Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-10

and dived into the cabin, but IL was
now too late--the mischief had been
done. 1 was fortunate, however, in
resculng D large balogna, which I de-
voured ravenously ] felt wonderfully
recruited in spirits and strength after
had eaten IT, and If I had been able
to assuage my thirst / would have been
happy.
After firing of dragging I tore sew
eral strips from the old sail and with
what hemp rope / had left I made a
fairly long line strong enough to hold
me. / fastened this to my raft, and
then stripping off my clothes 1 dived
feet foremost. | swan around the
cabin for some time, but found nothing
Of any importance.
MY second attempt was more sue
cessful, for l located the locker, but
was too exhausted to look further just
then. My third and last attempt was
likewise futile, as l was unable to re-
main long under water, and I decided
to make no further attempt till l had
fully regained my strength.
climbing aboard my scaffold, pre-
pared for 81 rest and soon forgot my
troubles in a sound, refreshing sleep l
must have slept until the next morn
ing, for it must have been long toward
evening when | made my last descent
into the cabin. Now l could sec the
soft, mellow effect of the bright sun
on the water, by which L judged day
from night. Stretching myself, for
ached all over, l renewed my quest for
food.
Fastening the rope around my body
as before, / dropped over the side of
my platform. l was successful from
the start, for l brought up three
pound package of prawns, a large
quantity of rice, a can of sugar and a
small cask of water. The water was
my best find, and l hailed it with the
greatest ecstacy.
Thanks to God
"After quenching my burning thirst
l fell on my knees and gave thanks to
God for my deliverance from starvation.
Upon conveying my small stock of
provisions to q place of safety 1 ate
very small portion, having no idea
how long | would be a prisoner, and
they would be my only SuStenance.
found no more provisions: nevertheless
| felt hopeful and devoted my energies
assiduously toward devising a plan by
which l could make my plight known
to passing ships.
"Of course realized that my chances
of escape were very slim-for what
skipper would dream tnaL a human De-
ing existed in that upturned hull, over
which the sea was continually beat
ing? But to remain in that darksome
dungeon without making all possible
efforts to escape would be worse than
suicide And so l began looking about
for some instrument to put me in COM
munication with passing ships.
I'm my aimless search l found
wooden mallet, which eventually
proved to be the means of my liberia
ton. My joy knew no bounds when
heard the metallic sound as / struck
the ship a powerful blow. / shall
never forget the long, weary days and
nights I spent in that dismal chamber
and how increasingly I beat against the
ships sides with my hammer. No one
can realize what a heartbreaking and
task it was welding that
hammer.
my work seemed all in vain, but l
dared not relinquish my efforts, as
felt that in the mallet lay my escape
from a frightful death. When night
came l was weary as any laborer, and
found relief ON the bed / had manu-
factured out of the old sail and some
empty potato sacks ] had found in the
cabin. l rarely doZed off for more than
an hour at time, however, knowing
not at what minute a ship might be