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Dangers Of The Deep

Dangers Of The Deep image
Parent Issue
Day
19
Month
November
Year
1875
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The story of the sufferings of Antonio Máximo, the ouly surviverof tho crew of the bark Toronto, reoently wrecked in tho West Indies, is almo&t too terrible for belief. Máximo was picked up by j the brig Centaur and brought to . New York. He states that the ; routo was a bark whieh sailed from ' gow, Scotland, about four months ago, with a cargo of coal. There were fourteen men on board. The name of the flrst mate was Smith. This is the only name Máximo could reniember. From gow they sailed to Madeira, the voyago taldng a month and a half. From Madeira they proceeded to Navassa, an island in. tho West Indies, where they took on board a cargo. Soon after leaving Navassa, a severo storm aróse, and they buoyed to anchor. At about 11 o'clock at night the foromast broke off quite close to the deck. They cut away the mast, and, an hour after, the mid-mast gave way, leaving only the mizzeu-rmist. Tho Captain was below sleopiDg, at tho time, and one of the men, discovering land close by, ealled out to the first mate (Smith), "Look ! Thero's tho land !" What land this was, Máximo did not kaow. The Captain was then ealled and ordered a boat to be lowered. There were three boats, but ono was sufiicient to carry all the crew. The sea was running high at the time, and the storm raged furiously. One of the boats was put out and the Captain and crew all got into it. It was, however, immediately filled with water, and seven of tho men wero washed into the sea, and the violence of tho waves soon oarriod the boat out of tho sight of them. There wero then sevon men in the boat, but uo provisions. Máximo eould give no intelligent account of how they farod in the boat ; but, as far as could be ascertained, they drifted for days without f ood and without water. Water was obtained by spreading a sail during rains and heavy dews at night. The boat, which is on the Ccntaur.shows where it has been scratched by the men, as ono of the sailors on board suggested, for the purpose of eating the dirt that cluug to the sides. The sufferings of the men must have been intense. Máximo describes the men as walking about looking out at the sea and sky. Some, driven to desperation by the sufferings they endured, jumped iñto tlie sea. Some lay on their backs, with their longing faces turned to Heavon, and so died. One by one they threw themselves into tho sea," or were thrown by their eompanions, until all had been lost but himself. From this man's account, it is clear that tho men lost their reason. He ato seaweed to sustain life. He caught a sea bird occasionally and sometimes a ñsh, but here his reason soems fo have wandercd. He says he was twenty-five days in the boat, but caimot teil how he measured the time. When found by the Centaur, the buat was drifting helplessly along, with Maximo reclining ngainst the sido, his head leaning over his bosom. He could not speak nor move. They hoisted him into tho vessel by means of a rope, and by slow degrees he recovered. Some birds wero found on board the boat, which was also taken on board. Máximo is now woll ptimifl) iij health, and does not seem umnteliigenT. Hè utuis bus otuxj with an evident desire for truthfulness, but on important questions he is very deficiënt. The Marine Hospital Service. In his annual report, Dr. J. M. Woodworth, Supervising Surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service, takes strong grounds in favor of the adoption of more stringent methods for the prevention of the introduction of cholera into this country, and will make important reoommendations. Dr. Woodworth has already eallod the attention of tne President personally to the matter, and Gen. Grant has taken an unusual interest in Dr. Woodworth's plans. Dr. Woodworth thinks cholera can be entirely prevented by prompt and authoritative information to threatened ports of the shipment of passengers and goods from a cholerainieeted district, and a rigid qunrautine. If the health offieers at the different ports of tho United States were made aware by telegraph of the fact that emigrants or goods supposed to be infected were en route to this country, measures could be taken to prevent, without difficulty, their admission. Dr. Woodworth thiuks thabit is most needed that the national government through its consular officers should acquire tho necessary iuformation, and then promptly and intelligontly furnish it to the ports and loealities. proposed. This would be simply aii utilization of already existing machinery on the part of the general government for the acquisition of knowledge indispensable to general welfare. Dr. Woodworth recoinmends that the first step taken be the issuance of a circular letter from the President of the United States through the Department of State, instructing consular oflicerS to place themselves in communication with the hcalth authorities of thoir respective localities ; to advise promptly, by cable if necessary, of the outbreak of cholera (or other epidemie disease) at their ports or in any section in oornmuuication therewith ; to inspect all vessols clearing for United States ports, with referonce to the original and intermedíate as well as to the final points of departnie of emigrants tliereon ; and to report, always by cable, the sailing and destinación of any such vessel carrying infected or suspected passengers or goods. The next step would be equally simple. A medical oftïcer, selected for his good judgment and attainments in sanitary science1, should collect and digost the informntion thus obtained, and transmit direct to the threatened ports, as well as through the public press, the note of warning. Thus advised, threateued communities would have ampie time for preparation ; and the pnblicity given to the warning would be the most efficiënt means of insuring propor precautionary measures. The President has proniiseii to give Dr. Woodworth's reeommendations the duo attention they deserve, and will, uu doubt, carry out the plan bef ore another cholera season. Mnjor Autlre's Monument. I notice that tho Journal repeats the story going the romuls, and originally started here, that the head of Maj. Anche, on his monument in Weshm'nster Abbey, has been knocked off noless than three times. This is entirely nntrue, as it hns never been knocked olí' once. There is on the monument a grotip in j lus relief, the conspicnous figure of wliicli is Washington, and it in his head, I and not of Audre, which lun three times been wantonly destroyed - the last, time I saw it, the mark round the neek showiug tic docapttation vrasj plainly visible. Of course do one but a wretch toj oontemptiblc. for even ary anger could have perpetrated such a Í piece of vandalism. Every possible effort was roade by the authorities of tho Abbey, on the threo occasions alludcd to,. to discover tlic offend, Imt he kept ! his Secret too well. 1 doubt if at this day tbc could oi Moulil be Pi peatrft I.iuhIiik ('or. ( 'hicaio Journal. If you want to get in i tight place go : to Topeiville, Arkausas.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus