The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-01-31

of sitting with their legs buried in the
salt water. They became discouraged,
thought that there was no chance to
get ashore, or be picked up by a
| passing vessel and still, nerved to their
efforts by the officers. kept on. At
times they would become more dis
heartened, and would lay back when
called On to pull on the oars Still,
IN the main, they kept up as well as
could be asked.
From the time that the mates boat
capsized, however, they were compelled
to go on short ratfons. When it came
70 food, there was not much trouble
In the first place the men did not
feel much ike eating. They were not
hungry, it was more than food they
wanted. It was relief Of mind But
when it came TO water, that was an
other matter. That they must have.
The following ration was allowed each
man per day: one-half pint of water
one quarter of a tin of salmon. two
biscuit, and quarter of tin Of to-
matoes. Of bread there was plenty,
far more than was needed for the water
on hand, but when it came to water it
was a different matter. Picture men
in the midst of the ocean. the sun
beating down on them and allowed
only half pint, which was doled out
TO them IN portions three times each
day.
Here came the rub, and from the
first four or FIVE days on, there were
only two men who did not drink salt
water. From this the trouble arose,
which resulted in three men driving
themselves insane. AS one of the men
said: Why. 1 drank bucketfuIs 81
salt water I couldn't help 1t. n
must have something, and that was
all that 1 could get. y
After the second day, when the
mates boat was capsized, there was
fine weather, but with sixteen men in
the little nfeboat. ali were cramped
together and they suffered from lack
of exercise All endured the hardship
wei, taking what they had and max
ing the most of it. One man was de-
tailed to sleep on top of the water
key all the time, with others to watch
him and see that he played fair. II
was matter of life and death and no
one would be allowed to take advan- |
tage of an opportunity to Stake his
thirst al the expense of his comrades. |
Perhaps no such suggestion offered it
self TO the minds Of the men, even if /
it did, it was given no opportunity
So the days passed. each like the
other, and with the wind, aided blythe 4
oars. bringing the E-en in the boat /
nearer and nearer to safety. Then +
came the greatest strain Of all. About 1
Eve days before the coast Of Maui was
sighted a French sailor named Madeci
Ysidore went insane He had been
salt water continually, and
It had proved too much for him.
Shortly afterward an American boy.
named Stanley Ennis, haiIing from
New Bedford. also lost his mind, and
ae was followed by Norwegian named
Pete Oleson.
An three were more or less violent
md seemed happy in their frenzy The
7renchman insisted on dancing,
-hough there was hardly room to turn
around in the boat. This. continued
III about eight O'Clock last Saturday
morning. wien the ship mentioned be-
ore was sighted. Ysfdore was lying
,eneath the thwarts Of the boat at
he time. and wheD. his companions an
5ounced that there was a vessel in
light. he raised himself On his knees
nd leaned over one Of the seats. No
PARTICULAR attention vas paid 70 him.
III the fact was apparent that the
mall boat had not been seen. Then
: was discovered that he was dead
ihortIy after Ennis Iapsed into q state
coma He died at about four O'Clock
hat afternoon At daybreak Il was
otfced that Oleson was lying n
trained position. and investigation
r9ved that he. too, had passed away
ne bodies Of the dead men were
1rown overheard by their companions
I'd all waited for what might happen
ext.