Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1893-05-02
AT SEA IN A SAILBOAT
sATTLiNG FOR TwENTY-EleHT DAYS
WITH ADVERSE WINDS.

captain febefGOn OF the bark Lady
LampsOn, his wife and five seamen ar
rived in Honolulu in an emaciated con-
dition. They came in an open boat only
IS feet long and reported that they had
been % days tossing about on the Pacific.
While tho occupants Of the frail craft
were not entirely without provisions dur
ing their long battle with the elements,
the effects Of short commons and lack Of
sleep and shelter were palpably apparent.
Mrs. Peterson. who was clad in a thin
black gown. was worn nearly to a shad-
ow, and her strength failed her COM
pletely as she was lifted from the boat
and taken into the Eagle House.
The men were sunburned, leaden eyed
and listless. Their heads dropped, and It
was with difficulty that they could be
got to speak, but Captain Peterson told
in few words that the Lady Lampson
had been wrecked at night on reef near
Palmyra island when A days out from
Sydney, and the crew were compelled to
take to the boats. He was very weak
and spoke in whisper, at the same time
begging that his wife be taken where she
could get nourishment and little rest.
The Kanakas lent willing hands to
help the waits Of the ocean into hacks
and carriages, and they were quickly
driven to where they could command at
tention. The little boat IN which they
had journeyed over 600 miles became
an object Of interest for hundreds of peO-
pie. TWAS partly decked in with can
vas, and strips Of the same material had
been stretched above the gunwale on Ell
ther side to prevent her being swan ed
In the boat were a couple Of nearly emp
ty water kegs and a small quantity Of
biscuit and canned goods.
81 haven't had my clothing of for %
days" said Captain Peterson when seen
at the Eagle House. He was hollow
checked and unshaven and looked indeed
as if he had suffered both mentally and
physically. "The Lady Lampson, he
said, twas from Sydney, and we were
bound to this port with 600 tons Of coal
for Wilder & Co. We left Sydney last
November and were A days out when
the vessel struck. We had had bad
weather near Feejee, having been in a
hurricane for "a hours, but after that we
had fine northeast winds until we got
near Palmyra island. when the weather
became dirty. It was $3.50 o'clock on the
morning of Jan. IS when we struck. l
had not had an observation for two days.
The night had been dark and stormy,
but the water was smooth then. knew
| was to the east of the island, and that
there was a sunken reef somewhere
around. was on deck myself and had
two men on the lookout aloft. There is
a strong westerly current there. and |
guess we were going about five knots an
hour with all sails set.
Five minutes after she struck she be-
gan to break up. and ordered the boats
ont. We lowered the two boats. took
charge Of one. and First Mate Harry Mil
Ter took the other In my boat there
were, besides my wife and myself. Sec
ond Mate G. Brown and Seaman w.
Carbon Cboth Swedes), Cabin Boy W.
Hayden Of Liverpool. F. Weller. the
cook, who is a German. and e. Everson,
a Norwegian sailor. The mates boat
contained German sailor named Sny-
der Oscar Magnersen. a Swede; j. Jor-
gensen. a German. and seaman named
Martin.
"We started for Palmyra island IN
company about in the morning, having
only FIVE gallons Of waterfOr the two
boats. The island is only 40 miles from
the reef, but the current and tide were
90 strong that we were trying for nine
days to make headway against them, but
couldn't. We drifted to the westward,
90 resolved to put back TO the bark.
We suffered greatly through want OF
water. and we had barely enough 70
moisten our tongues, which were swollen
and dry.
I'VE found the bark settling down and
the water washing over her, 30 we got
aboard quickly and put some canned
| goods, biscuit and water into the boats.
We rugged the boats with canvas and
then started again for Palmyra island.
We tried for two days TO make headway,
but the heavy swell and wind bafied US.
Thinking would lose sight Of the mates
boat, told him TO steer for Honolulu,
and ! steered for here myself. We lost
sight Of the other boat and have had
heavy gales ever since have only had
an hours sleep Mt time during the day,
and have never laid down. At nighttime
the spray came over, wetting us all tC
the skin, and In the day we dried ouI
clothes in the sun, II there was any. The
men have been quiet and accomplishing
even though on short allowance Of food
and water. and. thank goodness, we lost
nobody from our boat. Il was a terrible
experience. though. the worst have met
with during IA years Of seafaring.
After we passed the island Of Maui
we struck a storm, and the boat half
filed with water. We thought then Il
was all over after passing through 50
many other dangers, but we managed To
bail her ont and keep her right. The
first vessel we saw since we struck, q
days ago. was steam schooner OF Dia-
mond head this morning. hope the
mates boat is safe. and n be steered "a
the eastward think they are ali right.
The Lady Lampson was well known
in San Francisco. She belonged 70 J. J,
Moore. Captain Peterson owned aquar.
ter share in her and had his interest in
terest insured for $4,000 In the Fire
mans Insurance company. He reckonl
that he has lost $1,000 In instrumental
furniture, charts and short Insurance
Cor. San Francisco Examiner.
Wou Growing In England,