A Horrible Tale

The British bark Abboy Cowpcr has arrived in port with two of the survivors of a wrecked Japanese bark. The story of the survivors is a horrible tale of misery. GAPT. SELSON'S SÏATEMEHT. Capt. Nelson, of the Abbey Oowper, furnishes the following : On July 3, at 4 p. m., latitude 37 deg. 10 min. north, longitude 167 deg. 35 min. east, light west-northwest winds and heavy swell, sighted avessel bearingsouth-southeast, apparently dismasted and with signáis ñying, Jíore down upon her and sent the ohiet ofiicer with the sesond lifeboat, who returned with two men and their effeots. Foixnd it to be-the Japanese junk Coki Ouman, Tatsurua Sawgnra, late master, bound from Hakodadi to Yokohama ; had left the former port on the 9th of November, 1875, and had been dismasted, af ter which it had drifted helpJessly about. The master and nine of the crew had died from four to six months ago of scurvy, and the two survivors had salted them down in the hold, the stenen from which was horrible. They had thrown t}ö Cargo of salt fish overboard. The two survivors, Katsuma (mate) and Toma Kitchi (sailor), were in a most desperate oonditioa from scurvy, the former being perfectly black and entirely helpless ; the latter not being so badj but both very much emaciated, having had nothing but dry rice) what fish. they caught, no water bilt wheh it. rained, and latterly no íire, having used everything available for burning. The junk was a complete wreek, her bottom being covereá with sea weed ánd barnacles. THE SUBVTVOBS STATEMENT. On the 9th of November we sailed from Hakodadi to go to Comichi, and left the latter on tho 12th for Xokohama, with a strong south wind. Hove the junk tö för fout dtiyfï: Oü tB.e Jfth the wind changed to the northward, blowing very hard. Wore ship to attempt te get back to Hakodadi. As night oame on the wind increased, and in a very heavy squall carried away the mast. Out the end of the yard and fished the mast ; but upon inaking sail the mast again broke and the yard was washed overboard. A sea striking the rudder carried it away also. The wind atill blowing in a succeesiori of gales we were entirely helplese. On the ïlstof November, the junk making much water, and likely to fouilderi we carne tn the de+firmination of throwing the cargo (salt fish) overboard, which was accordingly done ; and from th&t dateto the 20thof December we drifted about, not knowing wliither, when our fresh water and firewood were entirely gone, and then our misery commenced in reality. As a last resource we broko the sauce-pan up for fire-wood ; then managed to keep strength and spirits up till the beginning of January, when, to increase our horrors, sickness made its appearance ainongst us in the shape of scurvy. On the lltli of January the ftrst áeatfa tóok place, namely, that of Ohogers, a sailor. On the 14th the captain, Sawgiira, wpm out and dispirited, and whosë body was swoilen to doublé its size, expired. On the the 23d another sailor, Otto Eitchi, died raving mad, and who'se body was perf ectly black. On the 28th Bung Kitchi, the cook ; Kidorza, Skidgro and Taski, three sailors, died raving mad, and their bodies swoilen from drinking salt water. On the 29th of March, Thero Kitchi and and A. Itchi, two sailors, died also, raviug mad. On the 20th of May, Matoz Tara died, completing the list of deaths and leaving us two survivors anticipating a similar death. But, fortunately, on tho 24th, heavy rain ca me on, which enabled us to save a small quantity of water as a stand-by, any previous show-ers having been so liglit as never to supply our immediate wants. This recruited our strength and enabled us to move about, and on the 4th of June we had the good fortune to caten fifteen lisii, which supplied us with food. On the 2d of July we replenished our stock of water, and on the 3d we had the joyful sight of seeing a vessel (the first since our sailing), which bore down upon us and took us off our floating toinb, and which proved to be the English bark Abbey Cowper, and were most kindly troated by Gapt. Nelson and the crew, by whopo care and attention we were both restored to health. (Signed) Katsuma, Mate. Toma Kitohi, Sailor.