A STRATHMORE SURVIVOR'S LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2504, 15 January 1877, Page 2

A STRATHMORE SURVIVOR'S LETTER.

Among the different accounts that have been published of the wreck of the Strathmore and the rescue of the survivors, pro* bnbly the most interesting is the narrative jiiren by Mrs Wordsworth in a letter to her daughter, and which is published in the September number of Black wood. Ihe voyage and wreck of the ill-fated ship are briefly related, but the rescue is painted in vivid colours, as will be seen from the following :—•

VI was Tery near death several times; had it not been for Charlie's constant care aud terternes I should really have gone —it was such a long time of suffering and endurance. The eggs saved my life twice, and there was a, little of the famous ' Red Heart' rum put away for the skk by Mr Peters, which did me incalculable good. I felt I could not last long. One morning, the 24th January, I awoke quite cheerful and bright, • Charlie, I've seen the ship' (we never dreamt of any but the'one that was to take us off.) In the afternoon, as Charlie went out of our own little shanty, he shouted • Sail oh ! * and immediately ran towards the flagstaff. I sank on my knees at the entrance, and

wept tears of joy. Soon I saw the ship turn towards the island, and then I began to prepare, Charlie came back to giro me one or two articles of his apparel that I might look somewhat more respectable, for my wardrobe was reduced to a flannel shirt and a petticoat much the worse for wear (what I considered very grand), the polonaise you bought me—• everything, as well as myself, black, . greasy, and smelling horribly fishy, though we did not notice it at the time. What moments of delight were these. We first, hurried to one side of the island, then to another, scrambling over rocks, boles, and slime—no easy matter. At last we arrived at our old landing-place., I could get down to a certain part of the rock in safety, but from there I had to be lowered into a boat in a ' bowline.' To the uainitiated this bowline looks a very carelessly made knot, but it is Very strong notwithstanding. " When I was hanging above the sea I heard ' Sails' shout out' Don't scrape her, rather throw.her into the water;': but I meekly expostulated that I rather preferred being scraped. Poor Sails was ready to jump iv for me, being half stripped; and ihe last thing that I clung to on the island was his smooth, fat neck., I hung in mid-air, and when the boat rose on the Bwell I wan lowered into Captain Gifford's arms, and placed safely in the boat. The ship was a whaler named the Young Phoenix. Captain Gifford. Charlie, Mr Peters,' Sails,' and two invalids came.

off at the same time. Captain Gifford congratulated me on my fortitude. He said some men bad to be helped, and could scarcely come at all.' Long before I reached the ship I was sick, of course. Captain Gifford insisted oa my staying, in 1 lie boat, and it was hoisted up with me on board. The first moment that Captain Gifford saw distressed peopleon the island, rightly judging that tn^" could not all be got off that night, he had thoughtfully provisioned the boats, even to tobacco. I was taken down stairs and met by an 'angel,' as she seemed to me, with such a fair, tender faoe—a tall, slender woman, like a lily, in her fresh cotton gown. She took me dirty, wretched, sick, in her arms, and immediately got a tub of water to wash me, for I could do nothing, I was so ill and weak. A bed was arranged on the sofa, and piU, lows, sheets and blankets. For seren

months I bad thought it a luxury to get a flat stone to sit on, and hardly ever lain down without my feet in a pool of water; and now, surrounded by every comfort, I did not speak or think, but could only He and wonder, and thank Almighty God for his mercy. Next day the sickness wore ' off, and I was able to enjoy the nice little American ■ dainties she, brought me. I think she herself scarcely ate anything whilst we were on board, she was so delighted. She had said to her husband, when he was goiug for us, • bring me a woman,', she was so home .sick, -poor thing !—having been at sea a considerable time already, with no prospect of seeing home for many months. Fire happy days w» stayed on board, bound for the Mauritius, though the captain, by thus taking us out of his way, was losing a fishing season—a serious matter for a whaler, - and he had not been very successful already. Curiously enough, uot long before

he had picked up the crew of a deserted Teasel numbering about thirty, so -ar as I can recollect. On the fifth day a vessel hove in sight. We • spoke' her and her captain agreed to take twenty of us. I preferred stopping ; but the second mate, Mr Peters, and most of the passengers, went with her. She was the Sierra Morena. I was exceedingly sorry to part with Mr Peters, who had all along proved so kind to me. In the afternoon of the same day, as Captain Gifford and I were comfortably chatting in our small ■• sanctum,' Jose, the little steward, came down with, the news that there was another sail on the "lee bow." Up went the captain on deck; and I, very sorrowful, was preparing to be transhipped, when I was told not to stir until we had learned more particulars. In the meantime I saw the captain's wife packing up a whole lot "of her best things for me to take, but I would only accept from her a change of commoner ones ones, as she had previously given me a very handsome wrapper, and various other articles, including a waterproof, and lovely shoes and stockings' Such shoes! She is a full head taller than I, yet her feet are smaller, and mine you know are not very large. Besides, though she does all the work on board of the vessel, her hands are small and beautifully white. We signalled this ship as we had done the other, and it was arranged that the remainder of us, twentyfour in all, should go on board the new vessel. We were, without exception, exceedingly sorry to pnrt with our American friends. Mrs Gifford cried when I left, her, and would, scarcely let me go ; and, Captain Gifford at the very last said, 1 If I had the least objection to going, that Charlie and I could remain with them, and they would be very glad to hare us.' However, we went away; and the last I saw of Eleanor Gifford, leaning over the side with a handkerchief round her head, and a tender half sad look in her eyes, recalled to my mind the sweet face on. the ship. All honor to the American flag. We should most likely have been on the Island now but for their humanity."