TERRIBLE TALE OF SUFFERING AND DEATH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2739, 1 February 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE TALE OF SUFFERING AND DEATH.

Miis Mkmjrum, of Hartlepool, wife of the second engineer of the ill-fated steamer Earuraore, has just received a letter from her husband, who is one of the seven survivors of that vessel, which reveals the actuul facts of the disaster, and happily contradicts the hornblo story of cannibalism lately published from America. Mr Meldrum states that the Eanimoro left Baltimore on the 26th August with a cargo of loose gram for Rio de Janeiro, and on the 4th September she fell in with a terrible hurricane, causing her on the sth to becomo unmanageable, the cargo shifting and throwing her on to her beam ends on the starboard side. Seeing that it was all over with her, tho captain oidered out the port lifeboat, adding, "Every man for himself," and serving out lifebuoys to all on deck. The starboard boats being smashed, only two were left. Whilst standing by the captain the writer had only time to grasp tho lifeboat, when a tremendous sea struck her, sweeping the captain away, They had to hold on to the bottom of the boat until she was well clear of the foundering ship, of which all they could see was the fennel and roasts, and the rest of the crew in the water, like black specks, all struggling hopelessly for life. When they had fairly tinao to look round they found the only occupants of the boat were Messrs Stowo and Hunt, three firemen, four sailors, the cook and the writer, and so far as is known all the others perished. The weather did not moderate for two days, when they realised that they had not a drop of water or a morsel of food, and were 300 miles from the West India Islands, without either a sail or compass. Eventually they made a sail with their oilskins, and with an oar for a mast tried to sail into the track of ships. On the fifth day they sighted a large vessel, which however sailed away, leaving them perfectly helpless, suffering ai they were from hunger and thirst. Their clothing, al->o, was very scanty. On the 15th day a gale compelled them to lower their sail, and at midnight a steamer's light was sighted, but the wind drowned their cries for help. Two of the sailors now were dying for want of food and water, and were quite delirious, and at 3 a.m. a fireman jumped overboard. This was the worst night they had in the boat, tho gale having lasted 30 hours* On the 17th day a sailor who had been two days delirious died, and Mr Hunt, third engineer, expired on the 19th day, both being thrown overboard. They had now been 19 days in the boat, with nothing but a few drops of water from the rain, which only fell thrice, their lips aud tongues being so swollen that they could scarcely speak, and they were almost unable to move, and were very nearly deranged. At night it rained heavily, but tbey were too weak to catch any rain except with their mouths. Next day they managed to hoist a sail, and at last sighted a schooner, which bore down to them, and her second mate swam to them with a line, which he made fast to the boat, but in swinging round caught a helpless seaman, knocking him overboard, and although a coloured man from the schooner rescued him, he died from exhaustion within two hours, this being the fourth death among the 11 who left the ship. Four' days now elapsed before reaching the island, where they arrived complete skeletons. Mr Meldrum adds that they are doing well, and that the hospital authorities and the ladies of the place furnish them with every comfort. Had he lived the captain intended retiring in March.