In the Dingey of the “Lady Vain.”

           Idonotproposetoaddanythingtowhathasalreadybeenwrittenconcerningthelossofthe"LadyVain."Aseveryoneknows,shecollidedwithaderelictwhentendaysoutfromCallao.Thelongboat,withsevenofthecrew,waspickedupeighteendaysafterbyH.M.gunboat"Myrtle,"andthestoryoftheirterribleprivationshasbecomequiteaswellknownasthefarmorehorrible"Medusa"case.ButIhavetoaddtothepublishedstoryofthe"LadyVain"another,possiblyashorribleandfarstranger.Ithashithertobeensupposedthatthefourmenwhowereinthedingeyperished,butthisisincorrect.Ihavethebestofevidenceforthisassertion:Iwasoneofthefourmen.

           ButinthefirstplaceImuststatethatthereneverwerefourmeninthedingey,—thenumberwasthree.Constans,whowas"seenbythecaptaintojumpintothegig,"1luckilyforusandunluckilyforhimselfdidnotreachus.Hecamedownoutofthetangleofropesunderthestaysofthesmashedbowsprit,somesmallropecaughthisheelasheletgo,andhehungforamomentheaddownward,andthenfellandstruckablockorsparfloatinginthewater.Wepulledtowardshim,buthenevercameup.

           1DailyNews,March17,1887.

           Isayluckyforushedidnotreachus,andImightalmostsayluckilyforhimself;forwehadonlyasmallbreakerofwaterandsomesoddenedship’sbiscuitswithus,sosuddenhadbeenthealarm,sounpreparedtheshipforanydisaster.