The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-05-11

pfovender Of sort. Though the force
or the gale was quite strong enough to i'm
pede me greatly managed to struggle through
the torn shrubbery and tangled vines until
once more gained the open beach, and stood
appalled, before the oceans sublime fury
Great seas hurled themselves at the trfing
island. and actually threatened to engulf it.
According to my calculation / had now been
above forty hours without food. Worn out by
the wretchsd weather, and quite famished.
grasped stick to aid my injured leg, and set
out to discover food and shelter
After painful effort / came to the second
patch Of coeoanuts and was not disappointed
for most OF the fruit lay scattered on the
ground. shaken down by the storm. After a
DIT OF hard work in removing the outer husk
L RECALLED myself upon ripe cocoanut and it's
hrmer and more matured flesh and this had
to serve me- for | nothing else that was
eatable at this time.
Night came while still painfully wan
dered in search Of shelter and would have
been glad to occupy the pit again had the diff
nculty of returning there been less formidable
The night proved a wild enc. and I lay
stretched out to leeward of giant tree, whose
battle-ground roots and buttresses gave me
just little protection from the chilling blast.
Here in this miserable situation passed the
tedious hours till day appeared.
My injured leg had grown worse and swell
ed to considerable size, throbbing and
alarming me thoroughly Hunger and thirst
once more assailed me, and painfully I drag
ged myself forward in the hope of finding
some sort OF sustenance. If the brigantine had
been lost In the hurricane there was very lit.
tie chance of another vessels coming to Nuula.
klta for months and months. Possibly IT
might be years before the place was visited
Such desparing thoughts as these produced
sort OF sinking of the soul, an apathetic sad
ness. Why struggle farther? But still l
wriggled forward over the soft sands which
seemed barren enough soldier crab cross
ed my path and I devoured him raw without
qualm.
Even at this early stage Of my Imprisonment
I must have been bit delirious, for began to
imagine heard voices calling me. and at
length 4 fancied saw people quickly fitting
about as il to avoid my vision.
The pain in my wounded leg was very
great but sometimes forgot this because of
mental sortnres far more acute Another hor.
rid night and another boisterous day without
the smallest comfort. left me still more help ,
less. Reason, ! believe, was on the verge of
collapse, when my remaining physical strength
suddenly gave way. Sleep, delirum, or prob
ably prolonged Inconsistencies, st length re-
lieyed me. NJ.
awakened at last to behold the spiendors
OF tropc sunrise, the great orb soon shining
for the enforced rest it had had. and, strang
est OF all, was not SO hungry had been.
Melancholy forebodings that perhaps I was
fated to die there like a dog and lie unburied
feast for crabg and noxious vermn spurred
me to further effort Pride and every primal
instinct urged me forward and at length. ex-
hausted with fatigue and in great pain, I
reached the region OF the fallen cocoanuts
and after resting sufficiently, food and drink
uap opoip md Jofo ~, h. 3,,r
was enabled to stagger along the deserted
beach upon a rude crutch which I had i'm
provised
Onward, painfully onward went craving
satisfying food and rest Eventually l passed
a. sandy place marked all about by turtles
flppers-a depression where eggs had surely
been deposited. More than hundred eggs
were in the nest all closely packed together
and covered from marauders Gathering
some dry wood and bark, built little pile
and drew forth my treasured matches.
What an appalling disappointment ] was to
suffer! The box in which they were contained
was crushed quite fiat, and the matches them
selves We're loose in my pocket Some. being
wet, had lost their black heads. must dry
the matches carefully before one of them
should be risked. I did not dare to take any
chances Of failure, and always afterward /
would have to keep smodering fire or lose
this great necessity. A fiat coral stone ex-
posed to the sun was selected and my treas
ure was spread out in the genial warmth The
ignition papers from the dilapidated box were
turned and turned until quite crisp while each
individual match was given careful attention
When all was ready tried to strike light
tried and tried again until the whole stock
was done, and this with never a glimmer OF
success!
Raw turtle eggs are not to be commended as
a steady diet, but they win serve a turn. In
due course was able to get to the rookery.
but most Of the birds were gone, dispersed no
doubt by the violence OF the gale None OF g
their eggs that could find were eatabie.
now tried Intellectually to produce fire by
rubbing two sticks together as l had often
seen the Samoan natives do No. could not
do the trick.
began 10 think OF preparing myself some
sort of shelter-at least lodgment where I
might sleep in comparative comfort. My ear
Hest effort produced kind Of windbreak only.
Raw turtle eggs when steadily adhered to
become absolutely disgusting rs Diet and
On the recovery OF my leg sought many ex-
pedlents that might serve my turn. Raw I'M
saited meat could not abide even when
knew thatdt was sweet and wholesome. So
now when caught bird or turtle. cut the