SAVED BY AN ALBATROSS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3261, 14 December 1881, Page 4

SAVED BY AN ALBATROSS.

A singular story has been related to the Sydney Daily Telegraph by the master of the barque Gladstone, which arrived from London recently. On the 22nd of October, while the vessel was in latitude 42 deg. south and longitude 90 deg. east, a seamen fell overboard from the starboard gangway. The barque was scudding along with a rough sea and moderate wind, but on the alarm of " man overboard" being given, she was rovmded-to, and the starboard life boat was lowered, manned by the chief officer and four men. A search for the unfortunate man was made, but owing to the roughness of the sea he could not be discovered, but the boat steered to the spot where he was last seen. Here they found him floating, but exhausted, clinging for bare life to the Jegs and wings of a huge albatross. The bird had swooped down on the man while the latter was struggling with the waves and attempted to peck him with his powerful beak. Twice the bird attacked his prey unsuccessfully, being beaten off by the desperate sailor battliug with two enemies—the water and the .Albatross —both greedy and. insatiable. IToi" the third time the huge white form of the bird hovered over the seaman preparatory to a final swoop. The bird, eager for its meal, fanned its victim with its wide-spread wings. Suddenly a thought occurred to him that the huge form so close to his face might become his involuntary rescuer. Quick as thought he reached np and seized the bird, which he proceeded to strangle with all his might. The huge creature struggled with wings and paddles to free itself. In the contest the sailor was beaten black nnd blue, and cruelly lacerated, but he held his own, and slowly the bird quivered and died. The carcass floated lightly on the waves, its feathers forming a comfortable support for the exhausted man, who had so narrowly escaped a lingering death. But another [danger awaited him. He was not much of a swimmer and the excitement of the extraordinary conflict began to tell upon him. He was faint and grew giddy. But with one arm round the nlbatross' body under the wings, and a hand clutching the bird's feet, the sailor aAvaited his chance of rescue. Presently he heard his comrades shout from the boat, and in a few minutes more was safe on board the barque, though a good deal shaken and exhausted.