The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-03
STORIES OF cAsTAwAYs.
Some Twentieth Century Successors to
Robinson crusoe.

From Shipping.
Some years ago the American sailing
ship Joseph Spinney, when about 200 miles
from the Pellew islands, rescued an old
chief and five other natives of that group
who had been blown out to sea in an
open boat. They had been eighteen days
without food, were just about to kill and
eat the sixteen-year-old son of the chief
when the vessel bore down on the curious
object to reconnolter, and two of the cast
Always died despite the most careful nurs-
ing and the good food supplied to them
by the master of the Joseph Spinney.
While on her way from Australia to
China the American bark Tewkesbury L.
Sweat was wrecked on one of the Caro-
line islands during a hurricane. The cas%
aways lived with the savages for seven
months; then, grown tired of involuntary
exile, they sailed 1000 miles in boat and
canoes and were eventually picked up
by another vessel and taken to Honolulu.
A few of the old-time American whale
ships met with curious adventures In the
Pacific ocean, and the men not infrequent-
ly preferred a life of sensuality and ease
on one of the Islands rather than risk
their lives in pursuit of the crafty ceta-
cean for a return scarcely worth men
tionng. And there were some whaleships
under Old Glory in those days. Commo-
exploration cruise saw several American
whalers during a run of a few miles. and
Captain Coffin of the Plymouth whaler
Mary and Martha, spoken by Sommo-
dore Wilkes to the southeast OF New
Zealand, in 1910, reported that there were
at least 100 similar ships Fishing" In the
neighborhood. One of these whaleships in
1884, under Captain Folger, happened on
the descendants of the castaways known
for all time as the Bounty" mutineers,
who after sending adrift their command
err and those who refused to Join in the
mutiny had settled at Pitcairn island with
male and female natives of Otaheite. Cap
tain Folger apparently did not disclose
his find, for six years had elapsed before
the island was again visited by any one
from the outside world. Four years ago
a Nova Scotia bark, the Angola, was
wrecked on reef six days after leaving
Cavite in the Philippines. Seventeen sur
vivors remained on the reef until two
RATS had been constructed and then at
tempted to reach the nearest dry land.
During the night the smaller raM with
Ave men disappeared and the twelve men
of the large craft were fated to under
go a most terrible experience.
After drifting twenty-five days desti-
tute of food and water. two men went
raving mad and drowned themselves. Next
day a French sailor killed the mate with
an axe, auenched his thirst with the muir
dered officers blood. and was later on
killed by the second mate. His body was
eaten, and cannibalism was resorted to
gain and again. until only a Swede and
Spaniard were left to tell the horrible
tale when the raft drifted ashore, after
forty-eight days experience. on an i9and
of the South Natuna group, where the ma
tives attended on their every want until
strong enough to proceed to Singapore in
a junk.
In 1892 the metal bark Compadre caught
fire at sea and was run ashore on Auck-
land island to save the lives of all on
board. There the castaways spent about
as monotonous hundred days as can be
imagined. until rescued by passing ship.
Another metal bark, the Henry James.
bound from New South Wales to Califor-
mia. piled up on a coral reef near Palmyra
island. Her crew and passengers sought
safety on this inhospitable place; boat.
with the mate and four men who had vol
unteered. succeeded in reaching Samoa
after starvation trip covering 1900 miles
in ninteen days. and the Mariposa, OF the
Oceanic Steamship company's meet OF
San Francisco, Cal. went out of her way
to rescue the castaways in compliance
with the urgent request of the dauntless
volunteer boats crew.
Owing to the fact that quite number
Of sailing ships have met their rate on