A grandson recounts the story of his grandfather's experiences as a shipwrecked sailor on a barren cape of Australia, where he and another survivor almost starved to death before being rescued by aborigines.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
A true story of shipwreck and rescue, this remarkable narrative relates the ordeal of first-time author Rathe's grandfather, Miho Baccich, who, as a teenage Croatian sailor, was rescued by naked aborigines after his ship sank off Australia's desolate northwestern coast in October 1875. Baccich watched eight fellow survivors succumb to madness and starvation, until only he and shipmate Ivan Jurich were left. Driven to cannibalism, the two were finally adopted by a nomadic aboriginal band, and joined their rescuers' relentless search for food. Initially fearful of these "barbarians," Baccich grew impressed with their innumerable acts of kindness, gentle ways and harmony with nature. He and Jurich were rescued by an English cutter in April 1876. Their story--first set down by a Jesuit scholar that year, and here fleshed out with new source material gathered by Rathe, who recasts the tale in crystalline modern prose--is a marvelous Conradian journey into the heart of darkness, a haunting parable on race relations and a challenge to our preconceptions about "civilized" versus "primitive" behavior. In an epilogue, Rathe tracks the fates of Jurich, who was murdered by the Nazis, and of Baccich, who settled in New Orleans. Embellished by sketches, maps and photographs (many in color), this memorable adventure story combines high drama and insight into the human condition.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 8-12-- A ``Robinson Crusoe'' tale with a difference (the ``Fridays'' are the rescuers here), written by a grandson of one of the two survivors of an 1875 shipwreck. The Stefano set sail from the Dalmatian coast for Australia. She struck a rock, was battered to pieces by wind and wave, and sank. Several drowned, but some of the crew made their way to shore, where their true ordeal began. One by one they perished, leaving two--Miho Baccich, 16, and Ivan Jurich, who nearly succumbed to cannibalism, to survive. Luckily, a tribe of aborigines found them, cared for them, and took them on a trek that would ultimately return the castaways to civilization. The main tale is an account by young Miho, taken from a record dictated to a Jesuit scholar by the two men a year after their return to Dubrovnik. The style of writing is somewhat stilted, but has the flavor of a narrative written down by a listener who ``improved'' on the quality of the speakers' grammar and composition. This same flavor dilutes any sense of drama or urgency in the narration, but does make the book seem old-fashioned, lending credence to its primarily first-person approach. Sadly missing is a map showing the exact location of the North West Cape, and a sense of the distances covered by the crew. Other illustrations include contemporary photographs and drawings, and some color photos taken by the author on his research travels. While rather dry and unemotional, the book does give a glimpse into a far-off time and place, with a cast of unfamiliar but real characters, and a way of life quite alien to most readers. --Patricia Manning, Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A rare insight into the tribal life of Australian Aborigines,
By Kieran Tapsell (Sydney, Australia.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Wreck of the Barque Stefano Off the North West Cape of Australia in 1875 (Hardcover)
This book was recommended to me by an Australian Government Minister to convince me that aboriginal people in 1875 needed to be rescued from their primitive conditions. It is funny how two people can read the same book and come to opposite conclusions. This is the story of two shipwrecked boys, rescued from certain death on two occasions by the aborigines who looked after them until they were able to find a ship to take them home to their families. Aboriginal technology may have been inferior, but their knowledge of how to survive without western technology was vastly superior to the European. More importantly, the compassion and assistance shown by the aborigines to these boys is what one would like to think civilization is all about. A fascinating story, with insights into tribal life at that time, and the aboriginal concept of land ownership.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Story,
By RR (New Orleans) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Wreck of the Barque Stefano Off the North West Cape of Australia in 1875 (Hardcover)
There were only two survivors of the Stefano wreck, Miho Bacich and Ivan Jurich. I am Baccich's (Americanized spelling) great grandson -- so its hard to not be somewhat biased regarding this book. But being as objective as possible, it is a great story. Bacich and Jurich, after a terrific struggle, lay dying like wretched animals on a beachhead in the barren wilderness of the North West Cape. Their lives (only hours from death) were spared by the Aborigines. The Aborigines not only spared their lives, they nursed them back to health and more. The Wreck of the Barque Stefano is a compelling story of faith and survival. It is also a true story, and true stories are almost always better than fiction I think. The story begs the question, what would you do given a survival scenario? How far would you go to survive? What is really, truly in your heart toward your fellow man? Finally, is there really a superintending Providence that governs life and death/ and the afterlife? I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to philosophize and think.
The Wreck of the Barque Stefano Off the North West Cape of Australia in 1875
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