The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-03-17
ADVENTURE OF THREE WAITS
OF THE SEA.
Shipwreclked Sailors Labor 1875 Hours,
Night and Day-A Thrilling Story
Is Told to London Paper by One
Of the Survivors.


From the London Mail: Three
waits from the sea, who have spent
five months on the island of Tristan
da Cunha, arrived in London on Sat
urday and were seen at the Ship
wrecked Mariners societys home in
Dock street by Daily Mail repre-
sentative last night. The three men
are the steward, Max Smith, and two
sailors, Lazarine Nazar and Albert
Socolos, of the Glenhuntley, a barque
bound from New York to Freemantle.
They sailed on March 80, abandoning
their vessel, which had sprung leak,
on June 4, when within few miles
of Tristan da Cunha. The steward,
German, told the story of their adj
ventures to Daily Mail representa-
tive, while the two sailors listened
attentively. I'VE had very heavy
weather." he said, land almost from
the first we had to work the pumps
The last five days we spent on the
Glenhuntley all hands worked at the
pumps night and day. The captain
was at the wheel all the time and we
had hardly strength to try to launch
the boats. The sea was running so
high that it was only with the great
est difficulty we succeeded in launch
ing the lifeboat and the dinghy. but
Captain Shaw, John Allen and John
(Naorv tho fret
self and the eight men who composed
the crew succeeded in getting afloat
and made for the island, which was
only six miles distant. 1t was almost
as difficult to land as it was to get
into our boats. The lifeboat was
dashed against the rocks and stove
In, but those in the second boat man
aged to land without accident and
helped the others ashore. We landed
on the east side of the island, which
is uninhabited, the settlement being on
the north side, and as soon as we
tried to get our provisions and other
things on shore it began to pour with
rain. We could find no cave, but
managed to start a fire in sheltered
nook, and it was funny sight to see
us trying to dry ourselves one side at
a time before it. We were soaked
through and had had no sleep for five
days. We tried to reach the settle
ment overland, but had to give it Up;
the paths were too bad at that season.
After many attempts We decided to
row around to the inhabited part, as
we were getting short of provisions.
We could not launch our boat for
long time, and when We did the big
waves took it out to sea unexpectedly
and, although there were six of us in
it, there were only two oars. Laza-
rine Nazar put rope around his
waist and volunteered to swim ashore
and fetch two more pairs of cars
This he did successfully, although
there were sharks about. 1t was
long, hard row to reach the settle
ment and we only got near it just be-
fore sunset, by which time the men
were all played out with rowing. The
people of the island noticed us and
sent their own boats to help us. They
took lis off, took us up to the settle
ment, gave us dry clothing, a warm
place in which to rest, and, what was
even more important, something to
eat. AS soon as ever we could we
helped ourselves. We went hunting
and got wild birds and eggs. On one
occasion one of our party was lost
Two days on the mountains while
hunting. Our principal occupation.
however, was trying to signal a pass
ing vessel so as to get taken off. We
knew that British man-of-war would
come sooner or later, but We did all
we could to get off sooner. Several
passing boats were signaled and two
or three gave us provisions or clothing,
and on one of them-the American
Charlton. bound for Hongkong-the
second mate was taken. But most OF
them were either bound for places to
which we did not wish to go or they
said they could not take us. We fin
ally got to Cape Town on the British
gunboat Thrush. There six of our
party remained, but we three decided
to come on here, as we were offered
a passage on the R. NJ. S. Avondale
Castle"