The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-02
LOSS OF THE MARY s. AMEs.
Thrill ng Experiences of Her officers
and Crew.

and Crew.
Sometime ago the MoRNING News
printed extracts from a letter of Glen
O'Byrne of this city, written from Tam
arang Java, to friends here, describing
the voyage of the Inflated bark Mary S
Ames, from Savannah to Tamarang
where she put in, and the thrilling ex-
periences of her officers and crew.
The bark was fitting out at Tamarang
for voyage to South Africa when
O'Byrne wrote Joe Pelot, another
Savannah boy, was among the crew of
the bark, but deserted her at Tamarang,
putting of from the vessel in a boat with
two other sailors, and was never heard
from, the supposition being that they
were picked up by some passing vessel.
The bark sailed for South Africa and
was lost. O'By rne was among the saved.
Letters have just been received inProvince-
town, Mass, Capt. Knowles home, from
Iamataye, Madagascar, written by Mrs.
Knowles, giving interesting details of the
loss of the vessel and the subsequent do
ings of the ships company.
The bark was badly strained in a cy-
clonic storm in the Indian ocean. and
sank Tuesday June Il. shortly after those
VI OOell "a lAetd 4CAG AiCL III wv UUdIS. Out
boat was in charge of the mate, John
| Harult, and with him were the cook,
| O'Nell; the pilot, Morrison, and Charlie
henderson, seaman.
The other boat contained Capt.
Knowles, his wife and the others of the
crew, making nine in the captains boat,
which, with water and provisions,
| brought her gunwale nearly level with
the water. During Sunday night the
boats parted company, and the mates
boat was never seen again.
The land of Madagascar was sighted on
Thursday, but in pulling in for the shore
| 1t was seen TO be fringed with a solid wall
! Of huge breakers extending from the land,
over which it seemed impossible to carry
| boat safely. Thinking that they might
! be picked up by a passing vessel, and not
| knowing their exact position, they pulled
! slowly along the shore well outside the
! line of breakers.
The next day their water was all gone,
and they began to suffer much from
| thirst No friendly sail came in sight,
! and the rays of the sun and pangs of
thirst were becoming unbearable, so it
was determined TO attempt TO land, the
| occupants of the boat preferring death
| by drowning in the breakers to the more
horrible and suffering one by starvation
and thirst.
Selecting as favorable spot as posi-
! ole, Jne boat was headed Tor the shore, on
| which could be seen a group of natives
watching them and making signs. Just
before reaching the shore the boat was
lifted on the back of a huge breaker.
which carried it with railroad speed TO
the land. The natives on the beach
rushed into the water and hauled the
boat out of the surf.
The natives took them into the interior
! to their village and treated them kindly.
| Here they learned that there was a white
man living twenty miles away and a ma
! tive was sent to bring him. Upon his ar
rival he was found to be Jinkerson, of the
mates boat, which he said was capsized
in attempting to land some miles to the
| north of where the captains boat landed
and all but Jinkerson were drowned in the
| surf
He wandered around in the woods for
| some days, with no clothing but flannel
! shirt, subsisting on berries and fruits
| When he at last was found by some French
! soldiers he was in crazed condition, ana
1t was some time before he could tell a
! coherent story.
! Capt. Knowles and his party were taken
| to Tamatave, where they were kindly
| cared for by the consul and the French
| inhabitants of the place. The party were
unable to leave on the steamer that took
the letters, but expected to leave on the
next French mail steamer, the last of
| August, for France.