HORRORS OF THE DEEP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2415, 31 May 1876, Page 3

HORRORS OF THE DEEP.

THE TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS OP THE CREW OF THE ' GREAT BRITAIN. 1 On the 25th of November last the wheat ship 1 Grata 1 sailed froiff 'Frisco for Liverpool. She arrived at the latter port on the 16th March last, having picked up mid-ocean a part of the shipwrecked crew of the ship 'Great Britain,' whioh became .water-logged on her voyage from Darien to Liverpool. Those who were ■aved were the Captain (Chilcott), the first mate and eight seamen. They were picked up 600, miles frStft"Cjape ? ?t;iear if a; serving cpi)dlr|on, emaciated^-and dyiug^jThe sad details of their sufferings are given as follows : —While the ' Gr.eat Britain' w,as on. her way 'from'Darieu to Litferpool/laden with lumber, she encountered very tempestuous weather, in .which, she . SPRUNG A LEAK jand beoame waterlogged. The crew remained Uy he/, hov^ewr, for several days, during which time two sons of Captain Chilcott died from.exposure. They hoped that some friendly vessel e 'woulrj'hcave in sight and rescde them,' anil' were consequently loth to leave the helpless ship. But they were doomed to disappointment^ and seeing no hope of rescue by remaining any longer by the ship, Captain Chilcott, and his crew, numbering iv all thirteen.} men, abandoned her and took an to open bo£tj Most of the provisions on board the ' Great Britain' were spoiled by water, and tho little left was put into, th,e boat ,ii} which ttyey ecubarkefl. Xhey'then cut ' ' '*' ' LOOSE FKOm'tHE HELPLESS SHIP and steered for the track of vessels bound to. England. - Their water and provisions were soon exhausted, aud for six days they were enduring the agony of slow starvation. Oi. the seventh day they<fcigh.fed a jteamer. Their hopes being revived by her appearance they made frantic efforts to attract the. attention of" those on board, but wittfout success, and she soon steamed out of sight. Up to that time the cook had been the most cheerful and sanguine of all, but his siririt broke down uuder this sore disappointment, n*d during the night ;he died of exhaustion. The next dtty another nt untied. The remaining eleven having been without food or driuk for three daystvereidrivonjto fhe dire* extremity of EATING THE LIVERS of their dead cornrndes to quench their thirst nnd nppense their hunger. On the ninth day a third man died, and the remainder were so emaciated that they could barely crawl about the boat. That day the ' Greta' hove ia sight, saw the eigrmls.of distress of the unfortunate men, and immediately took them on board. ~They were-kin^y'treated by Captain McCredie :iml his crew ; but their privations had been so great and they had been reduced so low that, notwithstanding the careful treatment they had received on board the 4 Greta' from the hour \n .which they were picked up until. thd timev slm qasjt auchor in the river Mers~ey, the greater number of them were so wenk'on their arrival at Liverpool that they had to be taken to the hospital.