The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-10
TERRIBLE TALE OF THF SEA.
Harrow ns Story Of the CreVe Of a
PeVer-Stricken Ship.
DRIVEN PROH The SHORE TO DIE
The Ship Wrecked In Sight OF Port i"r
Want of Help to Bring Her Out Oh
Danser-lnhuman Treatment
b, the KodigsurN.

LIVERPOOL. July 9The correspon-
dent of the Associated Press has had an
interview with Mrs. Andrew Christie
widow OF Captain Christie. Of the wreck
ed British ship Traveller. which went On
the reefs OF the Island of RodigueI in
the Indian ocean. thirty-three miles nortn
east OF Mauritlus on the attn o. last Feb
ruary.
Mrs Christie tells terrible story OF
the suferings OF the survivors. Almost
Immediately after the Traveller left Java
for the DellNare breakWater, Java teN''
broke out and spread rapidly. ktcrypody
on board was more or less dHected' IN
cluding the Christie baby, which died and
was buried at sea.
Another victim loaped overheard and
WAS drowned. on December lith the
chief oficer died. and on December Stn
Captain Christie sucCumbed, leaving only
ten men TO man the snip. Second Mate
Ritch then decided TO steer for Mauritius,
and wnen the Traveller finally approach
ed Rodigerucx Island. only TWO seamen
were able to work ship.
LOOKED IN VAIN FOR HELf.
A pilot who was put out from the Is
land, on learning the state OF affairs, re-
fused 10 go on board, ana returned 10
the shore where be spread the report that
everybody on the Traveller had the yel-
low jack.
Hours passed and no assistance came.
The second mate. fearing the Traveller
would 20 ashore launched a boat and
took the sick survivors with him with a
view OF landing them. The Governor AMI
inhabitants OF the Island rushed down 20
the shore and threatened 10 shoot them
il they landed Mr.. Ritch appealed TO
them, implorlng them II they were Chris
tians, not To behave inhumanly lie said
that his men were too weak 10 pull back
10 tho ship and that IL they succeeded
In getting there they would probably DC
drowned. lie asked for assistance TO take
tho Traveller out Of her dangerous posi-
ton and begged for medicine.
ROUGHLY IGNORED.
His appeals were roughly ignored and
he was obliged to put about and go back
TO tho vessel which they finally reached
almost dead with exhaustion and despair.
The last man had scarcely quilted the
row boat when 1t was swept away and
lost.
No assistance came, and that night the
Traveller was carried upon the reefs and
wrecked.
The next morning the Rodlgeruez sent
a pilot and brought on Mrs. Christie. her
surviving children. and others. and then.
with the assistance OF blacks from the
island. the survivors were taken 10 a
desolate sand island in the vicinity.
where they were kept for twenty-five
days. living in huts, made OF leaves. and
with nothing but leaves TO lie upon. So
fearful were the Rodigoruez Of contact
that the food for the survivors was
transferred from boat TO boat before II
was finally left upon the beach OF the
Sand Island.
INHUMAN TREATMENT
Blacks were sent to cook, hut no
physician came for a fortnight. and
even when he did come. according to
Mrs. Christie. he did not land, but OK
amined the sick through a glass from
his boat
Meanwhile two had died. and the second
mate was tho only man strong enough
10 dig their graves on the 22d day, re-
alizlng the monsoon would submerge the
Sand Island the Rodigeruez moved the
| unfortunate 10 Rodigeruez, where they
remained two months. and were well
treated.
From that point they were carried TO
Mauritius, and then proceeded home
wards.
Mrs. Christie says that the behavior
OF the Rodigeruez IS all the more inexplI-
cable. in view Of the fact that they al
lowed large part Of the cargo OF the
| Traveller to be saved