ALONE ON THE OCEAN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 10

ALONE ON THE OCEAN.

BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER'S PERILOUS ADVENTURE; ' . - A thrilling story comes ■ •from' Grenada, West Indies, relating the perilous adventures which befel Commander Maclachlan, of H.M.S. Scylla, who was lost alone, in the Carribbean Sea for. two days without food 01 water. ' . Commander Maclachlan went, out alono in a' small sailing skiff for- some fishing. Ho did not return that day, nor tho nest, and the gravest fears were entertained as to his safety. Local stcamers ; fishing smacks, and oraft of every description lent their aid in making a search jn tho neighbouring, watora, but it wa3 not until tho following Fridaj that .Commander Maclachlan was .picked uj in tho Caribbean Sea about thirty miles froir Carlton, Grenada. Ho was in a most exhausted condition, having had nothing t-c cat or drink for two days. Tho talo lit) had to tell when somewhat recovered was a most thrilling one. It appear! .that owing to a sharp galo springing up th( keel of his boat was broken and tho boal capsizod. For two days lie had to fight con stantly for his life. His little boat turnot over and over liko a porpoise almost coil tinuously,. and it was with tho greatest diffi culty that ho was able to keep Ids head abovi . water. To add to the horror of tho situatioi be was attacked by sea-birds, and had ti beat them off with a plank, which ho ton ' from tho boat. ■' Once a young shark got into tho boat. Tin commander kicked it out, and a smart blov on tlio tender part of tho snout with tin plank caused the shark to seek more con gonial waters. Commander Maclachlan liac got so usod to catching glimpses of vessel, which were limiting for him that ho conk hardly roaliso that they had actually sights him when they camo to his rescuo. Hi tongue and throat woro so swollen that In could soarcely swallow,