The s.s. Glengarry left London for China and Japan on the 21st of April. All went well until the 13th of May, at 7.15 p.m., when about 300 miles south of Aden and between the points known as Ras Filuk and Ras Alula on the east coast of Africa the vessel stranded on a sandbank, distance from the shore approximately 600 yards, in latitude 12.18 W., longitude 49 02 E. The catastrophe was due toa haze which was overhan; ing the horizon, and there being a very strong. incoming current, the vessel was found to be about 3 miles nearer the coast than she ought to have been, although the compass indicated the correct course. When it was seen that the ship was aground the engines were reversed at once, and every endeavour made to get her off, the officers and crew working unceasingly all night, but unfortunately without success, the water having receded to such an extent, that it was decided to xwait the return of the tide, which would be flowing at 4.10 p.m. on the 14th. This being a spring tide afew inches more of water would be tional water would he sufficient to float her, In the early part of the morning several Somalis came off from a native village known by the name of Ras Alvla and asked to-be allowed on the ship; the Captain consented to two of the crew being admitted, and, as one' of them spoke Hindustani the' fourth officer, who also could speak this language, was thus enabled to converse with them and translate their wishes to the Captain. During the conversation. that ensued, it was ascertained that the Sultan desired to interview the Captain or one of the officers of the ship, with.a view to reciprocate salaams and to show regard, The Captain knowing the native. tribes on this coast so well was very cautious and would not accede to their repeated requests, Tu the afternoon, about 4 o'clock, another crew visited the ship which included native who introduced himself as the son of the Sultan, and his numerous solicitations and the friendly manner in which he asked for one of the officers to meet his father caused the Captain to deviate from his original intention and after some consi deration, he consented to the chief and fourth " ficers going ashore with him, It may here be stated that this personage suggested leaving his sword (the sheath of which was made of silver) as security, and as a token of good faith; this generous offer, however, was not accepted, as the Captain, after what had passed in' conversation, did not consider there was danger in allowing the officers to go wil him. They had not yot many yards from the point of landing when the vessel began to move from her position; the oticers were signalled to. retarn to the ship as soon as possible,: bit the Eh and his followers, would 'net allow' them to go, demanding. a ransom of Rs. 1,000 on the plea that they Tid been the moony-of preventing several hill tribes from plundering the ship during the nig! tion because they had. not deemed it placed the officer it singular pos necessary to take. coins of avy kind. with them, After the officers. hnd'remonstrated for some time it was decided' to -leave'the fourth with then until the chief and three Somalis interviewed the: Captain, who had by this time taken up a position some three miles from the'shore. Pho discussion, with the Captain ended by their accepting £20, which was promptly paid to, them-on board the ship, with the understanding that the officer in bondage was to be immediately set free on their return to the shore. On their arrival the headman took up a different attitude altogether, demanding £50, this being an wlditional £30 to what had been agreed upon. This second demand left the chief officer in a worse position than at first, as he did not, think it necessary to take with him wore money. During the period shat elapsed from, leaving the shore to their return, the natives had been very insolent with their charge, and even went so far as to brandish, their knives and spears about him, There was now nothing to be done butte return to the ship without the fourth. officer, inform the Captain, and then to yo back ta Aden, a distance of 300 mile-, for assistance.
Seeing there was no chance of rescue at least for three or four days, and knowing the treatment that might be expected from these wretched semi-civilised creatures of humanity the fourth officer decided to make a determined attempt to extricate himself from the crowd that surrounded him, When the boat had moved about 60 yards from the shore the headman, presumably the son of the Sultan, tried to show his superiority to his tribe by lifting his foot and giving the officer a severe kick which so exasperated him, that. he delivered well-aimed blow which rather surprised the headman, and at the same time. he called out to the first officer. to look out for him. Rushing through the large number of natives he dashed into the water and keeping well under for some distance
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.