The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-27

ond day the first mates boat was not
to be seen. nor was II seen afterward.
Just before midnight on the nth day
the low lying African coast appeared
TO the south. Landing was made the
next day in little cove. the men hard
ly able to pull an oar through tho
water and the boat almost swapping
twice.
Some buildings above the surf limo
proved to be ruins. No sign OF life
anywhere. Fortunately shellfish could
be picked up along shore. An old we'll
yielded stagnant water for drinking.
The second day Captain Groom with
three men staggered into the interior
they could just put one foot before
the other from sheer weakness-to
find human being. They were about
to give UP when a tall Arab hove in
sight. He turned out to be friendly
and proposed to q Greek fireman who
spoke Arabic that Captain Groom
should 60, with him TO tho nearest
town. By that time the captain was
completely done up, and no sent the
Greek fireman and another fireman
who could speak Italian. That night
the fifteen men on the beach slept In
a cave, feeding big driftwood fire for
warmth. Next morning something
happened.
After limpets and ship biscuit
Everybody went down to tho surf to
look for the rescue boat. As they stood
lagaze bullets, began to fly among
them. Two Arab boys were sniplng
from hill near by. They ran OFT. A
little later fifteen Bedouins appeared
with rifles above trench where tho
Iunarmed, sailors lay for protection.
They began to shoot. One Bedouin took
aim at the captains head. He ducked.
The bullet went through HIS shoulder
muscles, and Groom fell back uncon-
scious from the shock into the trench.
When he recovered his senses he found
the carpenter horribly mutilated but
still alive: the steward was floating
face downward in the surf, shot or
drowned; the little Italian messroom
boy had been done for; not another
man Of tho crew Of the Coquet was to
he seen.
Soon after that the captain from
his hiding place in the trench saw a
| small steamboat coming round the
point. 1t was sending up O. cloud Of
black smoke. and at its masthead few
the Italian flag. The captain thon
came out Of the trench, and running
toward the waters edge he stumbled
over sailor named Lord, who had
been "brutally wounded by both bullet
and bayonet," but was still alive. Lord
managed to say that the other ten men
had been carried OF by the Bedouins.
The little steamboat had come under
forced draught from the fort at Marsa
Susu. 1t took aboard Groom, Lord
the, carpenter, who was dying, and the
bodies Of the steward and the Italian
boy. Az. the carpenters wounds were
being washed he died. At Marsa Susu
the Italian commander and his sol.
diers. Arabs and Italians, gave tn,
dead an impressive military funeral
Groom and Lord were tenderly caret
for at the fort hospital. OF the Bed
ouins' captives nothing has been heard
Such Is the story Of the Coquet ant
its crew set adrift in q heavy sea and
In leaking boats. with deaf eaI
turned to the captains protest. 1t was
Of 1896 tons, and bound from Tore.
! vieta to Port Said, peaceful trader
Il with not even a rife for defense. IT.
case can always be cited as proof tina,
sinking a merchantmen after forcing
its crew into boats to shift for them.
selves Is inhuman as well as n wantor
disregard Of time honored principle
Of International law. And there hay,
been many other cases like that Of tn,
Couuet.