THE SUFFERINGS OF A CREW.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3120, 28 June 1881, Page 4

THE SUFFERINGS OF A CREW.

Particulars Lave just been received in Liverpool of the terrible sufferings of the crew of the barque Tiger of Liverpool, from that port to Baltimore. When 125 days out the Tiger was fallen in with by the steamer Nobo, of Sunderland. As the latter nearer! the Tiger a boat was lowered from the barque, and someone iv it was seen waving the skin of an animal in his hands. A thin, emaciate:! man who proved to be the captain of the Tiger, cried oiit that lie and his men were starving. They pulled to the side of the steamer, a ladder was put out, and the men slowly climbed up it and were lifted on the deck. The captain was taken into the cabin and the rest of the boats crew were sent forward, where food and drink were given them. The men manifested their gratitude in extravagant gestures, and ate the food eagerly and tremulously. The poor fellows having been refreshed, Captain Gordon sent on board the barque two boat loads of flour, bread, beef, beans, water, &c, and the Ncbo then proceeded. Whan last seen the Tiger was heading towards Capo Henry with a favourable wind. The captain of the Tiger told Captain Gordon that seven weeks before she was fallen in with by the Nebo she was within fourteen miles of Cape Henry, but a heavy north-westerly gale set in, driving the vessel before it. When it passed over she was well out into the Gulf Stream. Early in March the provisions ran short, and the crew were put on short allowance both of food and water. On March 31 tho last drop of water was served out, and on the morning of April 3 the last scrap of food was eaten, and there lomained on board nothing on which to sustain life save a dog and a eat, two pet animals belonging to the captain. The dog was a fine black one, of which the captain was very fond. He begged for its life, but the twelve men who composed the crew refused to listen to him, and the dog was killed. Tho blood was drunk by tho starving men, and the flesh eaten, the bones being picked clean. After tho dog had been eaten two vessels were sighted, and signals of distress were made, but both passed on without heeding them. Several of tho men began to talk of suicide, and some suggested that lots should be cast. They cut pieces of leather from their shoes, and after soaking them in oil attempted to eat them. By this means all the oil of the binnacle lights was used up, and at night the helmsman had to steer by the stars, or by guesswork when the nights were overcast. The sufferings of the men became more frightful as the days went on. On the morning of April 8 it was decided to kill the cat, but just as they were about to do so the smoke of the Nebo was seen astern. Tho skin of the dog was given to Captain Gordon, who has cured it, and will keep it as a souvenir of the occasion when he saved from starvation thirteen men, who for five clays had nothing to eat but this dog.