MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 726, 17 March 1876, Page 3

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

Tho Straits Observer, 12tli October, gives the following account of tho circumstances attending the falling overboard of a seaman named Lopez, belonging to the ship North Riding, bound from Liverpool to Sydney, till the time lie whs picked up by the Narval, having been in tho water for the space of 11 hours. His report is as follows : —“ On tho morning of the 2nd June last I was on tho gang forecastle on the look-out. About three o’clock the mate came forward and asked me if tho side lights were all right. 1 replied in the affirmative lie looked over the bow and told me there was something hanging down from the jibboom, and at his request I went out to the boom to see what it was. As 1 could see nothing from the boom I went down to the martingal to see if anything was there. Finding that tho flying boom bob-stay was carried away I tried to pick it up, and in the attempt lost ray hold and fell overboard. When I picked myself up I found tho vessel coming over mo and had just time enough to shove myself away. 1 could hear the mate sin An" out ‘ Man overheard.’ Being a good swimmer, I struck cut so »s to clear the bow of the ship. I sang out for a rope, when somebody said ‘ There’s a life buoy but I replied, ‘No, back your mainyard and heave to.’ Whether my words were heard I can’t say, but shortly after I found tho life buoy, and getting into it and looking round 1 found they had hove to, and weie burning a bluelight from the stem. The vessel, however was fast drifting away, so, for fear I should be left behind, I cut off all my clothes including my shoes, to enable me to swim faster after her, I was expecting a boat coming to me every minute' and every four or five minutes I kent singing out. But no boat came. At ay break I could see the hull of the ship plainly, and swam as fast as I could, thinking I could catch her, but she was drifting away too fast ; and then I said to myself, ‘ It’s no use’ I I was thinking they were long about ’ coming with a boat, and said to myself, ‘Oh? God Almighty, what are they doing, why don’t they put the ship to? I then saw the vessel come up with the wind, and thought she was coming for me. But she didn’t. By this time the sun rose in the horizon. I could see tho vessel put right off, and I hoped she would wear round and come to me. But 1 saw her square the mainyard, and down foresail and mainsail, and set the three royals. Then I gave myself up for lost, and commenced to cry, saying, ‘ Good Lord, the ship has gone away and left mo in the open sea.’ I had no move hopes of life, expecting every moment to be carried away by a shark or something else. I was prepared for death, and wished that I did not know how to swim, as people say that those who don’t know how to swim die very easily. 1 tried to destroy myself by drinking the salt water, and shoving my head under it, but it was of no use, for every drop of water I drank i used to throw it up again. [ let the life buoy go to see if 1 could not sink, but as I did not T picked it up again, and rested myself on it, and commenced to cry, thinking tho Almighty would take my life when he thought proper. After a lapse of some time, whilst still resting on the buoy, I bethought me that I might get picked up by some passing vessel, and soon began straining my eyes to see if I could see anything. At last [ saw something, which 1 could not quite make out, whether a ship or a bird, and was so overcome with joy that I swooned for a little, but how long I could not say; for when I came to myself I could distinctly make out a ship coming towards me," so I struck oat towards her. Once I fincied I was going to be passed by without being picked up, and I threw away the buoy to enable me to swim faster. Upon nearing the ship, I shouted out ‘ Ship ahoy !’ from near the starboard bow of the vessel. After doing so three or four times, I could perceive that I was heard, and could see people running on the poop. After a few moments of dreadful suspense I saw a man with a life buoy in his hands, and immediately after I saw they were shortening sail, and making preparations to pick me up. I had hopes oi my life again. After swimming some time iu the wake of the vessel, I managed to pick up the life buoy, and so got into it and rested, being at this time very ranch exhausted. After some little time 1 heard a whistle ; and looking in tho direction of tho sound saw a boat coming towards me. Those in the boat saw me and bawled nut to mo not to be frightened, as they would quickly save me. I was taken into tho boat; and iu trying to s.and up iu tho stern sheets I again fed overboard, and was pulled iu and laid down in tho bottom of tho boat, the men taking off some of them clothirg to enable me to make a somewhat decent appearance on hoard, as I was entirely naked I was kindly received and treated bv tho people on board. The ship which picked me up pioved to be the Narval, bound for Calcutta. It was about half-past two p.rn., when I was taken on board the Narval. My skin, from exposure to the sun, was fearfully blistered, and could be taken right off” [The North Riding arrived at Sydney on the 19th Dec.]