Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-06-05 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE JERSEY BOAT ADVENTURE.  THE HEROINE'S NARRATIVE.  The following narrative of the adventures cd Miss Louise Fouruesux, who drifted to sea in an open boat from Jersey, will no donbt be of interest. It will be remembered the young lady loft St. Helier's with a young men, Jules Fame, in a rowing boat on the evening of the 18th of April last. Fame, as is well known, returned alone, and, in the absence of Miss Fourneaux, a suspicion of foul play was naturally attached to her companion, who was put on his trial for murder, thougn fully acquitted of the charge. Miss Fourneaux states that they left the Victoria Pier at St. Heliers o,fter evening service on April 18, accompanied by her cousin, Miss Julia Wiltshire, and a youth, a friend of the latter, who were in another boat. Fame rowed his boat to some distance from the shore than the other, and when lying off the coast, at a point between the 'Victoria and Albert Piers, he managed to let one of his oars fall overboard. In attempting to recover it he let the remaining one slip from his grasp. Being a fair swimmer, he sprang from the boat and swam after them, thinking that in a few minutes he should rejoin the boat. Before, however, he had secured the oars the boat drifted seawards, leaving Fame far behind. Miss Fourneaux heard him cry for help as the distance between herself and him increased ; but she didn't again see him. The sea was smooth and the air calm, and the boat continued to drift throughout the night. A good deal of rain fell, and as the unfortunate occupant of the boat had no provision against had weather, her clothes were soon wet through. Monday was a fine day, but she was unable to dry her soaked garments, so had to beer the discomfort during the whole of that day. No sign of human life appeared; nothing but on one hand a line of distant rocks, and on all sides the open sea, without a vessel of any kind. In the evening Miss Fourneaux saw a steamship, which she judged to be the Southampton boat returning from Jersey; but, owing to t'e rat distance between her and it, her signals ailed to attract the attention of those on board. During the night it again rained heavily, and Miss Fourneaux suffered much misery from cold and wet. On Tuesday morning she [taw a sail nearing her small craft. Fortunately, the sea was still calm, so that those on board could see the waving handkerchief with which the castaway, signalled as vigorously and continuously as her exhausted , state would allow. When the ship came alongside the boat a rope was thrown to its occupant, who was, however, too weak from hunger and I exposure to make much effort towards seizing the 13elp thus offered. The vessel, the Tombola, of St. Malo, passed on, leaving the boat tossing astern. She immediately lowered a boat, however, which brought the sufferer on board. Thebeing no woman among the crew, Captain Lanr ' en furnished Miss Fourneaux with an abundance of male clothing, provided her a snug ' private cabin, and showed her every possible kindness and courtesy. The Tombola proceeded on her voyage westward, and, after a twenty-six days cruise, Miss Fourneaux landed in the Bay of St. George, Newfoundland. Here ahe was housed and kindly cared for by the Rev. Mr Jeffrey and his family. Many others also showed hospitality, especially the Rev. Mr Weary, a native of Jersey, who escorted the young lady to St. John's.  Canon Liddon has been elected Bishop of Edinburgh.