The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-07-23
MISCELLANEOUS.


ACCOUNT OF TWO MEN RESCUED FROM
A DESERT ISLAND IN THE SOUTHERN
OCEAN.
On Sunday, the 4th day of November,
1897, the Palmira made the desert ISL
and Of Amsterdam, or, as it is sometimes
called, Saint Paul, the two islands, situated
in the same longitude, II deg. SO min. East,
and in 81 deg. SO min. and 81, South lati-
tude, being often described by either name,
IN different maps and charts. According to
Horsburg, the Dutch navigator, Waning
examined these islands in 1897, and called
the northernmost Amsterdam, and the south
ernmost, or largest island, st. Paulo, which
IS more accessible than the other, and bet
ter known. "They are nearly" he says,
"on the same meridian, and distant from
each other about seventeen leagues, and
may be seen at twenty leagues distance in
clear weather. St. Paul, sometimes called
Amsterdam by the English, is about eight
or ten miles long, and five in BREADTH"
The island which the Palmira approach
ed, was the northernmost: and passing to
Ieeward, at distance Of about five miles, q
quantity of smoke was distinguishable on
the north side, which induced the captain
to run in as close as possible, supposing that
come sufferers from shipwreck might have
lit the fire by way of signal, and, when
within mile of the shore, two men were
distinctly seen standing on little emf
nence near it. A boat was Immediately
lowered down, and Mr.. Addison, the chief
officer, proceeded to ascertain the condition
of the men, and afford such assistance as
might be required. In less than an hour
the boat returned with the two strangers.
fL,,G ofr~ln
truly squalid and miserable they had long
boards; their old ragged clothes were
patched with seal skins, with the fur on
The bristly hide of a wild hog, fastened to
Eether, served for the breeches of one of
them Their shoes were also made of hog
skin, of the form called moccasin, which
consists of circular piece, with the hair
outside, and when the foot is placed in the
middle of it, cord, rove through the edges,
draws the leather together round the ankle
and instep. The name of one was James
Paine, about twenty-five years of age, and
Of the other Robert Proudfoot, about forty,
both sailors, natives of Edinburg. They
had been fourteen months on the island.
1t appeared, from their own account of
themselves, that they had joined the Gov
ernor Hunter, schooner of about sixty
tons belonging to Van Dieman's Land, at
the Isle of France, that vessel being engag-
ed on sealing voyage and in September
1896. they arrived off the northernmost ISL
and, above mentioned. 1t is customary for
these ships to land number of their crew
at the different islands, where seals and sea
lions are procurable, and take them up
again few months afterwards, with the oil
and skins they may have been able to obtain
Accordingly, boat was sent off from the
schooner, with bag ofbiscuit, few pounds
of -four, and other provisions-also kettle
frying pan, and considerable quantity
Of salt, for the purpose Of curing the sea-
skins. 1t happened to be in the evening
that Paine and Proudfoot, and the provis-
ions were landed at a convenient point
where two comfortable huts were discover.
ed, rooted with grass-the habitatlons
doubtless, of some former adventurers.-
The boat had to return again to the schoo
ner, to take off more provisions, and foul
other men, but, after getting on board, ;
smart breeze sprung up, the vessel was
dtiYen to leeward, and nothing more was
seen or heard of her at the island. Th(
two sufferers we're thus left to themselves
and, in the morning, examining the extent
and quality Of their resources, they tount
that almost all the stock of salt had Deer
destroyed by the surf: and that neither o
them Ia most extraordinary circumstance
for sailors) had even knlfe,-Paines be
ing in his Jacket pocket, accidentally let
in the boat, aud Proudfoot had lent his to
messmate. Their only clothing was OF
their backs. They seem to have husband
ed their little store of bread and provision
with great care, having made them last tiv
months. After that, they were thrown
entirely on their own ingenuity and exer
tions for every meal they had.
Circumstanced as they were, it was nat
ural tor them to keep constant look GU
for ships, and they saw several, but at
great distance, during the first month @
their residence on the island. The last the,
cav was the Hope, bound to Hobart's Town
: Van Dieman's land, which, in Ncvembe
1926, approached within few miles of tn
shore, and sent out boat to fish. Pain
and Proudfoot ran with alacrity to tn
beach, and hailing the boat, communicate,
their situation to the officer, who, in reply
told them that when he returned to the shi
he would inform the Captain of the sircum
stance, and act according to his orders
He did return to the ship, and the unhapp,
men had soon the modification to see tn
boat hoisted in, and the vessel making al
sail in prosecution of her voyage. The.
mad then, however, heen but short tim
on the island, and their provisions not heinz
exhausted, they had not yet felt the ute
desolateness of their condition. From tina
period to the appearance of the Palmira
twelve months afterwards) they had no
Z seen o single ship.