The Bessemer indicator., 1893-07-01
AFLOAT ON THE SEA.
EXPERIENCE OF A SPANISH
LAD IN AN OPEN BOAT.
IIe Was Adrift Nine Days-oniy Hunger
and Thirst Wer, His Companions,
hut He Lived aud fs Now
Growing Strong.

Jacob Angelo Anselc, purser OF the
Ward Line steamship Trinidad, told
the following story to New York
Recorder reporter, as he had learned
it from letter received from his
mother, who lives in Falmouth,
Jamaica. in whose house the boy
whose suirerings are described is
steadily recovering his health and
strength.
Benito Cid is Spanish lad, who
lived near Santiago dc Cuba. He is
fond of fishing, aud once tried to
persuade some companions to go
with him for few hours sport
None would accompany him, SO
Benito borrowed boat belonging to
his employer, Thomas Green, an
English mine owner, and boldly put
out to sea alone. The craft was q
mere cookie shell. and Benito was
not q skillful navigator, but he had
no fears of his ability to take care of
himself He fishcd until nightfall.
and then started to return, when, to
his horror, he found that he had
drifted out of sight of land, and that
further and further away from his
home and friends.
He made frantic efforts to return.
but they were of no avail, and having
thoroughly exhausted himself he
sank into the bottom of the boat and
went to sleep. AT daybreak he awoke
and eagerly scanned ihe horizon for
land or sail. Land was not in sight,
and there were no ships near enough
to answer his signals of distress and
appeals for aid. He had literally no
food, having only intended to be out
for an hour or so when he started,
and the only receptacle he had on
board which was capable OF contain
ing water was small sardine box,
in which he carried his bait.
For two days he drifted thus, pray
ing for rain to wet his parched lips
Ship after ship was sighted. but he
could not attract their attention, and
he knew not where he was or whither
he was going. On the night of the
third day it rained little and he
caught enough water In his sardine
box to partially quench the fierce
thirst that was consuming him. He
had small lantern with him which
he lighted and hoisted at night in the
hope OF attracting attention, but this
was of no avail, and after three days
more of hideous and indescribable
torture from hunger and thirst he
prayed to the virgin for the repose OF
his soul and lay down to die.
Presently he sunk into stupor,
and in time unconsciousness followed.
How long he remained in this con-
dition he does not know, but when lie
awoke from it he thought he could
see land in the distance. but ho was
too weak to rise. For another day
and another night he lay in tho bot
tom of the boat praying for rescue or
death, and for the second time be-
came unconscious from his sufferings.
What reused him from this he never
knew, but when hc opened his eyes
the sun was just disappearing in the
west and his feeble vision could sec
waving palms in tho distance. The
welcome roar OF breakers not far
away greeted his cars. and with
throbbing head and wildly beating
heart he scrambled slowly and pain
fully to his feet and managed by an
almost superhuman oifort to raise tho
little sail with which his boat was
equipped.
A friendly breeze took him onward,
and he sank to the bottom OF the
boat again to watch and wait and
hope. Presently he fclt the kocl of
his prison shin prate uDon the snnd
and, raising his head so that he
could lean over tho gunwales, saw
the beach only 100 yards distant.
With the last of his remaining
strength he dragged himself over the
boats side into the water. This par.
TALLY revived him so that he was