The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-15
AN EXCITING TRIP Survivor of Whaling Crew of 1852 Tells of Turtle
 Fishing. DOWN IN AFRICAN WATERS Party Was Lost for Time and J. T. Langdon Met m Army of Rab-
 bits 1000 Strong.
DOWN IN AFRICAN WATERS

In the year 1852 1t was my good or misfortune to be in the good and staunch whale ship St. Peter of New Bedford, Captain William II. Amy, master. We had cruised with fairly good success on the Seycheel ground for three months, and needing some supplies, Captain Amy tackled ship and headed her for Johanna (one of the Comoro group). Our course was through or near that nest of islands beginning northwest of the north end of Madagascar, and forming nearly a quarter of circle ended abruptly with the Comoro group. The AL phonsos, the African, and the Ami rants, form a part of these groups, and are mostly coral islands.
 One of the Alphonso islands is As- sumption. On good maps this island Is noted, We'll. one day, just as the sun was sinking into the ocean. mak- ing one of those most beautiful sunsets only known on earth in these lati- tudes, we pulled shore and hauled our boat upon a beautiful sandy beach. We turned the boat over to make shelter and got ready for the turtle hunt. We did not have to wait long, for in these low attitudes the dark comes quick after the sunset for soon after dark they come up to lay their eggs In the sand.
 Whether they ever sing We wont go home till mornin'," did not inter- est us. Our duty was to see that some of them didn'tgo home in the morning, and we attended 10 our duty so we'll that before midnight six of them were In a condition not to go tome even in the morning
 Catching green turtles is trick, and only the initiated can catch them, for turtle weighing three or four hundred pounds Is a toy that needs careful manipulation. One quick strong effort must be made to get him on his back. If you slip your hand to get better hold he Is gone for good, and good bye Mir G. T. When once on his back he is yours for keeps" The six We had got for sure" on their backs and We crawled under the boat and went Into a hut and slept till morning.
 Early Morning.
 We expected to get aboard by s o'clock. Daylight came, and the St. Peter. which we supposed was lying "off and on" and not more than three miles from shore, was not In sight Sunrise came and no st. Peter. Noon came. but the old saint did not We were getting hungry. We killed one turtle and roasted the steaks. This with some hard tacks which a whale boat always carries in keg. gave us a good meal
 Well, night came. and no St. Peter We had turtle steak enough for sup per. We had got some vans from the men living in the hut, and turtle steaks and vans, and hard tacks kept us from hunger. But water. OuI water keg had run dry.
 We run around and among the hol- lows in the rocks. we found enough to keep us from suffering. We did not analyze this water. We were glad enough to get it (the water). Another night under the boat, and one more turtle turned up. The second morn. ing found us up early looking for tho St. Peter. We finished our turtle steak and hard tack for breakfast.
 We run around and among the hol lows in the rocks we found enough t keep Us from suffering, We did no nnaiyze this water We were ela' enough to get the water Anoth night under the boat, and one mo turtle turned up. The second mornial found us up early looking for fh saint Peter. We finished onr turtl steak, and hard tack for breakfast. The officer fmate) said, I'll give an one that raises" the ship a plug . tobacco. off we went in pairs, and on l Dan Goodwin started to windward, an two went to leeward. and we travele till perhaps l). o'clock. Dan got tired and said he would not go a step far l ther, ship or no ship.
 | I was not satisfied and went on. O. my way was meadow of quite ] large extent. and in the tall grass wa l thousands of rabbits.
 turned to come back, and on a lit tie bluff over where Dan was asleel 1 I looked Tor the saint Peter.
 A little spot not bigger than a hand kerchief came up over the water. | little larger it grew and kept growing watched it till I could see half wa down the topgallant sail, and ran bac 10 where Dan was sleeping Dan! Dan | yelled. I've raised the ship.
 "Where awav?' Just a little bi over the bluff" I said, By this tim | the topgallant sails was whole Il above the water The wind freshenet and we hurried back to the water
 The turtles were soon loaded Into tn boat, and by the time the vessel wa hull up, we were pulling for the ship, and just IS the. sun was dipping In tn water. we hoisted the turtles aboard | and got the boat on the cranes,
 Forty-eight hours was long enoug | to stay away turtllng.
 The wind had died out during tn first night and could not on accoun of the strong current get back again,
 If Walker had been there. would h | have staid ashore or come aboard? II T I,ANGDON