New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-18
ROLLING IN MIDAIR.
TWO JAPANESE SAILORS SWING FROM 4
GASKET OVER TOSSING SEAS.
ONE FALLS TO HIS DEATH ON THE DECK AND
THE OTHER IN THE BILLows-A WEIRD
ORIENTAL FUNERAL FOLLOWS AT

THE OTHER IN THE BILLOws-A WEIRD
ORIENTAL FUNERAL FOLLOWS AT
NIGHT on THE ANDELANA.
Captain Luke Gillies. the bluff skipper OF the
big four-masted steel ship Andeana, which ar
rived here Sunday night after long and
tedious voyage Of 1Ss days from Hiogo. has sailed
many voyages in many ships to all parts Of the
world but never before did he meet such per-
sistently battling and contrary winds as on the
voyage just completed. He had good ship and
a good crew all Of whom We're japanese, and the
skipper declared they were the best crew he had
shipped. The voyage was marred by the
loss of two OF the nlnlble little sailors. The cap
tain also regretted the loss of his chicken-coop.
which was carried away The chicken-coop was
no ordinary receptacle for the toothsome barn.
yard fowl, but was stout and handsome anair
that had accompanied the skipper on scores or
voyages. Captain Gillies was found yesterday at
the offices of his agents. and readily told OF his
voyage.
More than six months ago the Andeana sailed
out OF port and for days after dropping her
pilot in the China Sea she ran into a typhoon
that lasted two days and made things extremely
lively while 1t lasted. The crew consisted OF
thirty men all told twenty-three OF whom
made up the japanese crew. the rest being Of
the Pacific was SLOW and the skipper had great
difficulty in getting to the southwark, as the
weather was succession OF light airs and calms.
Finally. on the coast Of Chill. the Andeana
caught a fair breeze which lasted until she had
rounded the Horn.
on November 25 about a. m, while south
of the Horn. in a fresh west-northwest gale two
Of the crew, Sakutoro Sotebs and Gcnrio Sasa-
kura, were on the weather mainyard furng
SAIL and, in trying to tie a gasket around
SAIL the gasket slipped, and both men lost their
balance and fell. The men succeeded in catch
ing on to the gasket and swung In midair nearly
five minutes, while the ship rolled fearfully.
The skipper was oa deck and ordered the helm
down to bring the ship up into the wind. and az
he gave his order Sotebs let go and fell on
deck striking on spare spars. breaking
his back and receiving other injuries. Another
roll Of the ship swung Sasakura far outboard
and broke his grip on the gasket. In his down.
ward plunge he struck the forebrace and fell
into the sea. Captain Gillles threw him buoy.
and the cry Of Man overheard brought all
hands on deck In describing the scene. the
skipper said the man rose once, smiled at him
once, and disappeared.
1t was some time before the ship could be
hove TO- and while the boatswain was sent TO
the mizzen riggings as lookout, boat was
lowered and five men, IN charge Of Second Mate
Lurcock searched the unavailingly for the
unfortunate Jap" The ship had gone to lee
ward and the man had probably been swept
far TO windward. Sotebs. although fearfully in
jured, lived until January I, when he died.
Both the skipper and the carpenter had turn
for doctorng. and they did all In their power
for him.
That night there was a strange Oriental tu-
neral scene on the Western waters. The sailors
fellow countrymen took charge Of the body ana
carefully prepared 1t for burial 1t was sewsd
up In a piece Of canvas, into which plentirui
supply Of biscuits to last Sotebs on his Ions
Journey were closely packed around the oody.
The body was then placed on the main hatcn
and the remaining twenty-one japanese, dressed
especially for the ceremony, gathered around the
improvlsed bier each holding a colored waxen
japanese taper in his hand. Throughout the
night the men stood there. chanting words unin-
telligibe TO the skipper.
When the last Japanese burial rites had ended
the crew granted the skippers request to read
the Christian burial sermon over the body, whlcn
was then shot into the deep
From the Horn TO Hatteras the weather was
changeabe. but when the stormy Cape was
reached, the Andelana fought with heavy gales
ard head and the skipper lost his beloved
chicken coop The vessel Is loaded with mating
and curios consigned to Delacamp and Company.