The tragedy of the seas; or, Sorrow on the ocean, lake, and river, from shipwreck, plague, fire and famine (1848) (14576855520)

Identifier: tragedyofseasors01ellm (find matches)
Title: The tragedy of the seas; or, Sorrow on the ocean, lake, and river, from shipwreck, plague, fire and famine
Year: 1848 (1840s)
Authors: Ellms, Charles
Subjects: Shipwrecks
Publisher: Philadelphia, W. A. Leary: Boston, W. J. Reynolds & co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress



Text Appearing Before Image:
, the Pelew private — who had also come with us — was detected in the crime of taking a few cocoa-nuts without leave ; for which offence he had his hands tied behind him, and was put into a canoe and sent adrift; which was their usual method of punishment for offences of different kinds. About a year and seven months from the commencement of our captivity, Milton Hewlet died, and, like the others, was, according to the custom of the natives, committed to the ocean. A short time afterwards, Charles C. Bouket, having become so reduced, by his sufferings, as tobe unable to help himself, was (horrible to relate !) placed in a canoe, while still alive, and committed to the mercy ofthe ocean. Thus did one after another of our companions sink under the weight of their sufferings, and perish without any alleviation of their wretchedness. Nute and myself,with our friend Kobac, the other Pelew chief, were all that remained ; and we were constantly expecting that the next hour would end our existence/
Text Appearing After Image:
Story The wreck of the ship Mentor. A SHIP OFF THE ISLAND. 149 I have already said, that only two of the crew of the Mentor, namely, Nute and myself, remained alive, with the exception of Captain Barnard and Rollins, who had fortunately escaped. The Pelew chief had become strongly attached to us, and we take pleasure in stating the fact,that his faithfulness and affection had greatly endeared him to us. He seemed more like a brother than a barbarian ;and most gladly would we have saved him from those sufferings which, no doubt, before this time, have terminated his life. Alas! it was not in our power to administer to his relief; and when we last saw him he was but just alive. Having thus briefly related the story of our captivity and sufferings, it only remains to give an account of our escape from this barbarous people. We continued to survive the horrible sufferings to which we were constantly subjected, and to serve our tyrannical masters, in despite of our agonies of body and mind, till the beginning of the autumn of 1834;