Remarkable Adventures of Seamen In Natal.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3890, 19 August 1891, Page 2

Remarkable Adventures of Seamen In Natal.

.A telegram from New York says : A letter has been received stating that "The British ship Neptune, Captain Saunders, from London, was wrecked on the coast of Natal, fire persons being saved and fifty-three drowned. Allen, who was purser, was shipped at Calcutta, and Keenan at Rangoon. The crew took to the boats, which capsized, and only five persons reached tbe land. They remained for nine days near the scene of the wreck and buried the bodies of the drowned, after which they started to walk to Natal, a distance of 170 miles. On the way they were captured by a band of Zulus, stripped, tied to trees, and beaten with clubs made of rhinoceros hide. While they were undergoing torture a party of Boer hunters appeared and touted the Zulus. Three of the sailors had, however, been beaten to death, and only Allen and Keenan suryired. The two men were t«keu to Natal by the Boers, and thence te Cape Town by a steamer of the Castle Line. Their condition is such that that they have been unable to pro* ceed to London. Keenan is insane from the torture inflicted upon him, and is unable to say anything. He is an American of about twenty six years of age."