The broad ax., 1898-01-15

spent the night at the Scandinavia
Sailors home. by the West India
docks, and left for Norway the next
morning:
Inc bark was on her way laden with
coal from Newcastle, N. s. W., to Hon.
oiulu. They were threading their way
through these dangerous seas, amid
the treacherous currents which rage
nereaoouts-sweeping backward and
FORWARD at the rate OF as much as forty
70 nrty miles in the twenty-four hours
when late one night they struck.
They backed the yards, but in vain.
fne park was fast, and her back was
broken. Two boats were hurriedly
lowered, eight men, including the cap
tain and Mr.. OLSEN, getting into one,
the chief mate and seven men getting
into the other. They lay on the sunk
en- reef on which they had struck until
daylight, hoping that they would be
able to get more food, and especially
the sextant and chronometer. But
when day dawned the seas were beat
ing nercely over her and they steered
northward. hoping to make Christmas
island, or some inhabited land. The
crew had only two breakers Of water,
a few tins OF beef, salmon and sardines
and a bag or two of biscuits. They
had also a compass and a chart OF the
South seas and various odds and ends
Being close to the equator, which, as
a matter OF fact, they crossed twice
before they eventually reached land,
the sun beat down upon them merci-
lessly, though now and then clouds hid
1t for while, and also kept them sup
piled with water. The rain water was
caught in the sails, and thence poured
into the breakers. The allowance was
four spoonfuls at 6 in the morning and
four spoonfuls at 6o'clock at night.
The men kept watch as though they
had been in their own ship-four on
and four on. One steered, one saw
to the sail, the other bailed perhaps
that is. until they could not walk from
one end Of the boat to the other. But
though fearfully weak, this was not
yet. The captain was the first to 60.
About dinner time chow prim these ev-
cry day words sound in dealing with
such story the captain said to Mr..
OLSEN: "Olssen-I don't think I shall
last long" "Oh. yes, captain, you will"
Give me a little water, OLSEN" said
the captain. So OLSEN. seeing that he
was nearly dead, called to the steward |
and whispered: Let him have Just a
spoonful" The captain swallowed It |
and lay down on the thwarts. When |
OLSEN looked down again he was dead. |
This was about 5 o'clock in the after
nooa. The captain had brought a bag
with DJm and clothes in It, charts and /
one or Two trifles after the wreck.
They took of his watch. which con-
tanned photographs of his wife and /
children. emptied a bag and reverently
placed the captain in IT. They spoke
as much as they could remember of
the service for the dead. sang some
simple hymn which is sung in Norwe-
gian houses when one is dead, lifted
his remains on to the gunwale and let
hi1l fail gently into the ocean. He
sank at once.
At last they took their last meal and
FOR six days never tasted food. On the
morning land was sighted and
they came up to one Of the innumer-
able coral islands which stud the
southern seas. A fearful surf was
ASKING It, but they ran the boat
ashore. She was shivered to little bits.
Two natives Of the Ffjian group came
running down, one brandishing a
omahawk and a long knife; but he
vas able to speak little English, and :
IN Mr.. OLSEN saying they were ship ,
wrecked men, the two natives and their
antilles proved good friends to the ;
miserable men. The carpenter was
Ielirious and could not walk. 50 they
Wheeled him up to the huts In a wheel
arrow. The rest being too weak 10
Valk alone took one another's arms
nd thus managed to follow their com
AIDES. I
The Fijians gave them three bottles
{ beer and the remains OF some chick =
n; they also killed q pig, cooking II
4 the ground In native fashion. But I
OF one Of the men was hungry. How
yer, in q few days they slowly began ,
} recover the use Of their limbs, all
ut poor Chips. the carpenter, who
led. He was q ZEN Of 60.
And now began their life on this ..
ny island. which was practically a
esert, but for q few bananas and .,
'coanut palms. They built them
lives q hut. cut roads, planted little, .
repaired copra, and did the best they n
'uld- During six months the turtles
me ashore to deposit their eggs, and n
ere caught. eaten or dropped for N
oek into tiny lagoon in the middle
the island. They caught some small n,
abirds. Of which Mr. OLSEN does not ~
low the name. ate eocoanuts. and for y
treat had one Of the few fowls or
e which belonged TO the natives.
his was not luxurious fare. Luckily n
ey found among some tools a pair "
scissors. and never, therefore. grew q