The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-11
CLOSE CALLS.
Wonderful Escapes From Death
of Captain Mackay.
The Sole Survivor of Two shipwreeks and
Capture by Indians-Two Years. Suffer-
ing of Castaway.

Among the passengers who arrived in this
city on the steamer Monowai was Captain
Mackay, formerly master OF the schooner
Ocean Belle of Plymouth. England. to
which place The captain is now on his way
The schooner left London two years ago
bound to Montevideo. Until about three
months ago nothing had been heard Of her,
and she was set down as missing.
Captain Mackay was seen by CALL re-
porter shortly after he came ashore, to
whom he gave the following narrative OF
the loss of the vessel and the fate of most of
the crew:
''Soon aftar tleaying London and while in
the English Channel we were caught in a
heavy northeast gale that nearly sent US to
the bottom. OF course, it was fair wind,
but it raised such fearful sea that the
schooner was under water half the time.
We hove-to in the middle of the night under
elose-reefed foresail, but before daylight
had to keep away before the wind, the sail
having been blown out of the bolr-ropes.
A MAN OVERHEARD.
1.-THE fore topsail was set close-reefed
and that soon went, and for forty-eight
hours we svudded before the wind under
bare poles. The sea swept over the vessel
from stem to stern, tearing all the port bull
warks out of her and washing John King,
an ordinary seaman. overheard. Nothing
could be done to save him, as the only boat
was smashed by the sea, and the rest of the
crew had to lash themselves to the main
fife-rail in order to prevent the sea sweeping
them from the decks"
The storm at last moderated, and Captain
Mackay intended putting into the Western
Islands for repairs, but when the vessel was
nearly into st. Michaes she was caught in
another heavy gale that carried her far to
the southwark and eastward OF the islands.
Ropes were stretched along the Port side,
whe re the bulwarks were gone, and the
Ocean Belle kept on her course for South
America.
They had no more bad weather until
about 200 miles from the mouth of the river
Platte, where the schooner was caught in a
terrific hurricane, which took her masts out
The falling spars killed one man and two
more were washed off the deck. The cap
tain, boy and a Swedish sailor. all that
were left of the crew, dashed themselves to
the ffe-rail, where for twentY-four hours
death stared them in the face.
BLOWN OUT OF HER COURSE.
When the hurricane subsidized it was found
that they were blown far to the eastward,
ami, what was worse. the vessel was half
full Of water, and In danger of going down
with them.
The pumps were manned, but the water
gained on them SO fast that the men turned
their attention TO providing some means Of
saving themselves when the schooner no
longer became safe. The water casks were
slowed In the fore-peak, and by letting the
wafer thew ahla f0 uat ham IN
deck, and from them and some planks taken
from the hold raft was made. On this
were placed some boxes OF provisions taken
from the cabin and two small casks of wa
ter. with a gun and box of cartridges A
mast was rugged OF light spar. and spare
topgallant sail completed the outfit.
The raft was launched and then dropped
astern OF the schooner. as there seemed to
be chance OF the vessel floating for sew
erai hours. Som after shutdown the water
vessel began TO roll heavy. The ship
wrecked men then took to the raft, and by
daylight nothing could be seen of the
schooner. She had sunk in the night.
ON THE RAFT.
The men were then in sorry condition,
as there was but slim chance of the frai
raft holding together long should it begin to
face Of the ocean was hardly ruffied with
breeze. The DAYS were hot and at night
they suffered with cold.
The tenth day on the raft the boy took
sick and for two days lay groaning and toss
ing, calling for his mother and sister, until
at last death came to his relief The boy
died In the afternoon. and as the sun went
down the two men wrapped the corpse in a
blanket and consigned it to the deep.
Inc night was spent 10 silence. Mackay
spoke TO his companion, but got no answer.
When daylight came he saw Mitchell, the
sailor, crouched at the further edge of the
raft while in his hand he held the gun, with
both hammers at full cock. The terrible
lock in the poor fellows eyes told him that
his companion was a maniac. Mackav
shuddered as he realized the horrors of the
situation and eagerly scanned the surface
OF the ocean in hopes of seeing sail, but
no such welcome sight met his gaze.
10 make things worse the supply of water
was running short and Mackay knew that
unless relief came before many days the
end was not faraway. All day long Mitchell
sat glarlng at his companion as if about to
attack him, but although he played with
the gun he made no attempt to shoot
THE FIGHT FOR LIFE.
just before night. Mackay made up his
mind to get possession of the gun at all
hazards. so. taking some biscuit from the
box he offered it to Mitchell, VINO snatched
it from his hand like wild beast, but in
stead of eating he threw it overheard. aud
the next instant, raising the gun to his
shoulder, aimed at Mackay and pulled the
trigger. The gun failed to go of and in an
instant Mackay closed with the crazy man
before he could strike him with the weapon.
Mitchell, weak as he Was, fought like
tiger, and Mackay soon found he was no
match for the crazy sailor. As they rolled
and struggled on the raft it rocked as If
about to upset. Mitchell was doing his best
to drag his companion to the edge of the
frail support and cast him into the sea. 1t
was a struggle for life. and Mackay felt he
was rapidly going under, when, in the
struggle, his hand came in contact with the
heavy sheath-knife in the sailors belt
Then the tide OF battle turned, and Mackay
rained blow after blow on the head and
face OF his opponent with the heavy knife
handle. AT last a blow on the temple laid
the sailor senseless on the raft and Mackay
used his remaining strength to tie him hand
and foot
In the terrible struggle every particle of
food and water had been knocked from the
raft. The water-cask fioated alongside the
raft, but its contents were as salt as the
water it foated in. Half dozen biscuits
were fshed up, but they also were soaked
with salt water. Still Mackay hoped on.
ALONE ON THE OCEAN.
All night long Mitchell kept up his
struggles to free himself, and at last man
aged to gain his feet. Mackay started
toward him. thinking he had united his
hands, but before he could get hold of him
the poor fellow gave scream, flung him
self into the ocean and Mackay was alone ON
the raft.
The day wore on, and by night brisk
breeze was blowing and the sbipwrecked
sailor. had to lash himself to the raft to
keep from being washed overheard. Once
more the sun arose, but Mackay lay on his
frail raft indifferent to his fate. All hope
was now gone from the breast of the cast
away, yet help was at hand and the poor
fellow was rescued almost from the laws of
death.
About noon, had Mackay raised his head.
he would have seen bark bearing down
on him. Some of the crew had seen the
strange craft, and the captain gave orders
to run down to it. As the vessel approached
human figure was seen stretched on it. A
boat was lowered and quickly rowed along