The Story of a Castaway.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 9, Issue 80, 7 October 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Story of a Castaway.

In the days when the Island of St. Helena was an unpeopled waste, long before the coming of the great exile who has made its name famous, a Dutch vessel, returning from the West Indies, cast anchor off its coast. In a short while a boat was lowered. The occupants, besides the crew, were a dead officer in a coffin, and a downcast seaman in irons. This seaman, for some offence against discipline, had been condemned to death by the captain ; but, in consequence of an appeal for mercy signed by his messmates, was ordered to be marooned on this desolate island instead of being hung up to the yardarm. It is probable that even this grace would have been denied him but for the dead officer, for whose burial the ship put into harbour. The grave was dug; the officer buried ; the crew departed ; the ship weighed anchor.

The Dutchman, on his side, lost no time. He opened the new-made grave, dragged out the coffin, tumbled his dead superior out of it, and carried it down to the shore, where, having launched his extemporised boat, he jumped in in a trice, and, using the lid as a paddle, quickly (thanks to a calm) overtook the departing ship. He was taken on board and pardoned in consideration of his pluck.—“ The Story of the Sea.”