The evening times., 1900-02-06

IN the ghJ the wind dropped and
strong current carried us down the coast
1t 10 q. m. the following day. August %.
We were met by the Concord which told
us that San Fernando had been blocbaded
with the other ports and that we could
not go in but they sold US provisions and
gave us fresh water, as ours had gone bad
We then left the coast and after meeting
the Concord again on August p. we struck
the Scarboro shoal at a. m. on September
3. nine days later Captain Crocker and
I were in the cabin al the time. but We
rushed on deck and let go all sails and
halyards, as we found the ship TO be we'll
up on a coral reef. and spent the -est Of
the day In trying 10 back on with the sails
and haul of with the anchors. but it was
no go, as the cable chains all snapped on
the corals, the ship being too firmly
Wedged
We had cleared the boats when the
vessel first struck, and as the tide in its
rise and fan was breaking the back OF
the vessel. we decided TO abandon her.
Nobody slept that night and all set TO
on the second day cutting up spars.
bComs and gaffs into lengths. with the
topmast, and lashiug these together We
nailed the planks from the cabin top
across, thus forming a raft in which we
placed a case Of bOyril. water One-haIf
tin Of biscuit. and some flour.
Finding the ship wasn't breaking as
/ rapidly as we thought we then proceeded
TO build a boat not trusting the raft for
safety. We did this by saving the iibboom
in half Tor a keel, lashing the hatch bars
10 this FOR a stem and stern. and liking
the whole solid with frames of wood. We
took the foresail and covered the rough
frame, sewing it fore and aft and knottins
/ the reef points to prevent leaking we Gov
cred the structure with three coats OF
paint We had already jettisoned the
greater part of the cargo and launched the
ships boats. Two men we're in her try
ing 20 place provisions when the storm
upset her, sraving In her side on the reef
\ Fight With sharks
The men we're in the water and a mum
Der Of sharks were swimming in plain
sight causing the men to cry out IN fear.
so the captain and ] used our rifles TO keep
them of They finally managed 10 right
The boat and after signaling with their
hands during which they drifted further
out we cut the raft loose and they man
aged 20 catch hold of IT, We now had
nothing left but the canvas boat which
was anchored astern. away from the break
ers. so a sailor swan out TO IL. while We
kept the sharks of with out rifles. and a
line was passed.
We then passed in a small keg and
drum of water. some bOvril, biscuits. and
a little -four, the navigation books instru-
ments etc The raft signaled not to mind
them. and with paddles of our mauufac-
ture We struck out There were eight Of
us in this shaky canvas boat and we had
10 stand on the frames for fear Of going
through the canvas. The last we saw OF
the raft was before dark and we saw moth
ing Of them afterward.
For eight days we padded this way
dividing the watches and doling the ra-
tions, and Il was fortunate the weather
was fine and the sea calm or our shell
could not have lasted. During the journey
We could not prevent the Cinnamon from
drinking sea water. but contrary TO an
traditions they didn't go raving mad.
"On the sixth day We sighted a distant
mountain peak. and as we drew nearer
we sighted land II was then we did our
hardest padding though progress seemed
terribly slow. Then a slight sQuall blew
of land filling our boat with water and
driving us further out but with favora-
bic wind the following day We reached
land by p. m