The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-01

serving as q mldShlpmar
IA q on board II. NJ. S. Keno
L 4 phon in the South Seas.
\RoR She was one Of the finest
frigates then afoat.
From Callao, twelve degrees south
latitude, we were ordered to proceed
to San Bias, a port on the coast OF
Mexico, in twenty-three and one-half
8degreeS north latitude. The distance
being about 240O miles, the passage
through both trade winds as a rule
occupied three weeks, and for this the
Xenophon carried more than a full
supply of water, so that it occurred to
no one to suppose we should run short
of the first necessary of life. We left
Callao> OH February 16, and on the
eleventh day out the Galapagos group
was sighted, and we came to an anchor
in Post Office Bay, Charles Island.
Here we hoped to replenish our water
tanks, but 10 water could be obtained,
and we sailed without any further
supply. 1t was from this time that our
jill luck began.
For sixteen days we remained be-
Gained within sight of land, drifting
to and fro, crossing and recrossing the
equator with wearying irritation. On
the SEVENTEEN day we got a slant of
wind, and, losing sight of the islands,
hoped we were fairly off at last. But it
was not to be. In two days the wind
dropped again. and We lay once more
Reclaimed. Thirty-six days out, and
barely one-third of the distance done!
On March 20 the order was given to
stop all water for washing purposes.
It was a necessity, and as such it was
accepted, but when it was seen that
Captain Lordling had no intention of
setting an example, and that his own
additions continued daily, it is not sur
prising that he became unpopular. An
other week passed, and still we lay at
the mercy of the wearisome calm, its
3monotony broken only by an occasional
turtle hunt. 1t was now the seventh
week out from Callao, but still our
aching eyes looked in vain for signs
of a coming breeze. The sails were
furled, for they were only beating
themselves threadbare with the heave
Of the ship in the oily sea as they
tapped against the masts and rigging.
Coming on deck and glancing at the
sailless yards made it seem a mockery
of being at anchor in a safe port. The
n,, fo-al rnrfioo I1u of TIC from a STOOL
blue sky, and under the double awnings
The pitch ran liquid from the seams,
elogging our feet as we walked the
deck.
And in the midst Of these surround
sngs the order was given to reduce the
allowance of drinking water to one
pint a day for each officer and man.
This allowance was served out in one
issue at noon, during the mems dinner
hour. The meal consisted Of salt junk
30 long in brine and so hard that it
eeuld take a handsome polish III skill
full hands, OF Of pork that Shriveled
n the boiling to little more than hard
rind.
The result Of such a diet, Of course,
was that when their dinners were over
bot a drop Of water remained to the
boor fellows for the next twenty-four
hours of burning heat. The few who
Eried to save some found it impossible,
for they had no place in which to Sc
lure it from their ~improvident ship
mates. In this strait the men fell back
BIN vinegar, of which each mess had a
liberal allowance, but in their raging
Fhirst they were not satisfied merely
3 moisten their mouths with the strong
cid: they mixed it with salt water and
frank it in large quantities, and the
Ferrible effect may be imagined as,
Knocked over by this horrible mixture,
hey rolled in agonies in the ~forecastle.
With the officers, of course, 1T was
hifferent. although Tie allowance of
water was the same. Their food was
OF so thirst provoking; they could save
he precious pint, and even exc it out
With a little wine or beer. Mine l
ocked in my sea chest, and had it been
he Koh-i-nooc I could scarcely have
Falued it more highly.
But Captain Lordling for himself
eServed not only an unlimited supply
{ drinking water, but also an ample
Efficiency for washing purposes.
Every morning the steward used to
AIRY the dirty, soapy water down the
bidder on the way to his sanctum, and
very day from the marines berth at
he foot of the ladder half a dozen or
bore stalwart Joeys. were on'the look
ut for his appearance. The instant
e descended the vessel was dragged
rom him and its contents eagerly d.
lded among the thirsty crowd. The
teward complained to the Captain, but
otling came Of it.
1t was decided to make for Yestapa,
n the coast of, Central America, an
anchorage some 200 miles distant, and
&c arrived there when sixty days out
rom Callao. Who can describe our
E!ief when we reached that marvellous
topical coast. with its coral beach and
lately palms, backed by volcanic
fountains, and saw between deep ra-
ines the downward plunge Of stream
nd torrent to the sea? We thought
ur privations were ended. for, al
nough we could see no break in the
numbering roll Of surf which the
highly Pacific sent combing on the
each, we learned from an English brig
thicb fav there shipping a cargo Of