Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-03
At POINT OF DEATH.
CONTINUED from page ~

The story of the last rescue, as printed,
Sunday. is as follows:
Another chapter in the narrowing
story of the lost French fishing vessel
valiant was completed. Saturday. with
the arrival at ST. Pierre of the brigan-
tine Amedee with another quartet of
half-frozen survivors.
Last Tuesday. four We're landed who
had been rescued from dory. and told
of the laundering of their ship. with the
probable loss of 10 souls. 1t now trans
pires that a second boat braved the perils
of the ocean though most of her living
freight persisted from the cold endured.
This boat the largest the ship had con-
tanned q persons when 1t left the wreck
on the night of April IA. Like the other
boats. It was launched in hot haste. and
men crowded into II after a desperate
struggle on the ships deck as to who
should get places In the boats. 1t put
off without provisions or water, without
oars or sails. and few of the men had any
covering except the clothing they hud-
died on as they were aroused from sleep
During six days they tossed about on
the wide expansc OF ocean, and each DAY
saw their number decrease. The Geld on
the Grand Banks AT this season Is in
tense, and fishermen who have endured II
even when fully clothed. say II is almost
impossible To withstand. one source OF
food they had--the ships dog, which was
in the ,oat-and when The pangs OF hun
killed the canine and kept the vital spark
alive by the suStenauce 1t afforded, but,
insufiiciently clothed. as they We're, they
could not stand the cold, and after the
second day out. the weaker ONES began
to die and every few hours saw their
number lessen. The survivors threw the
bodies overheard. first denuding them OF
their outer garments, to help keep them
selves warm.
The captain, who had command of the
dQV and If
not till the night Of the sixth that they
we're rescued.
They endured the most horrible tor
ments. They were overcrowded at the
first. and half their number had to be in
the bottom while the others occupied the
thwarts reversing the positions every
few hours This insured some sleep for
all. but the penalty for 1t was that they
were thoroughly soaked with the salt
spray which swept over the boat. This
froze solidly after nghtfall. encasing
them as II were. in clothes of ice, and
their neither limbs became frostbitten,
until death ended their snfferings.
Several became insane from the misery
of their situation. and the few who es-
cauei this danger had much trouble IN
preventing the others from overturnine
the boat or doing some other crazy deed
which would have brought about dlsas-
trous results
The first death occurred the third
morning. and this prompted the survivors
to XIII the dog. Nnlch was ulNlueh up lnNo
small portions and doled out to each man.
but it was unavaiing for most of them
and each nights fall of temperature re-
suited in additional deaths. Next morn
ing. without oars or sails, they were
powerless to get to land. and the float
ing ice masses. frequently threatening to
crush them every moment. sent agony
through their stilfened frames and dur
ing the last 50 hours they Were only
partly conscious of their surroundings.
They lay in the boats bottom. half
soaked in water. and having no more
food. had given up all hope of recovery
but at 10 =. NJ. the night of the 10Th Of
April Just six days after leaving the
wreck. one of the four providentially
awoke and. looking over the side. saw
an approaching light He reused the
others, and they united their voices in .
hoarse shout, which was heard aboard
the brig Amedee. which was just run
ming over them. She altered her helm so
speedily that the boat was almost
swampcd by the wash from her and
soon the four men We're tenderly hoisted
aboard and cared for. 1t was a week
before they became conscious. and they
then awoke to the realization of their
misfortunes.
All four are so badly frost-bitten that
their legs must be amputated above the
knees, ana two OF them will lose their
hands. besides. Their condition is most
pitiable.
Except the boat first rescued, they saw
none of the several doricS which left the
ship. and believe all these were crushed
among the ice. The first boat they parted
company with the third day out. and
never expected to hear of her again.
The absence of clothes told severely
more might have survived. Cannibalism
was not attempted in this case. all the
bodies having been thrown overheard for
the sake of their clothes.