THE WRECK OF AN AMERI CAN MAIL STEAMER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1235, 30 October 1885, Page 3

THE WRECK OF AN AMERI CAN MAIL STEAMER.

The steamer Opobo, belonging to the British and American Steam Navigation Company, has arrived in the Mersey from the West Coast of Africa, having among her passengers the cap- | tain, crew, and four passengers of the I same company’s steamer Corisco, which ■ was wrecked off Grand Cess. The passengers were the Rev. Mr Roe and Mrs Roe, and Mr and Mrs Kerr. Mi

and Mrs Roo -were going out as missionariet on the West Coast, while Mr and Mrs Kerr were on their way to the River Congo. Mr Roe gave a very graphic account of the disaster. The vessel, it appears, struck a sunken rock It was a few minutes after 4in the morning and everyone but the watch was in their berths. The morning was inky dark, with rain descending in torrents. The chief officer was on the bridge. The impact was terrible. The vessel was shaken from stem to stem, and everyone on board, whether asleep or awake, wis aware that something terrible had happened. Captain Porter, who commanded the Curisco, was out in an instant, and realising the nature of tho occurrence, ordered all hands on deck, going specially to the saloon to see that all the passengers got out. He next ordered the boats out and stood by the bulwarks in the coolest possible manner, seeing that his instructions were obeyed. The ladies were first put in the boats, then their husbands, after' wards the remainder of the passengers, and lastly the members of the crew. Boat after boat was got out with remarkable correctness and rapidity, and the crew took th‘ ir allotted places. In about 20 minutes' time everybody was iu the boats, the last to leave the ship beiug Captain Porter, the vessel herself in the meantime gradually sinking Her decks were level with the sea when she was abandoned. The weather was squally, and the surf bad, and the utmost difficulty was experienced in getting clear of the ship. The steamer was, however, furnished with fine surf boats, whish, perhaps, prevented any loss of life. Mrs Roe, however, had a nairow escape, as during the time she was being lowered into the boat the vessel gave a lurch, and the poor lady’s hand got squeezed between the rope and the side of tho ship. Her wedding ring and another ring were thus tom from her finger, and her hand was badly injured. She was, however, got safely into the boat. In the interim the news of the disaster spread to the shore, and hundreds of natives came off in their canoes. These were perfect savages, and the Corisco had scarcely been abandoned when her decks were literally covered with these men, who plundered everything they I could possibly carry away. They, | however, did not molest the passer;- ! gers and crew, although one fellow at- j tempted to enter one of the boats, when a member of the crew threatened to kill him with at axe. Captain Porter, knowing the savage nature of the natives of the.district, forbade any of the boats going to the shore until inquiries had been made. One of the natives had a card with writing on in- j viting the shipwrecked people on -■L _ _ r— l n . i-.i.i*

shore, Irak Captain Porter, doubting | the genuineness of the message, would not permit his people to land until , die man returned with' another’ letter , from the German factory, which was j near. The man went, and returned with a note fxom the agent of the factory, which belonged to Messrs Henrich Muller and Co. The note said the man would pilot them over the bar to the wharf, but this he did not do. Instead, however, he brought them to the beach, where his own tribe was waiting, and, notwithstanding the watchfulness exercised by the shipwrecked people, they wex - e plundered of most of their things These, however, were few, as the passengers when they escaped from their cabins had only their sleeping garments on. 'ln one or two instances articles of clothing were snatched up in their hurried flight, and these were the objects of the marauding natives’ theft. Mr Hoe himself saved but one pair of trousers, but these being wet he Idd them on the beach to dry. They were carried off by the natives. A slipper which the reverend gentleman was drying in a similar manner was also purloined, but the thief was caught by one of the crew and the slipper recovered. Deeds of gallantry were performed by several of the steamer’s officers, while Major Vetch, of London, who was going out to the Congo, very courageously en tered the cabins of one or two of the passengers, and at the risk of his life brought cut several valuable articles. Th > passengers, however, lost all their

clothing, and in almost every instance their valuable papers and jewellery. The passengers spoke of the conduct of the captain, officers, and crew of the Corisco in the highest possible term 3 , Captain Porter in particular, whose conduct was simply devotion itself. The shipwrecked people were four hours in the open boats, and were after wards about nine days on the islmd. They received the greatest kindness j from the Germans in the factory, who [ had on more than one occasion to , threaten the natives with violenc*.

The marauders frequently came to the shipwrecked people, snatched things out of their hands, and made off to the bush will them. Captain Porter sent a boat with the chief officer to intercept one of the other steamers of the company, and the Beuguella calling off the place* took on board all the shipwrecked people. As far ns possib'e they were provided with clothing and then transferred to the Upobo.

All of the passengers and crew, about 70 in number, dwelt in the factory, and owing to the climate many of them suffered keenly frcm fever and dysen try. There were, however, no deaths. Most of the passengers, among whom was Oko Jumbo, continued their voyage in the Beuguela, but Mr and Mrs Kerr and the Rev. and Mrs Roc wore transferred to the Opobo.

———i i iip 4 A SUCCESSFUL SURGICAL' OPERATION. Tlio American Ambassador at Vienna, Mr Hasson, has lately'forwardod to his Government an interesting account of a remarkable surgical operation lately performed by Professor Bilhoth, of Vienna, which, wondeiful to tell, consisted in the removal of a portion of the human stomach, involving nearly one third of tbe jorgan—and; strange to say, the p itieat recovered—the only successful operation of the kind .ever performedThe disease for which 1 this operation wa a was cancer of the stomach, attended with tho following symtoma : -The appetite is quite poor. There is a peculiar indescribable distress in the stomach, a feel • ing that has been described aa a faint “ all gone" sensation; a sticky slime collects about the teeth, eapccial'j in the morning, accompanied by an unpleasant, ta-te. Fno I fails to satisfy this peculiar faint sensation ; hut, on the contrary, it appears to aggrava e the feeling. The eyes are sank'n, tinged with yellow ; the haddsand feet become cold and sticky—a cold perspiration The sufferers feel tired all the time, and sleep does not seem to give rest. Afte l- a Vme V o patient becomes nervous and irrimbo, gloomy his mind being filled with evil forebo lings. When rising suddenly from a recumbent position there is a dizzme s, a whist iog sensation, and be is obliged to grasp something firm to keep from falli- g. Che b-vels costive, the skin dry and hoc ac times ; the blood becoming thick and stagnant, and does not circulate properly. After a time the patient spits up food soon after eit ing, sometimes in a sour and fermented con litiou, sometimes sweetish to the taste. Oftentimes there is a palpitation of the heart, and the patient fears he may have heart disease. Towards the last tho patient is unable to retain any food what ever, as the opening in the intestines becomes close, or neariy so. Although this disease is indeed alarming, sufferers with the above named symptoms should not feel nervous, for nine hundred and ninety nine oases out of a thousand have no cancer, but simply dyspepsia, a disease easily remove I if treated in a proper manner. The safest and remedy for the disease is Saigel’s Curative Syrup, a vegetable preparation sold by all chemists and medicine vendors, and by the proprietors, A. J White, (Limited), London, England. This Syrup strikes at the very foundation of the disease, and drives it out, root and branch, out of the system. Waterloo House, London Stile, Chiswick, February 17, 1882. Mess’s. White and Co , Londoh, Gentlemen, —it is with great pleasure that I add my tes imony to the wonderful effects of “Seigel’fl Syrup.” For years 1 have been suffering from biious attackst which began with giddiness ; then a mist would come before my eyes, so that I should not be able to recognise anyone, or anything at a distance at a yard or two from my face, j This would be followed by excessive trerabI ling of my knees, so th 11 could not stand without support ; after which a severe headache would occur lasting over two or three I days. I have tried various remedies for theaa j distressing symptoms, but until I tried 1 “ Seigel’s Syrup ” 1 had no relief. Since then I have have had exoeent health ino every respect, and it ever I fed a headache coming on I take one dose of the Syrup, which arrests it. Hoping that this testimonial may be the means of inducing others (who suffer as I used) to try tie Syrup, as I feel sure imey will receive speedy benefit and ultimately be cired, I beg to remain, , yours faithfully, i A. H. Hortok. ; September 8 th, 18S3.

Dear Sir, —I find the sale of Saigel’s Syrup steadily increasing. All who hj iva tried it speaks very highly of its medicinal virtues : one customer descrioes it as a “Godsend to dyspeptic people.” 1 always recommend it with confidence. Faithfully yours, (Signed) Vincent A. Wills, Chemis’-dentist, - To Mr A. J. White. Merthyr Tydvil. ‘