The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-01-09
THEY FOUGHT DEATH
OFF CAPE HORN

The British ship Clan Macpherson
Mcdonald, which arrived from AM
w.rp yesterday. brings story o.
tragedy and heroism In an incident o.
the voyage while rounding the Horn.
A scotch apprentice boy lost hia life
by falling from the rigging OF the YES
sci into the sea. and Mate snaw. az
Irish boatswain. and two Chilean sail
ors made brave attempt at rescue.
but failed.
The Clan Macpherson had a fairly
g6od voyage until reaching the Horn.
where. on October 81. she struck q
heavy gale. hail squalls and a villain.
Gus southwest sea. Just as the gale was
coming on. and as the ship was rolling
dangerously, men were sent aloit TO
loosen the fore-topsail. Among those
who went up was William Todd. l6-
year-old apprentice. The work vas
completed and the young Scotchman
made an effort TO reach the deck In
stepping from the lower topsail yard
to the top mast rigging he missed his
hold and his companions were horri-
fed as they saw his body twirling down
towards the deck. He fell on the lower
rigging. the fall breaking two rat lines
about ten feet above the vessels rail.
and then was swept OF into the sea.
Quickly a life-buoy and a line were
thrown to him. He caught hold OF he
line and held on for a few seconds. but
with every roll Of the ship his arms
we're nearly jerked from their socket,
and he finally had to let go.
Meanwhile q life boat was being
launched. The boatswain was the first
to risk his life in the boiling seas by
clambering into the boat. Mate Shaw
followed him. but the sailors seemed
to stand aloof from the risk until two
Chilean sailors made rush and also
entered the boat. Captain Mcdonald
gives these latter great praise for Their
bravery. AS the boat was launched.
the seas caught it. and driving 1t hard
against the side of the vessel, stove a
hole in 1t. The boat, Of course, took
in large quantities Of water, and 1t was
almost impossible to manage 1t, but the
five brave men handling it stuck to
their work and finally reached the life
buoy that had been thrown to the
drowning boy. The tanks Of the boat
kent It afloat, but on reaching the buoy
the hardy men found that the Scotch
lad was nowhere in sight. by this time
they were two miles away from tt'
ship, which was also laboring heavily
in the sea. They continued their search
for over an hour. and finally gave up
hope OF finding the young apprentice
Darkness would come on soon and the
men had to reluctantly give up the
search and return to their vessel
Every man was wet to- the skin. the
seas were pouring over the boat, and
there was danger that they might not
be able to reach the ship. After hard
work they got alongside and took a
line, which was fastened to the PROV
OF the boat. They lay on the vessels
lee side, but it was impossible for those
aboard the vessel to furnish any means
of getting on board. as the big shin
was rolling and at each turn seemed
ready to swamp the boat alongside
As the vessel rolled, the lee rail went
down to the water, and was thus put on
level with the rescuers' boat. Get
! ting as close as possible to the ship
! the men watched their chances and as
the rail OF the ship plunged into the
water they jumped for it, and being
grabbed by their fellows were safe on
board. 1t took some time for this op-
Grafton, and when an attempt was
made to haul the damaged life boat on
board the rrow was torn out and IL
went adrif. The boat was then aban-
daned. as Captain Mcdonald did not
wish to put his crew to any further risk
in an effort to recover IT.
The crew of the Macpherson are
about as mixed q lot as ever entered
this port on one vessel. They were
shipped in Antwerp. and are made W
OF men from Chile. Holland, Germany
Sweden England, the West Indies. the
United States, Ireland. and Scotland,
J The vessel will discharge a portion
Of her cargo Of $500 tons OF cement and
phosphate at the Railway wharf and
then proceed to Tacoma, where sh'
will discharge the remainder and viii
load cargo Of wheat for the United
Kingdom.
The second mate OF the vessel hal
been III throughout the voyage, and his
place has been filled by the boatswain
|