A STRATHMORE SURVIVOR'S LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 719, 25 January 1877, Page 3

A STRATHMORE SURVIVOR'S LETTER.

Amoitg tbe different accounts that I ■have been published of the wreck •of the Str-athmore and rescue of the •survivors, probably the most interesting is the narrative given by Mrs Wordsworth in a letter fco her daughter, and which is published in tbe September number of Blackwood. The voyage and "wreck of the ill-fated ship are briefly related, but the rescue is painted in vivid colours, as will be seen from tbe following : — " I was near death several times ; had it not been for Charlie's constant care «nd tenderness I should really have gone •—it was such a long time of suffering and endurance, lhe eggs saved my life twice, •nd there was a little of the famous Red Heart' rum put away for the sick 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 aoy but one that wsb to take us off.) In the aftermoon, as Charlie went out of our own little ehsnty, he shouted ' Sail oh I' and immediately ran towards the flagstaff. I sank on my knees at the entrance, and wept tears of joy. Soon I 6aw the ship tnrn towards tbe island, and then I began "to prepare. Charlie came back to give me one or two articles of his apparel that I might look feme what more respectable, for my wardrobe was- reduced to a flannel ahih ard petticoat much tbe worse for we»r.(whafc I consider^! very grand), the the p'ohnaise yon bought me— everything ■as well aa myself, ".Mack, greasy, and duelling horribly fishy, though we did not notice it at the time. What momenta of delight weie these. We firfct V V .|

hurried to one Bide of the island then to another, aorambling over rocks, holes, and slime — no.easy matter. At last we anived at our old landing-pl\oe. I oou'd eet down to a certain part of the rook in safety, but from there 1 ha<t to be lowered into a boat in a ' bowline.' To the unin.tiated 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 1 rather pef erred being soraped. Poor Sails was ready to jump in after me, being half stripped ; and the last thing that 1 clung to on the islnnd iras his smooth fat neck. I hung in mid air, and when the boat rose on the swell I was lowered into Capf Gifford's arms, and placed safely in the boat. The ship was a wha'er named the Young Phoenix, Captain Gifford. Charlie, Mr Peters, 'Sails,' and two invalids came off ut the same time. Captain Giffor congratulated me on my fortitude. He said some men had to be helped, and oould scarcely come at ull.«Long before I reached the ship I was sick, of cours 1 . Oaptain Gifford insisted on m staying in boat, and it was hoisted up with me on board. The first moment that Oaptain Gifford saw distressed people on the island, rightly judging that the; could not all be got off that night, he had thoughtfully provisioned the boats, even to tobacco I wus'taken down stairs and met by an ' angel,' as she seemed to me, with suoh a fair, tender face— a tall s'endcir woman, like a lilly, in her fresh, ootton gown. She took me dirty, wretched, sick, in her a ma, and immediately got a tub of water t > wash me, for I could do nothing, I w s so ill and weak. A bed waß arranged on the sola, and pillows sheets, and blankets. For seven months I thought it a luxury to get a flat stone to Bit on, and hardly ever laid down without my feet in a poo) of water ; and now, surrounded by every comfort, I did not speak or think, but could only lie and wonder, nnd thank Almighty God for Bis mercy. Next day the sickness wore off, and I was ahle 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 going for us, 'bring me a woman,' she was so homesick, poor thing — having been at sea a considerable time already, with no prosjectof seeing home for many months. Five happy days we stayed on board, bound for the Mauritius, th'-ugh'tbe o.iptain, by thus taking us out of his way, was losing a fishing season— a serious thing for a whaler, and he had not been very sue

ceeaful already. Curiously enough, not long bi tore he had picked- up the ciew of a deserted vessel numbering about thirty, so far <ts I can recollect. On the fifth day a vessel hove in sighf. We spoke her and her captain agreed to take twenty of us. I preferred stopping; but the second mate, Mr Peters, and nicst of the passengers, went with her. She was the Sierra Morena. I was. exceedingly sorry to part wiih Mr Pettr*, who had all alon^ proved so kind to me. In tbe aitemoon of the same day, as Cap' ain Gifford and 1 were comfortably - chatting in our sma 1 sanctum, Jose, the little steward, came down with the news that, there was eno her sail on the lee bow. Tip went the captain on dt ck, and I, very sorrow/ul, whs preparing to be transhipped, when I was told not to S'ir until we hed learned more , particulars. In the meantime I saw the captain's wife peeking up a whole lot of her beet thugs forme to take, but I we uld only acc< pt from her a change of commoner ones, as she had previously given me a very handsome wrapper, aud various other articles, including a water* proof, and lovely shots and stocking. Such shoes! She is a full head talWr tl.an I, yet her feet are tmaller, and cuiue you know are not vtry large. Besides, though i- he does all the work on board of the vessel, her bane's are small and beautifully wbite. ' We signalled this ship as we hd dine the other, ai,d it was an<vn fe ed that the lemaiuder of us, twentyfour in al], should go on board thu new vessel!. We were, without exception, exceedingly sorry to part with our American frienos. Mrs Gilford cried when I hit her, and would fccatcely let me go ; and Captain G fford at tbe very last said, ' If 1 had the least ol jection to going, that Charlie and 1 could remain with thttn, and they Wiu'd be very glad \o have us.' However, we went away ; and the last I saw of Eleanor G fforri, leaning over the side with a handkerchief round her ht-ad, and a tender half sad look in her eyee, recalled to my mind the sweet face oo the fehip. All honour to the American flag. We si ould most likely have been on the Island now but for their humanity."