A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8020, 6 August 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT SEA.

SIX DAYS WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER.

The Dominion Line steamer Vancouver has arrived in the Mersoy from Canada, and brings information of the sufferings of two men belonging to the vessel Richard Lester. The men were found at sea in a small boat by the barque Kate Maguire, and landed at North Sydney, Cape B.reton. The Richard Leetar was a largo nshing boat, and the men left in a small dory to visit their trawls. There was a fog prevailing, but they had a compass in their boat. The compass, however, was found to be wrong, and they could neither reach their trawls nor their vessel. Two days were spent in a fruitless search for their vessel, and then the poor fellows pave up hope of finding her, considering their only chance of rescue lay in being picked up by a passing vessel. They sighted several vessels, but could not attract tho attention of thoso on board. The man's sufferings were terrible, and on the fifth day, having had neither food nor water cince they left their veseel, their condition waa fearful. O i of the men' suggested that the other sh id cut his arm off, ao that thuir thirst might be quonohed by the blood. This offer was not, fortunately, accepted, and on the sixth day the men had mado up their minds to lie down in their boat to die. Ju3t then a vessel hove in sight, and tho men appeared for- the moment to be renewed with strength as they pulled towards the vessel. They wore seen and rescued, but their last efforts nearly cost them their lives. As, it was, thoy had to be carried on board tho rescuing vessel, thoir limbs being terribly swollen by tho exposure and exertion.