Year: 1869

III Mafcn IaSI the British shin
Blue Jacket was burned at sea while
on her way from New Zealand to
England. Out of siXty-nine perso ls
on board, only eight are known -
have been saved. The London Her
aid publishes the following from one
of the survivors. addressed to his
mother, and dated at Port Stanley,
Falkland Islands, April %:


1--WE left that port Feb. Is. We
had seven saloon passengers grown
up, twelve second cabin, and seven
children, all young, and a stewardess
there were six women; two of the
children We're at the breast. Ships
company, 40; total number
of people on board, 50, and seven
children. On the 7th of March we
passed the Franklin Islands. On
the Tuesday following, in the after
noon, smoke was seen iseuing out of
the fore hatc-tWay. In about ten
minutes time fhere was a good sup
ply of water being played upon it.
There were no flames, but very dense
smoke arising. As soon as the cap
tain saw that IL was likely to prove
serious, he told Mr.. Williams To get
the yacht slung and provisioned, and
ready for going over the side; then
the two life-boats were got ready for
lowering, and provisioned. 1t hap
pened to be a very fine afternoon
Everything was being done to eX-
tineuish the fire, and about O'Clock
we thought we would get the upper
hand of it. Half an hour afterwards
it broke out ten times orse than
ever We still kept hard at it until
- tn N ii, 4, 1,
time the Goals that were in the fore
part had caught fire, and III ten min
utes after the whole of the forccastle
was in blaze.


CAST ADRIFT.


"The order was given to get the
yacht over the side, which was done
with great risk Of linn bs, as there was
Il nasty sea running, but she was got
over all safe. Before lowering hel
into the water we got the women
and children into her all safe, then
lowered her; after which the remain
ing passengers got in, the fire in the
meantime working aft very rapidly
So We cut away and drifted clear OF
the ship. About an hour after we
left the foremast fell over the side
half an hour afterward the main and
mizzen followed its example, with q
heavy crash. The vessel was then in
one mass of flames.


DEATH IN THE BOAT.


"There were fifteen of US in one
boat; there were twenty-seven adults
and seven children in the yacht, and
the rest with MIR. Bell, second mate
I have no doubt father would recol-
leet the brown dog that Mr. had
/ hnaf
we left the ship we killed it, drank
the blood and ate the flesh. Six days
af.er that was the commencement OF
the horrors of cast away crew.
One of the boys out of the two died
through drinking salt water. We
managed To keep It from him during
the daytime, but at night he would
get it. He was out of his mind about
eleven hours before he died. w e
buried the poor lad as well as we
could under the circumstances. We
read the burial service for the dead at
sea, but we had nothing to sink him
with. 1t was painful task, but 1t
was the will of God. We prayed to
the Almighty in that boat with more
earnestness than any of us had ever
done before. We could see death
staring US in the face. Day after day
no land, no vessel. Five days after
the boy died we lost the carpenter
and a seaman. The latter, poor fell
low, died from utter--debility and old
age. The carpenter, who was fine
tall man, over six feet, died from
drinking salt water. Two days after
another man died raving mad,
through salt water: he was the
healthiest looking man in the boat.
There were two others (the sailmaker
and one seaman) out of their mind.
Next day nothing in sight we
thought the Almighty had brought
us there to breathe our last. We
had breakfast, which was one Sar-
dine, some biscuit that we had to
squeeze to get the salt water out, and
about two tablespoonfuls of water. l
forgot to tell you that about ten days
after leaving the ship our feet be-
came SO painful with froSt-bIte that
we had To cut our boots off, the pain
was so eXcruciating. For my part, i
was inclined to drink salt water 20
put an end To nv life, for what with
the hunger, the thirst, and the pain
in my feet, nearly went mad in
fact, one afternoon for few hours, |
was out of my mind they all said
they thoughtI should go of. After
we had had breakfast, all the pro-
visions we had left was a small box
of sardines, plenty of spoiled bread,
and about one gallon of water.


a RESCUE AND INHUATAN TREAT
MENT.


| "There was a light breeze, and q
little after l. o'clock one of the men
shouted out, Sail, no = We all for
+ the moment forgot our weakness and
/ pain, and jumped up, and there was
a bark bearing down upon US. We
/ were soon alongside of her, and were
/ hauled up the side, for we were rs
/ helpless as children. | forgot To tell
| you that We had saved three boxes
of gold from the ship, value, $40, 900.
| When he found We had the gold he
| got into frightful rage. He put the
/ boatSwain in irons, and two seamen
/ also, and chained them down-men
| that We're not able To lift pound
weight, and several times he threat
ened TO take the boatswain's life,
We just got sufficient food to keep
us alive, and that was all. Well,
| these islands were the nearest place.
| The Almighty blessed us with a fair
wind. We arrived here on Sunday.
The captain and a passenger he had
with him went on shore and report
/ ed that he had picked up some wreck
ed sailors, and from what he could
/ make out we had murdered every
/ one on board, and then set fire to the
ship, taken the gold. aud left her.
/ When the doctor came on board he
| ordered the irons to be taken oft, and
/ te give US plenty of wine. Next day
/ Monday We were all brought on