The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-15
NINE MEN AND A MONKEY.
Steamer st. Ninian Rescues Them I'm
the Indian Ocean.

Philadelphia North American.
A terrible tale of shipwre-k and privation
in the Indian ocean was brought 10 this
port yesterday by the steamer st. Ninian.
Captain Haynes brought home as a memen-
to of the rescue of the shipwrecked mari
ners a very intelligent monkey
The captain tells the Following story:
I'VE were on our way to Philadelphia from
Batoum, via Sourabaya, and on June ~
we ran into the tail end Of a heavy south
west monsoon. Towards evening we sighted
a dhow a few miles to leeward OF us. labor
ing heavily, and apparently disabled. She
was flying signals of distress, so We bore
down on her to see what the trouble was.
Running close enough TO her to observe
what was going on about her decks. We
saw that her entire crew were lying about
on the deck, apparently asleep or dead.
The storm was still blowing heavily. but
be alive we hove to and sent a volunteer
crew on board The boat, in charge of my
sell, Was soon alongside, and we We're
the deck.
1.-The sight that met our eyes was one of
the most horrible 1 have ever witnessed.
Lying on the deck were nine men. evidently
natives of India. Their eyes and cheeks
seemed to be nothing but holes In their
faces. Over the bones and cords OF their
one oDe'e could ide be s1 coun Mea ' What little liz enc Clothing fane
they had on hung on them like bagging.
We thought at first that they were dead,
but a weak groan from one of them in
formed us to the contrary We got up the
water and provisions from the boat and
tried to feed the men. We soon found that
this was impossible, however. as their
want of water that they could not swallow
anything. We gave chem some water and
then proceeded to get them down into the
boat. AS the men lifted the first man he
gave a groan and tried to say something.
but his throat was so swollen that he could
not talk. He looked eagerly toward Sne
foremast, however, and following the direc-
ton of his glance 1 saw a brown monkey
sitting by the combings of the mast and
whining piteously. / saw that the man
wanted the monkey saved before he was.
We put the animal I'm the boat and then
lifted the men in one by one.
we were soon back on board the st. Nj
man, and after about two days of careful
nursing We succeeded in saving the lives If
the nine Indians. Our steward is a native
of India, and through him we learned that
the dhow belonged to the Rajah of Clutch.
bay. They said that they were members of
the Rajah's household, and had been 10
Zanzibar on business for their ruler. They
said that ten days before they were picked
up they had struck the monsoon, which we
caught the last of, and were dismasted.
Nearly all their provisions were spoiled by
their 's supply MS' of fresh res wa" wat ere T Psseyr hn pdr been q,
living on raw rice for five days. and for
three they had no water. They had almost
conciuded to draw lots to see which one
ers. but had to pupt ii off from day to day,
until finally their water gave out and they
saw that it would be useless. When we
picked them up the dhow was in a sinking
condition.
w landed them at Minakoi. and as a
mark of their gratitude for saving their
lives they presented me with their monkey,
which is a very intelligent animal. and one
for which. 1 would not take $1,000 in gold
We named the monkey Sam Minakoi. / put
the monkey in charge of the ships carpen-
ter. who taught 1t many wonderful tricks.
Among other things 1t Is an inveterate
smoker. When given a pipe of tobacco IL
has to be taken away forcibly If i want il
- 81 I? smoking. The ~ rkey and i lave
had many pleasant smokes together"