Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-02-24
CRUISE OF THE STARLIGHT.

In a book entitled Adventures by
Land and Sea, v hich / picked up the
other day, saw brief references to the
strange adventures of Captain Wheaton
of the slip Starlight Among all the
forcastle yarns ever heard that story
takes the medal. aud when am through
relating it the reader viii be as much
mystified as have always been regard
ing it Indeed. never vet met sailor
who did not firmly believe in tile truth
of Captain Wheaton's every statement
tell the story because was an actor in
the first and last charters
1t was iii October, 1859, that shipped
as second mate on the Starlight, which
was then lying in the port of Honolulu.
She was an old whaler and had been
sold at auction and leapy rehtted
for a voyage 10 Lima aud return, in the
interest OF some California shippers. We
left port in ballast only and were two
men short of our complement Captain
Wheaton WAS Brnegat man and the
crew all English speaking people. For
the first fortnight no ship ever had bet
ter weather. The captain, as / UNDER
stood him. was an earnest, conscientious
man, being above the average in point
OF intelligence, aud of strictly temper
ate habits
AT the end of the fortnight the hne
weather was broken by rousing gale,
which struck us during my night watch,
and all hands had TO be called. We had
a hard time of it during the first hour,
and were finally compelled to lay to,
and it was while we were bringing the
ship to the wind that the captain was
washed overheard by heavy sea Which
boarded us With him ent one OF the
sailors, the hencool s, several spare spars
and booms, and lot of deck rattle, and
by the time the ship had shaken herself
clear of the foam it was too late TO rem
der any assistance. Indeed, it was
serious question just then whether any
OF US would live another half hour. The
storm did not break for nearly 20
hours. and the old ship was so strained
and Knocked about that her life was
ended. The gale had scarcely abated
when she b gan TO leak faster than the
pumps could throw the waller out, and
on the 17tII day Of the voyage we had to
abandon her.
When we lad been ahoat for four
days in the open boats we were picked
up by the American bark Yankee Boy,
bound from b ston to San Francisco.
We were then to the north Of the equa.
tor, and fully a hundred miles from the
Galapagos Islands These islands lay a
good distancs to the left of the true
course from Honolulu to Lima, and that
date every one Of them was well known
and all were inhabiiated by natives who
could speak more or less English.
Now, as we got the gale dead from
the north, and as the send Of the sea
was southwark for severaldays, Captain
Wheaton could not possibly have been
foated toward the Galapagos He must
have been driven down toward the
equator, or 20 sibly toward the Marquee
sas group. although to reach any of
those islands he would have had to drive
for hundreds Of miles. and for days and
weeks. How was a man swept over
board in gale to sustain himself above
few hours. even if not drowned at
once2 Ask yourself these questions.
and you will answer them as all others
have done. and you will be as greatly
nlystified over the captains story.
On the 4th day of September, 1860, as
the English whaling ship Lady Bas-
combe was near the equator being about
midway between the Marquesas group
and the Galapagos. and the time being
IL o'clock at night, she was hailed from
out of the darkness. and five min
utes later had Captain Wheaton aboard.
He had then been ahoat for three DAYS
and a half on a small but well con-
structed raft, which was provided with
a sail and had carried him safely and
buoyanuy an estimated distance Of 100
miles lie captain was in good health
aud spirits, but " ould answer no ques-
tions until he had seen tlle captain Of
the Bascofnbe, Tie sailors knew that
he must have been wrecked, but that he
should be alone in such seeming good
health in that dreary spot was great
mystery 70 tIEem. Captain Moore, of
the BAscoml e, had heard of the loss OF
the Starlight, aud when Captain Whea-
ton introduced himself he created q big
sensation. He was at first taken for an
inpoBter, but he had letters aud docu-
nients in his pockets toprove his identity
at once. That being tiled, he told his
story.
have heard him tell it four or five
times over, and can relate it almost
word for word
When Captain Wheaton was swept
overheard lac gave himself up for lost
He got but one look at the ship. and
realizing that she was driving away
from lIim aud that he was beyond
rescue, lie ceased swimming, and hoped
to drown at onca Just then hen coop
dcaied within reach, aid in a second
he changed his mind and fastened to the
float He was clear on the point Of float
ing MI that day and far into the night
Then he lost consciousness, bat did not
let 60 Of his float He remembered
nothing Of The next day until about an
hour before sundown, when he opened