West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-10-10


lowed. He could not say whether he de-
serted the brig that day or week sub
sequently. He did not remember
whether he threw the bodies overheard
or left them where they lay. Time was
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 ahoat in the briggs yawl, and
had neither water nor provisions. His
talk was fiighty and received little atten-
ton, and he was carried TO one of the
eastern islands and was there seriously
al for month with fever. When he be-
gan 10 mend OF that the particulars of the
tragedy came back to him, but as the
bug had not been seen by any Of the
traders his story was not believed. He
worked his way down To Timor. and
from thence across 10 Port Darwin. and
he finally got ship from there around TO
Melbourne.
The Ben Hammond had been reported
lost In the Indian Ocean, but her fate
was considered mystery. Vessels which
had preceded and followed her had met
with the most favorable weather, and
there was much speculation az to what
had brought about her loss. Renfoe's
story explained portion Of the mystery.
and several crafts were sent out TO search
for the brig. She could not be found or
heard of, and il was at last concluded
that she had gone to the bottom.
In the month of June, 1865, eleven
years later, l 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 gale from the
west. The gale increased to a hurricane
after few hours, and, although we
kept the old ship afoat, she was driven
a long ways to the east. We had ter
rife wind and sea for four DAYS. and by
that time, our drift had carried us well
doYn to the eastern end of Java. One
morning, about 8 o'clock, Just after had
heard the Captain say that the gale was
breaking, we were boarded by a sea
which swept the ship from stem to stern.
we were lying TO, you understand, with
the usual watch on deck Three of us
were carried overheard by the wave, but
did not see either Of the others. was
whirled end over end and buffetted about
until thought should drown before /
had seen the surface, but after time I
was heaved up to daylight, and had no
sooner got my eyes clear than | saw one
of our quarter boats close to me. II had
been torn loose by the same wave, and
was floating right side up, but full Of
water. l got hold of it, and after rest
ing bit / pulled myself in and secured
myself bya lashing to one Of the thwarts
The waves ran over me at brief intervals.
but the weight Of the water held the
boat down until she drove like a log, and
she could not therefore upset as she
turned broadside to the sea.
1t was, as 1 said. about o'clock when
went overheard. At about 4 in the af-
ternOon | sighted land to the north, and
an hour later found myself driving be-
tween two islands. Half an hour later
current set me to the right, and drove
in for the land and brought up at the
head Of bay or inlet half mile long
and not over two hundred feet wide
Hard aground at the head of this bay.
with her bowsprit touching the trees on
the trees on the shore, was the old Ben
Hammond, the long-lost and almost for
gotten brig. drove right in past her,
and was heaved on the sands bv the
swell, and the first thing / did was TO
sit down and wonder whether / was
really in my senses or had gone daft.
There rested the old brig on an even keel,
masts standing as plumb as ever, yards
braced as they were left years before, but
the sails rot.ed and blown away. and
many ropes broken and frayed and stream.
ing in the wind. had heard of her loss,
and had read Renfoe's story as related by
the papers, and it took the pluck out of
me TO find her there. Indeed was SO
awed and overcome that / did not dare
board her that night, but made my bed
on the sands and slept soundly till morn
ing. / had secured my yawl when
drove in, and as ] came TO examine It
next morning I found It almost free from
injury, while the mast and sail and tiller
were secure under the thwarts BY this
time the gale was over, and was sur
prised 10 see how far the water had fallen
away from the beach.
My next move after inspecting the
yawl was to board the brig. This was
an easy matter, as tho water at low tide
did not reach her foremast. I was des-
perately afraid Of facing a skeleton as /
drew my head above the rail, and made
a lengthy survey before 7 dropped to the
deck There was great deal Of litter
about, and much Of the exposed wood
work had begun to decay A more lone
some sight one could not find. / moved
slowly from stem to stern, and was re-
lieved when no ghostly relic Of the dead
presented itself The brig had the old
fashioned fo'castle, and / noticed that
the slide over the opening was secured
The cabin doors were also shut. 7
dreaded 70 make further investigation,
but hunger and peace Of mind com
PEELED me, and finally entered the ca
bin. The medicine chest was upset in
the main cabin or eating room, and
the bottles scattered about the floor.
There was a spread on the table, but It
was black with mould, and, after a brief
look, had 70 retire until the fresh air
could drive ont the heavy odors. BY
and by / returned, and when I had
looked into the berths and found no
mouldering skeletons, a great load was
taken of my mind ] had however. TO
a g..