Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-07-24
sUFFER|NGS AT SEA- ion THE old farm
Instances Of Supreme tests Of
Human Endurance.

Some Of the Terrible Experiences Of
Those Who Have Seen shlpwrecksd
--eattles Fought on Raft by
Drunken castaways.
Il Is dificult to imagine the suffer
ings Of the boats crew Of the Column
bian, who drifted about the Atlantic
for IA days before being picked up,
for only the strongest could stand such
exposure. Yet the annals bf the sea
show instances in which men have
survived even greater hardships than
this, London Answers states. IN
An example was provided by the two
boats Of the Carnarvon Castle, which
was burnt some $50 miles from West
Australia on January 81, 1907. The
captain said they would reach land IN
seven days, but 1t was "a before. by
good luck, they CHANGED on the only
spot where they could land.
On February 8 the boats lost sight
Of one another. but on the twenty
fourth day the mates crew arrived at
Rottenest island, having had no water
for four days and no meat for the same
time. some having been without tor
seven days. Although they had drunk
salt water II did not seem to do them
any harm, and only one man ana TWO
apprentices succumbed. .~D
With clothes in rags. weak from lack
OF nourishment and sleep, another day
or two would have finished them. They
bathed to cool their bodies and smoked
leather for lack Of anything else It
was said that It was largely owing to
the captains courage and, mainte-
nance of the usual discipline and
watches that land was reached.
Then there was the CHASTITY story OF
the Mignonette. which sent such
thrill of horror through the country m
the middle sos. Sailing for Australia
it foundered in gale 1000 miles from
the cape, the captain, mate, . sailor
and boy getting away in provision
less boat.
For days they drifted. getting weak
er and weaker, and then 1t was pro-
posed to draw lots to determine which
Of them should be killed. However,
this was rejected, but on the twentieth
day the hoy was killed by the captain,
the survivors being picked up four
days later The captain and mate were
tried for murder on their return, SEN
tence of death being commuted to SIX
months imprisonment.
Perhaps one Of the most CHASTITY
tales Of shipwrecked mariners adrift
concerns some fifteen survivors OF the
$50 men of the French frigate Medusa,
who crowded on a badly made raft. 1t
occurred Just century ago, the fri gate
striking a rock when sailing at full
speed
The captain climbed into boat and
$50 soldiers and sailors crowded on to
a hastily made raft IS by Is feet. 1t
was to have been towed by the boats
to the nearest land, but before going
far the rope of the captains boat'brok
and the rest cut their cables. Yet
land was known to be close, and the
same evening was made by the boats.
On the RATS were few casks OF
wine and some biscuits, part of which
were served out the same day. When
next morning dawned it was found
that a number had been crushed to
death, while the following night many
were washed of into the sea, and the
rest trying to crowd toward the middle
to avoid a like fate several were SUI
located.
Then some of the soldiers preached
the remaining casks of wine, and IN
drunken fury tried to cut the rope
binding the planks of the raft. Others
tried to prevent it, until regular bat.
tie ragged, in which IS were killed;
some cut down the mast and others
threw overheard the last Of the water
and two casks OF wine.
On the third night more died, and
the survivors turned to the bodies CT
their comrades for sustenance, while
some flying fish added to their slender
resources. In the night another at.
tempt to destroy the raft was made.
and the madmen we're thrown over
board. @' .~-4 Il, .s$
Thirty only now remained alive. and
of these two died and two soldiers
found drinking some Of the remaining
wine were pushed into the sea. The
horrors were not at an end. Fifteen
of the twenty-seven held q council OF
war, and decided that only those who
seemed likely to survive should be
allowed on the raft, as their stores
were almost gone. -, a.& Ezs% 9
Three days later those still alive
were rescued by vessel sent out to
search for the Medusa. ~ ~. n, Z
Wireless telegraphy has done much
to reduce the chances OF horrors such
as these occurring. i, Mkt. a.
CIevedon Church.