufferings Among the Barbarous
Pelew Islanders.
CAST AMONG BARBAROus sAyAGEs.
CHAPTER TX.

]
the third day of February, 1888, two
months, wanting three days, cap
tam Barnard and Bartlett Rollins
effected their escape. Compared
with the remainder of our captivity,
our privations and suffering up to
that time were less severe. But at
no time did we have sufficient food
to satisfy the cravings of hunger.
The very crumbs that fall from an
ordinary table would have been to
us luxury; the swine Of America
are better fed than we were, on the
most fortunate day Of our residence
upon that island. II was on the
day above mentioned that a ship
was discovered short distance from
the island, and the natives imme-
diately collected, and prepared to go
to IL, in order TO obtain iron. or some
other articles Of value. Hope once
more visited us. 10 escape was, of
course, our strong desire and inten-
ton. Accordingly, when the canoes
put off we attempted to
go. our savage masters inter-
posed their authority, and by
menaces aud blows prevented us.
Many Of us were brutallv beaten,
and all but two were detained by
| the brutal force of the saVages. AT
length Captain Barnard ana Rol.
! lins, after being severely beaten,
were allowed 10 accompany the ma
lives to the ship, and succeeded in
ellccting their escape. Trusting to
the humanity of the captain and
crew, we for some time confidently
expected that they would contriye
some way of enabling us to JOIN
them. They were in sight abont
three hours; at one time they were
80 near that we could distinctly see
the hands on board; but judge of our
feelings when we saw the vessel pur-
suing her course! Our expectations
were blasted in Il moment, and our
minds, which had been gladdened
bV the hope of once more enjoying
the society OF civilized beings, OF
our beloved country, sunk back into
n state of dispair; we wept like
children.
The natives, when they returned
from the vessel, brought with them
small quantity of iron hoops and n
few articles of some little value, hut
they were highly dissatisfied with
the amount received, and greatly
onmgcd The division of the prop
cr;y caused much difficulty and
they quarrcled about IL for several
days. Those of us who remained,
though innocent, were the greatest
sufferers They held us accounta-
bile for the conduct of those who had
left, and vented the malignity of
their unteeling heart-npon us. We
were given to understand, that now
our doom was fixed; that we should
remain with them and die the vie
TINS of our tormcntors! Alas! II
was too true, that such was to be
the fate of all but two of our NUM-
ber! We were destined To see one
after another of our fellow sufferers
sink under the constantly increas-
ing severity of the burdens imposed
ON them, aud perish either from
actual starvation or bv the blows of
the saVages.
After the departure of the captain
and Rollins, we were treated with
much greater severity than We had
been before. Generally we were
aroused from eur broken Slumheis
about sunrise, and compelled to 20
10 work; We were usually employed
In cultiNatiug n species OF vegetable
somewhat resembling the yam, aud
called by them "korei This root
Il raised In beds of mud, which are
prepared by digging out the sand,
aud hlling the cavity with mould. .
The whole of this labor was per-
formed 10y the hands, WeweW COM .
PEELED day after day to stand in the T.
mud from morning till night, and .
10 turn up the mud with our hands. .
Frequently We were WQuir'd to do
This without wcciVing u morscl of
food til about noon, aud sometimes
W. were letl without anything to
Eat llll night, Al best We could get
no more than n small piece of cooua-
lut, hardly a common-sized mouth
0l, alta time, and II, either from
exhaustion or any other cause, We
leglccted 10 perform the neqhircd
mount of labor oar plI,ance of
ood Was withheld altogether
Fmm this plain and uneNaggem, !
a account will Ia s,cn, that our
ondition at hvsl Was had enough.
ut misfortune hciel. u which ,
,ndcnd il slill wonse About four
lonths foom the time oi oar landing ;
-. ~ .l..,.....r IL. -.