SUFFERINGS OF A SHIPWRECKED CREW.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1349, 16 January 1879, Page 2

SUFFERINGS OF A SHIPWRECKED CREW.

Some additional particulars have been received m Liverpool about the terrible sufferings of tho survivors of tho British ship Beaumanoir, which was driven on the Florida Reef on the Gth ult., while voyaging from Havannah to New York, with a cargo of sugar. It Beems that after striking, the vessel heeled ovor on her port side, tlu-owing the men into tho water. They clung to the starboard side. The vessel then commenced to break up, and the Btarboard quarter became detached. The men, by strenuous efforts, got on this portion of the wreck, and there being a strong current running, they were soon carried away from the scene of the disaster. They were unable to obtain any food or wator from tho vessel, so sudden and complete was the ■wreck. They drifted about m tho hopo of being picked up by some passing vessel. As day after day passed, the sufferings of the men became intensified. Their eyes were strained to look for some faint prospect of rescue, and the increased privations through hunger and thirst were developing symptoms of frenzy. Tho men slept and kept watch alternately. Tho captain's son, a little boy of tender years, was also on the raft, and the want of food and water told with greater severity on him than tho rest. The sailors m turn took the poor little fellow m their arms ; but it was plainly visiblo that ho would Boon succumb to his sufferings. On the fourth day, when m sight of land, three of tho sailors, who were half maddened, jumped into the water with tho intention of swimming aßhore. Ono of them, named Telfer, disappeared a few yards off, and was never afterwards seen. Another was observed clinging to a spar of tlie vessel, and was carried out to sea, while tho third was lost sight of. He was a powerful swimmer, and when last seen, was 6till striking out for the shore. Shortly afterwards a German named Beerman took the captain's son m his arms, but feeling sleepy, ho gave tho boy to his father. Beerman went to sleep, and on awaking found that tho poor little fellow had been washed overboard. Altogether five of the men were lost, including the mate. On the fifth day they were rescued by the Norwegian barque Asterae, which took them on to Queenstown. They have sinco arrived at Liverpool.