Wichita eagle., 1890-01-23
HARSEN'S ISLAND.


Had it not been for the excitement of the
first year Of the civil war the queer adven-
ture of Capt Harsen, of the Boston merchant
man American Chief, would have gone the
rounds and been much discussed. They were
told and retold in marine circles for many
years. and now and then some newspaper or
magazine has briefly referred to "Harsen's
Romance" The story, as whole is full of
interest.
In the spring of 1861, while was second
mate aboard of the English brig Enchantress,
and when three days out of Zanzibar bound
for the Gulf of Bengal, we spoke the Ameri-
can Chief homeward bound and loaded with
Indian products. Three days before, in a
violent squall, Capt. Harsen had been washed
overheard, and the ship was now in charge
of the first mate. The ship was taken home,
Capt. Rarsen reported dead, and six years
later, when he had been forgotten by all ex-
cept his relations he suddenly turns up in a
way to dumfomd everybody.
In August, 1857, l was first mate of the Sea
King, small but stanch ship plying between
Cape Town and Melbourne Our ship was a
feeder for the big India steamers We took
machinery and other stuff from them at the
cape, and brought back wood and other
products. We had the width of the Indian
ocean before US ON every voyage, with never
a speck of land for the waters to fret against
until the voyage was finished.
One morning in the month have named,
the hour being about O'Clock, with wind
and sea light, the lookout reported a man in
boat dead ahead and only half mileaway
went forward with the glass and made him
out very plain at once. Indeed, no glass was
needed. 1t was a rough looking boat, pro-
vided with mast and sail, and he had let fly
bis sheet and was rising and falling on the
waves to wait our coming. We were up TO
him in few minutes, and when we came to
look him over many were the EXPLANATIONS
of establishment.
The craft was half raft and half boat, put
together in the toughest fashion, and con-
structed Of driftwood The sail was a grass
mat. The man at the steering oar was clothed
in a single garment, made of the same ma
terial as the sail he had made large mat
and put his head through an opening in the
middle and belted it at the waist. His hair
fell upon his shoulders and his whiskers
reached TO his waist. BE looked veritable
Rip Van Wrinkle, and our surprise was so
great that we forged past him without eI-
tending hand. When we got him aboard,
hand, and said:
Captain, am Capt Harsen, of the Boston
ship American Chief
But where's your craftf' exclaimed our
captain.
ago to she north of this
g i <t~x.t hot
HarsenF'
'But I do My death was no doubt re-
ported in the papers, but here am. Let me
have a bite to eat and then III tell you all
about it.
When Capt Harsen got ready to tell his
story he had more surprises IN store for us.
Will give his adventures as be related them,
but in my own way. The wave which swept
his ship and carried ham overheard took along
q lot of deck rattle, and upon striking out for
himself he got hold Of a crate in which two
kangaroos had made the journey TO Cape
Town. 1t was hight enough to float two men
Of his size, and, although the seas used him
roughly for several hours, be pulled through
the danger, and finally found a way to lash
himself and even get some sleep. he knew
that he was driving to the south with the
seas, but as to how far he drifted during the
thirty hours he was afoat could only be
guessed at. 1t has been generally figured at
five miles an hour. He was asleep when cast
ashore by the tide. and he soon discovered
that he had landed ON verlant island about
one mile square. The verdure was about the
came as that of Madagascar, with the same
variety of birds and insect life. There was q
species of water rat on the island, but no
other animal, and he never saw q reptile Of
any sort.
The island was a little paradise. There
were several springs of fresh water, fruits
and nuts in abundance, and nothing to make
him afraid. As soon as he got rested the
captain began to figure on ms position, and
he finally concluded that he had been cast on
one of the Aldabra group, 200 miles TO the
north of Cape Amber, Madagascar. Subse-
quent Developments proved that he was more
uan 400 miles out of his reckoning, Holding
that he was correct in his location OF the
island, Capt Harsen figured that he had only
to posses himself with patience and al would
be well The Aldabra Islands were much
visited by fishermen, who caught aid pre-
pared certain fish food for the Chinese, and
ne had no other idea than that be would be
taken off within two or three weeks he
resting up, and for two weeks be slept good
share of each day and ali right.
He built himself a shelter, satisfied his
hunger with fruits, oysters, Shrimps, and
fish, and took solid comfort for awhile he
did not begin TO grow uneasy for month.
Then. as be had sighted no sail end no visitors