A TALE OF THE SEA.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7357, 9 July 1889, Page 5

A TALE OF THE SEA.

TWENTY-FIVE DATS ON A DESERT ISLAND. [FBOK OTTB OOBEHBPOHDBNT.] (BY TELKBBAPH FROM THH BITTFF.] MELBOUBNE, July 7. The following news ot the strange adventure of a shipwrecked crew Has beeijt received by the arrival of the Iberia at Albany i— London, May 31. A wonderful story has been published of the barque 'Gettysburg, of Zardene, which was wrecked on a desert island at Morant Cayes, thirtythree miles from Jamaica. The vessel was bound from Monte Video to Penaacola in ballast, and was manned by fifteen hands. On the morning of April Ist she struck on a coral reef outside Morant Cayes. She commenced to break up, and five of the crew were washed away and drowned. The rest clung to the bottom of the barque, which was still above water. Ultimately Captain Stewart, the mate, the carpenter and sailmaker, and five seamen reached the reef at daybreak. The Cayes was made out a mile to the westward of the reef. William Carter, an able seaman, swam out to two spars, a mast, and a yard, and with the help of Jas. Crawford, an ordinary seaman, who joined him, he constructed a raft. By their efforts the lives of Captain Stewart and their six other shipmates were saved. They were towed on to the island nearest to the Cayes, Carter swimming all the way, and thus steering the raft. There they found three cocoanuts to eat. There was no water, and the island was uninhabited. They landed completely naked, and after being there two days they dujj for water and found some, but it was very brackish. On the third day they swam, ove" to a larger island, where they discovered more water and cocoanuts. They remained I there for over two weeks, existing upon I shellfish, small crabs, and cocoauuts. During the last few days they caught a few birds, boobies, and ate them raw, as they had no means of lighting , a fire. Some little roots, like a common white radish, were also found and eaten, but were difficult of mastication and digestion. A large shark was on the watch to catch the sailors and they tried to catch him, but without success. On April 2166, at low water, Caster Shaddock, the second mate, and Edward McDonald waded over to another island, and secured sufficient wood to make a small raft. The sun was so hot that they were badly scorched and blistered. The raft was made, and all the sails were made out of old pieces of bags and some pieces of blanket and a bed whioh had been washed up. On the 22nd Jones and Allan started on the raft for Jamaica to procure assistance. They were victualled with a piece of pork, which had been washed up, all the cocoanuts that were left, and nine pints of fresh water, which was ; iti some old bottles that were found on the island. The rait sunk to 18in below the water, but both ends were elevated. Its occupants were up to their waists in water, and they remained so for forty-eight hours. When on the 24th they landed at Beacon Point, seven miles from Morant Bay, they lay down on the beach exhausted and slept until the morning, when they proceeded to White. Horse, three miles distant. At this place they found a black policeman, who gave them food and took them on to Morant Bay,where theCoilectorof Customs gave the constable some money, and telegraphed, to the authorities at Kingston. From Morant Bay they were conveyed to Kingston, taken to the Sailors , Home, and then forwarded in a gunboat, which was to bring off Captain Stewart and the rest of the crew. These were finally taken off the Cayes after they had been there twentyfive days, and a launch took them from Port Eoyal to Kingston.