MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 2316, 12 January 1876, Page 4

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

The Straits Observer, 12th October, gives the following acconnt of the circumstances attending the falling overboard of a seaman named Lopez, belonging to the Ship North Eiding, bound from Liverpool to Sydney, till the time he was picked up by the Narval, having been in the water for the space of 11 hours. His report' is as follows:— " On the morning of the 2nd of June last I was on the gang forecastle on the look-out. About three o'clock the mate came forward and asked me if the side lights were all right. I replied in the affirmative. He looked over the bow and told me that there was something hanging down from the jibboom, and at his request I went put on the boom to see what' it was. As I could see nothing from the boom I went down the martingal to see if anything was there.. Finding that the flying boom bob-stay was carried away I tried to pick it up, and in the attempt lost my hold and fell overboard. When I picked myself up I found the vessel coming over me and had just time enough to shove myself away. I could hear the mate singing out c Man overboard, Being a good swimmer, I struck out so as to clear the bow of the ship. I sang out for a rope, when somebody said ' There's a life-buoy ; but I replied, ' No, back your mainyard and heave to.' Whether my words were heard I can't say butshortly after I found the life-buoy, and getting into it and looking round I found they had hove to, and were burning a bluelight from the stern. The vessel, however, was fasb drifting away, so, for fear I should be left behind, I cut off all my clothes inclnding my shoes, to enable me to swim faster after her, I was expecting a boat coming to me every minute and every four or five minutes I kept singing out. But no boat came. At daybreak I could see the hull of the ship plainly, and swam as fast as I could, thinking I could catch her, but she was drifting away too fast ; and then I said to myself, ' It's no use.' I was thinking they were long about coming with a boat, and said to myself, 'Oh ! God Almighty what are they doing, why don't they put the ship to ? I then saw the vessel come up with the wind, and thought she was coming for me. But she didn't. By this time the sun rose in the horizon. I could see the vessel put right off, and I hoped she would wear round and come to me. But I saw hear square the mainyard, and down foresail and mainsail, and set the three royals. Then 1 gave myself up for lost, and commenced to cry, saying, ' Good Lord, the ship has gone away and left me • in the open sea.' I had no more hopes of life, expecting every moment to be carried away by a shark or something else. I was prepared for death and wished that I did not know how to swim, as people say that those who don't know how to swim die very easily. I tried to destroy myself by drinking the salt water, and shoving my head under it,, but it was of no use, for every drop of water I drank 1 used to throw it up agaia, I let the life buoy go to see if I could not sink, but as 1 did not, I picked it up again, and rested myself on it, and commenced to cry, thinking that the Almighty would take my life when He thought proper. After the lapse of some time, whilst still resting on the buoy I bethought me that I might get picked up by some passing vessel, and so began straining my eyes to see if I could see anything. A last I saw something, which I could not quite make out, whether a ship or a bird, and was so overcome with joy that I swooned for a little, but how long I could not say ; for when I came to myself I could distinctly make out a ship coming towards me, so I struck out towards her. Once I fancied I was going to be passed by without being picked up, and threw away the lifebuoy to enable me to swim faster. Upon nearing the ship, I shouted out " Shipahoy," from near the starboard bow of the vessel. After doing so three or four times, I could perceive I was heard, and. could see people running on the poop*. After a" few moments of dreadful suspenseI saw a man with a life-buoy in his hands,, and immediately after I, saw they were shortening sail, and makfng preparations to pick me up. I had hopes of . my life again. After swimming some time in the wake of the ship I managed to pick up the life-buoy, and so got into it. and rested, being at this time much exhausted. After some little time I heard a whistle ; and, looking in the direction of the sound saw a boat coming towards me. Those in 1 the boat saw me and bawled out to me not to be frightened, as they would! quickly save me. I was taken into the* boat ; and in trying to stand up in I;be stern sheets I again fell overboard, and was pulled in and laid down in the bottom of the boat, the men taking off aom .c of their clothing to enable me to make a somewhat decent appearance on boa,rd, as I was entirely naked. I was kincily received and treated by the people on. boar< 3. The ship which picked me up pvoved to be the Narval, bound for Calcutta. Itwas about half -past two p.'ai. when I was taken on board the larval. JMy skin, from exposure to the a an, was fearfully blistered, and could be; taken, right off."— [The North Riding F A rrived at Sydney on the 1 9th Dec. I