Stowaway Incidents

Bruce Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 2625, 30 October 1894, Page 4

Stowaway Incidents

EATEN A LIVE BY RATS. Wostill bear of stowaways undergoing risks to secure a free passage from one port to another, but the custom is not so prevalent as it once was when grim stories were current in connection with the stowaways' experiences. A writer on this subject in continuation saya : — Some stowaways, doubtful of asking aid or advice from crew or stockhold, tshift for themselves as best they may, creeping into and hiding in the most extraordinary places. One got into a cupboard in tbe steamer's dispensary, a small berth opposite the galley in the star- board alley -way. And in tbe middle of the night, when all wub quiet, he would emerge and ravage ovens and kettles. Thus the doctor, call< d to an unexpected patient, and diving into his shop at 3 a.m., fell headlong over a stranger and the debris of a feast. Another stayed for three days ia a big sheep pen, in whioh were somo prize rams. He, lobs lucky, existed mainly on mangolds, turnips and suck like stuff. But tbat the weather was very rough he would have been d-scovered bef re. The pen was not cleaned out during that time, and he claimed that had it not been for his exertions the animals would bave hxd their legs broken iv tbe gale. I have heard of but one instance of a stowaway successfully making the passage through the Mediterranean, tho Canal, the Bed Sea, and safely out into tbe Indian Ocean without being detected. The medium in this oase was an empty 400 gallon tank. A friendly fireman brought its occupant food and drink. He wa? put ashore at his destination — Colombo. But tbe trip coßt him three stone in weight. The wonder is not that be lost so much, but that be survived the terrible brat. Some years ag**-, as the Btevedores were breaking out the caigo of an Australian sailiog ship, they suddenly came upon a 6ort of chamber formed of heavy cases. Doubled up in it lay a human skeleton, its bones picked bare. A heap of rags, a broken pocket knife, and dozens of small skeletons of animals lay around. Eaten alive by rats ! Can the imagination picture a more horrible fate i The awful days of torture and suffeiing down there in that flo iting sepulchre, the fierce striving witb the hungry legions for every crumb of the o^refully-hoarded store, the wild bt»ttlingß in the thick darkness ; tbe frenzied calling for the help that never came, Now clue was ever found to tbe identity uf tbe victim. bu r it was generally thought that one of the lumjreis who helped to store the ve?sel had contrived tbe place of concealment for his friend. He had himself signed before the mast in thia sailing chip, and doubtless intended in due time to reveal the secret, bat going ashore, missed his passage and disappeared, leaving the other to a frightful death. But, at the most, this is mere conjecture. Another sailing ship stowaway was luckier. He had taken up his quarters belo-*", and as the *hip wag not full there was plenty of room, but tbe cargo waß salt. Therefore he lived bow he could by pickings and pilferings, net at the eest of times any too plentiful on board a sailer. Whole days he would go without a scrap of food, and many times was on the point of declaring himself when pautry or cabin tdble came to the rescue. He waa a mere lad, and three months of thia sort of thing was too much for him. Some time before getting into port he must have fallen into a kind of trance ; for when the hatches were taken off he was discovered insensible, and so emaciated aod light that a man took him up in one band and lifted him on to the deck. But with time and care he recovered, It wjs a narrow shave, though.