17 



at least precise, than the rude haphazard operation of 

 flinging overboard broadside or end-on. A proper life- 

 saving appliance ought to be contrived to launch trans- 

 versely, and to either side of the ship. 



Provisioning. — Shipwrecked mariners or others who 

 escape from a wrecked or already sunk ship, are little 

 likely to suppose that they are starting upon a pleasure 

 cruise. In most cases the fury of the elements is expended 

 upon their hapless heads, keen suffering and terrible priva- 

 tion may have to be borne, continuous drenching, possibly 

 drowning and death, although still afloat. Accounts of the 

 sufferings from cold and nakedness, hunger and thirst, of 

 the poor creatures that have escaped from shipwreck with 

 their lives only, are agonising to read ; how much more so 

 to have suffered ! But possibly the skill that can contrive 

 some life-saving appliance that will ride out any storm 

 may be accompanied by the less imposing quality of 

 forethought, that may prevent the saved from suffering 

 the dreadful privations endured by some of the escaped 

 in recent cases. The remnant of the crews of the Centaur 

 and the Mogul — two colliers burned down in the Pacific — 

 escaped with only as much biscuit and water as would, 

 with a 2000-miles voyage before them, allow a biscuit 

 and a half and a pint of water per man per day. They 

 made their rations serve till they got picked up. In the 

 more recent case of the Kenviure Castle, already referred 

 to, one of the ladies who was saved states that " there 

 were no provisions or water in the boat. I remember 

 reading that flannel was a good thing to assuage thirst ; 

 our sufferings from this cause becoming very great, 

 Mr. Horrocks found a piece, which we divided into frag- 

 ments about i^ inches square, and these we sucked. Our 

 tongues were very much swollen, and we felt thirst more 



