A FLOATING WRECK.

Waikato Times, 7 January 1873, Page 3

A FLOATING WRECK.

Til-: New Yo>-k Times publishes a shocking narrative, t<nppl.cd by AI • Jine* D,i_;in, a ,) ns^n^or in the iciiooner L mentor, fro n P. .nee EU'ird I-ilivnd bound for Capo Breton lie stite-. that on the 19th of Septe-nber tho Lani'll-.ter IVH in vntli a duiblcd vessel — a '.veil-shaped, strjn^U b1 It '11111, b-it the bulwa-kn aul stanc'mns had b 'en b-i Uy lealt with by the eleniont3, and the whole was .naeh weat'ier-beaten. On boarding it a dismal sight proaented itself Sphnterod spars entanglod in canvas and rigging gear, and the planks of a boat torn asunder by the wind and sea, wero scattered around in sad confusion iMore dismal still were the scones which further investigation brought to light. Below a heap of motley rigging, and broken by the weight of a spar which lay across it were tho bones of a human being — a skeleton Tho skull and ribs had been crushed on a lovel with tho deck. Further search revealed fivo othor ikoletons. A slight covering of crisped flesh remained on four, showing that they had died more recently than the othor two Not a single remaining pot or vessel of any nature m the cooking department of the ill-fated craft contained tho least particle of food. The discovery scorned to satisfy the captain of tho Lancaster that all on board had perished from hunger. It was nscertained that tho vessel ha I been rigged a brig. The hull bore no name on its sternpost. On the bowsprit tho word " Olenalvou" was barely legible In the forecastle, which was almost filled with water, a most unearthly stench was discovered, and only two men could be found to enter and romam long enough in side to report on what they had seen there, fiiere wore two corpse* on tho floor, an 1 one stretched acroes ft" bunlt " The wheel-house had bci'n carried away, and the fastenings of tho rudJcr broken. This, as the captain remarked, wai tlio work of some tremendous sea. T.ie foremast had been cutaway — ,mo of the extrenest emergencies in a hurrcane at sea Tie j bbooin was gone, and tho entire craft as s>e then apnpe ired, was the most complete wreck Cup' a n Ma^ri) had seen or heard of in his nautical experience o"' VO years. Entering the cabin a foil odj'ir was o i , bu not mteuic enough to forbid a thorough luvt •>'!!* • 1 ' 1 <n Towards the end of tho steps load'ng dow n to too eibm 9, r t t - pool of waler was seen, and the men had t:> .va. I< t'n it in order to reach every portion of tho cah>i. Bjtn-" 1!'"1 !'"- c stationary table and a couch the head of a corpse proton j. J from a berth in tho wall, in a state of decay A but to i J jacket of good material, blue pantaloons, a 'ln.nnci auiit, marked "TF ," and one boot covered the :orpie i<? chronomotor in the cabin pointed to half-past t o'o 1 >"k, a«vj on the stationary tablo was an open Bible Mime 1 down wards, a revolver with two chambers loaded, mid a bottle containing a piece of paper on which was written, "Jesus, guido us to ionic helper. Merciful God, don't let us perish" The worda were detached, and a hiatm ocourred between every two or thrco of them, which showed tiiat t. c writer must have been either in the lowest stago of debility or drivon to madness by hunger. In the enptam's state room his corpse was found lying bout on the floor, as though he had fallen from weakness. On his bed were scattered books, papers, <fee , but one shoot nl traded particular attention It was dated Martinique, .May 30, 1872, and ran thin : — " Dear Kate, — I will post this letter here to assure you of my well-being, but do not attempt to hazard an answer to this port, as jou will not find me here a week hence. I have kept all mv strong promises to you, in ipite of a thomand bad advices from my comrades I drink a little beer, but that is all. Your procious photograph is a little silent angel, at least, I think it uo, and I rend your letters over a hundred and a hundrod times again You say in yours dated from No 16, Hopo Street, Liverpool, that tho ol 1 man was altogether turned in my favour whon he hemrd of my having passod tho Board. Now, mi in I and keep him <»o until I <?ot home n^ain, when everything will bo eomfortaVe and jol'y. Write to Hal's ad Iress in St. John, New B'unswick, for should it not reach me there, fill, at least, will knwwlipro lam Wishing you goid health anil cheer fulness and good fortune, my own darling Katp, I am for ever TO'ir ovn Kobt C Hart " Tho Bhip't regular papers were not found open ; but Cip'ain Martin took in charge a nont writing desk ound in the captain's trunk and locked There was a slate on the tab'e in the cabin, whioh table wa< r">v*red bv guards suoh as are usod at meals in etormy wither. T'-6 s la f e, in'en'ed for taking do^n f he log in r>u»h, <vm f iinoi only burred figures and illegible wiiting. Ti* ox itain's trn k con am d numerous letters, wh : ch Cap tarn Tklartiu intends to gne np to the authorit cs at Sylr.ey Ho pr-.c cdvl io psJfor u the v-rr j >ful sjtvkcs of a l»urh'

■t go*. For coffins a quantity of old canvas was brought, and rude bags were quickly formed out of that material. A long board was laid upon a sound portion of the bulwarks, imd two b»g», to which weights were tied, were laid down, and rattled as they fell. A lamp was held by a sailor on each side of the temporary hcarso, and after Captain Martin had read the muni sorvice, tho plank was lifted upward, whereupon tho coffin bags and skeletons slid into the sea The ceremony over, tho party put biu'k again for tho Lancaster. C-iptam Martin has procured eiery possible clue, all of which he will give to the authorities at ILilii-i* or Sydnej, so that the true history of tho Glenahon may bo Learnt.