Year: 1871




From the FIJI Times, JAM Z.


We have TO record one of the most miraculous
escapes from death at sea In many forms that have
the sydney Morning Herald. Captain vaaderyord
gas the master OF the vessel, and from him
We learn the following particulars He LEFT
being thick and squalls coming down at intervals,
Captain VandeTvoId took in the maintop-g -galantsal
at 10 NJ and went below to lie on the sofa in the
cabin at l0H he went on deck again, and was just
in time TO see small island right ahead he shouted
TO the man at the wheel to put the helm down, and
touched on the reef which surrounds the island
Hall an hour after taking the bottom the copper
came over the Weathersdes in Sheets and the fore
mast sunk eighteen inches; the mainmast was cut
away, but the ship began to break up fast; The
habited, surrounded by reef rendering 1t imposs-
BILE TO land If there is any wind blowing at all
Captain HanderYoId says 1t Is ten miles out OF
the position given in the chart, 10 deg. 80
min. north, l67 deg. east. The crew took to
the loAg-boat, and Captain Nandervord secured
chart and nautical instruments, but strange to
say no compass was saved; case OF colonial wine,
a bag and half OF bread and two buckets were put
in the boat but water, and for thirtyone days the
thirteen men were IN the open boat without see
ing land, or ship or receiving any assistance
Tg e d WITH i SAN he mad OF AZ
together and fixed te an oar, began their
weary Journey in search Of some inhabited
island. Their suffeTings may be imagined For
the first nye days they hrd not drop or water, and
the Ceptain served out one bottle OF Cawarra daily
DeLMteu tulItotus Iudt buhCu luSlI ANSss All6E
THAI time they had rain and caught water, but eX-
cept at the time 1t was actually raining, haf-plnt
OF water each only day was served out and hand
ful of bread. To the credit OF the men and their
commander there was no INSTRUMENTATION, no at
tempt TO obtain more than their share OF the scanty
provisions and precious water; silently but re-
signed they passed day after day, the sun pouring
down on ther unsheltered heads Every day Captain
Wander gord got the boats position 10y means OF his
in.truments, but when the weather dull they
went Ia all directions for want OF compass, espe-
cialy on cloudy nights 1t was the masters inten-
ton to make for the Kingsmill group, but the cur
rent was against them, and then course steered
for Ascension Island and had any Of the party been
able TO row they might have reached it, but weak
hey were, all they lcould do was to keep their
b at before the wind with the blanket sail After
thirty days OF suffering, their mouths parched,
tongues swollen, wet with grateful showers
scorched by tropical sun, they sighted Strongs
Ualan) Island, the easternm Ost OF the Caroline
group. Here the eastaWays saw a canoe outside
taking produce from one part OF the island TO an
other and had they been able TO get some proVi-
sions, Captain YandeIvord would have Kept on, and
tried TO make one OF the islands OF the Marshall or
Gilbert grouE adjacent


The boat refused to trade with them, and
went inside and were received by the
King with the utmost hospitality; he took the cap
tain and mate TO live with him, and assigned quar-
ters to the men in the town. After some days Cap
tain VandeTvOTd and part OF the crew took the boat
the King with sails, mast, ana provisions Of every
kind, but met with q gale ana had 10 return 20
strong's Island. Altogether thirty eight days were
spent on the island, when the Oriu put IN short OF
| provisions, and they came on in that vessel and
arrived on Thursday at midnight. Captain Wander
| word desires to acknowledge the kindness Of Gap
tain beatson 70 himself and Ms unfortunate crew,