2-981-988 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Wreck of the Strathmore on the Crozet Islands: Turf Tower erected by the Survivors - making signals to a ship, from sketches supplied by Mr. Spencer Joslen, First-Class Passenger, 1876. 'The island seemed to me about three miles long, and half a mile broad at the widest part. There were no signs of anybody having been on the island before. There are two or three caves which run right through the island. We built up a tower of turf to the height of about 12 ft., and put an oar on top, and when we saw ships we used to signal with blankets. We saw four ships, two of which were very close. The fifth took us off. Though sometimes it seemed as if there was not another bird on the island we always managed to catch a few to keep us alive until they got more plentiful. We also ate a sort of herb, the top of which resembles carrot tops...Five of our number died on the island'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.