The Republican journal., 1892-01-28

every thing, even the clothes upon our
backs, and leave us to perish like the i'll
fated Gardiner party, if they did not mer-
cifully murder us in some quicker man.
ner.
1t was fine, mild morning for this lati-
tude when we found ourselves in the west
ern end of Spaniards Harbor, and cast an
Choir near sandy beach upon which heavy
surf was breaking with sudden roar Be
fore us were grassy plains and a winding
river, beyond We're low hills covered with
trees, and to the left dense forest.
This is Starvation Beach, the Mecca of all
English speaking people who find them
selves in these waters We notice a dark
mass of rock close by, looming up from
the water edge fifty feet or more, dotted
on top with seanty shrubs, and instantly
recognize it as the entrance to that gloomy
cavern so infinitely described in the mis-
sonary annals, within which Gardiner
and his friends tried to make a home, la
Robinson Crusoe in his castle. just be-
You'd reach of the surf a mound of stones
the upper rock Captain Gardeners name
is painted and the year of his death, the
exact date not being known. Near this
rude cailn grows a giant beech tree, to
which Il board has been firmly dashed,
which bears upon it the names of all the
party and asserts that they ''departed
this life after much fatigue and privation
from want of food and that their re-
mains are buried beneath. A little farth-
Ell up the beach. one can yet plainly see
where their pioneer" had rotted in the
sand.
1t seems that while the seven English
men We're perishing by inches, they kept
a daily record of their thoughts and do
ings; and months after they were dead. Il
tardy rescuing party found the journals,
which had been preserved in an almost
miraculous manner from winds and rains
and thieving natives Half sheets of pa
per, written with lead pencils containing
Ineligible sentences though completely
saturated with water torn and otherwise
defaced. | have been permitted to read a
printed copy OF those words traced by dy
ing men, and wish could transcribe them
for YOU entire, 50 full of cheerful faith
and even happiness are they, down to the
last moment. Space will permit but few
extracts, here and there, as follows: Dr.
Williams says, 1--WE all feel the want of
food and sometimes the cravings of hun
ger are distressing. After eating mussels
tor a fortnight, was obliged to give them
up. My food is now wild celery and broth
, made from the soft part OF limpets, when
they can be obtained. Today we dined
ON part OF a shag which was killed while
sleeping on the beach by Mr.. Maidment
ten days ago. 1t was dug up tits morn
ing and proved quite tender, having lost
its tishy flavor.
Captain Gardiner writes: I'VE have
managed to trap a fox and found in its
stomach feathers. fish and mice. He was
ii fine animal, with a splendid brush Abe
it the odium attached to 4 fox. our panty
have already so overcome any such natural
, faStldiousness that this morning they
made 4 hearty breakfast of his 'pluck. Il e
legs and quarters having been cut up and
kept i'll reserve. 1t was not the first eX-
traOrtinarN bonnie bVuch@ Our worthy cat
erer las set upon the spit OF made into
soup for us Weave still confined to bed,
at different times. Sometimes we are ap-
| parently we'll: but the least eNertion. in
talking OF otherwise. las a prustlating in
| tluence that takes days to rally from
"About two months ago ! picked up
| some weed from the rocks which was
boiled as an experiment, in the event of
our requiring ii for food. 1t became toll
elably soft and was easily masticated.
We thought no more of it till few days
ago, when Mr.. Maidment unable to pro
cure either limpets OF mussels. and the
old stalks of celery having become very
unpalatable, added little of it to the
broth. By practice in the cooking of this
weed we have found it to be a providen-
tial supply. 1t will boil to a gluten and
must be very nutritious. 1t is now my
chief diet, since limpets can only be
found at particular periods. The weed
| grows in small punches on the rocks,
and has a thin, crimped, semi trans
parent leaf, resembling picked cab
bage though Of an olive green color. This
jelly weed as we now call it, was pro
videntially brought to our notice. by some
OF it adlering to the fin OF Il mussel in the
sauce pan which was found to dissolve
into soft pulp. | desire to thank my
heavenly Father for directing MS to it, and
for SO mercifully providing a palatablt
diet in our present necessity.
1t was the Ameri can Captain Smiley
who first appeared upon the scene OF this
tragedy. His logbook says: event
on shore in Spaniards Halbor, an(
found IA boat on the beach with one
person dead inside, supposed to bt
Pearce, as we cut the name off his frock
We found another body on the beach com
pletely washed in pieces, which we have
every reason to believe is Door Doctor