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

In the month OF June, 1854, the Eng
lish brig Ben Hammond, Captain John
e. Clark, passed through the Straits of
Sunda on her way into the Indian Ocean.
bound for Melbourne. The crew, all
told, numbered eleven people, and the
brig had a micellaneous cargo. She sig
nailed "All we'll" when going through
the straits, and that was the last heard of
her for FIVE months. Then a sailor named
Charles Renfoe arrived Mt Sydney, and
told a very curious story.
About forty miles of the straits the
brig fell in with a small sandal wood
trader III a sinking condition. She was
carrying n lot of natives from one of the
islands of Sumatra TO some port in Java,
and had sprung leak The brig had
either TO stand by or take her people of,
and Captain Clark decided upon the
former course. The brig had struck a
log or some other floating obstruction
while sailing at fast rate, and had been
badly damaged about the bows. This
occurred in the early morning, and it was
just at sunset that the brig came up with
her. The injured craft had been creep
ing 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 a quarter-inch hole would let
IN, and crew and passengers were badly
ratified IL was a beautiful evening. with
every prospect of continued good weather.
and the first mate and five Of the men
went aboard Of the trader 90 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.
Captain Clark was a kind-hearted man
and as the men returned aboard he dis
tributed one bottle Of wine and a share
Of the fruit among the men. The brig
and trader had been slowly drifting off
before a light wind during the repairs,
but now each hauled back TO her course
and they were 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 10
was his watch below after midnight, and
be had been asleep about an hour when
he was aroused By confusion aboard,
Every man on watch below was suffering
with crnmps and vomiting, and he went
on deck 70 fnd the same state Of affairs
prevailing. Captain and mates were
down as well rs the men, and the man
at the wheel fell 10 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 hy the wine or fruit,
though the trader must have been en-
nrely innocent Of any such intent after
lbe services they bad rendered. Re
course was had 10 the medicine chest. but
nothing seemed 20 act as an antidote.
The agony Of the men increased with
time, and by three o'clock in the morn
lug four Of the foremost hands we're
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, and rs he saw one after
another pass away his feelings were
wrought up 70 such pitch that
be almost lost his mind Ne could