The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-07-25

Scuiyy-strlCken sailing ship
Planet. from Mexico 10
Queenstown, 10y Fred W. Bry-
ant, second mate OF the steamer Crown
Point. Of Philadelphia, is one which
no invention of Mr.. Clark Russell could
surpass in interest The Planet, de-
layed by head winds and hurricanes,
was l67 days out, and her food had
gone bad" when she siGnaled the
Crown Point and asked for a tow. H5I
erratic movements had already at
racted attention; something was clear
ly wrong. Mr.. Bryant was sent aboard
her and the case explained. a hawser
was then attached, but il parted with
the first strain. and his captain decided
not 10 try 10 tow, If Mr. Bryant would
undertake 10 sail the vessel into port
with such help as her sick crew could
give.
The young man thought he could do
IL; IL should be but a week 10 Queens
town. He found that the first mate
had already died; the second mate and
the captain were dying. There was no
well man on board. and some were
suffering terribly. The vessel belonged
in Hamburg. and of the German crew
but one man spoke English. and he
employed this language promptly 10
inform his new officer that there We're
other foes besides the scurvy on board
the second mates terrier, which
guarded his berth and would not leave
it, had hydrophobia, while the vessel
was infested with poisonous "schmall
schnakes nit feet''-that is, scorpions,
which had escaped from the logwood
OF which the cargo consisted.
Another trouble was that the ships
medicines-and Bryant had 10 be pre-
scribing physician as well as sick nurse
and navigator-proved TO be labeled in
German, which he could not under
stand nor his ignorant interpreter
translate.
The Crown Point had left good pro-
visions for week, but the ship was
becalmed and they ran short. Worse
than lack Of food was lack Of sleep,
which he could not be spared 10 take.
From the log-book which he kept dur
ing that dreadful fortnight some en-
tries have been published. They need
no touch from any romancer's pen TO
heighten the picture.
Friday. Called at 100 n. m. to go
10 second mate. but went on deck first,
and found ship staggering under main
royal with nearly q gale Of wind blow
ing. Took in royal, foretopgallantsail
mizzentopmast staysail, gafftops and
out jib. Saw second mate, who ap-
pears TO be delirious and wants me
with him all the time. ] saw that he
couldn't possibly last long, poor fellow.
Second mate died. Nobody
but the boy Max and was with him
at the end. l am pleased 10 say that
be lost consciousness about four o'clock
and his death was a very peaceful one.
Took in maintopgallantsail
What with the death Of that poor man
and a gale blowing, my hands are
pretty full / do wish ] could get some
sleep. 7.3O p. N. Buried sec
ond mate, Max reading prayers for the
dead from the German prayer book.
Blowing a gale with mountainous sea.
Ship plunging heavily at times.
sunday. Breeze dies away again.
and We are becalmed. This is perfect.
ly sickening. and ] feel nearer dis
heartened tonight than ! have done
before. My head is very funny, and /
am afraid 10 lie down at all, for feel !
am thinking Of three or four things
at once. hope ] shall not 20 off my
head. ] don't think have far 20 go"
His strength held out, however. and
port was reached in safety The res.
cued crew, already recovering under
his care, thanked their exhausted pre-
server with three deep-throated Ger
man cheers as he left the ship
The story became public through the
testimony necessary 10 adjudicata the
salvage. and Mr.. Bryant was thanked
by the British Board OF Admiralty. and
promoted by the owners who employed
him-a happy ending 10 a grim ana
trrr1acprna vC--ouo