Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-03
From the Philadelphia Sal. Gazette.
Starvation of a Captain and Grew.

The following melancholy narrative is taken
from private letter, written February 25th,
1852, at Valparaiso, on board II. NJ. S. Di-
do:-
We arrived at Valparaiso on the 10Th ult.;
we should have been here much sooner had we
not delayed so much time looking after Captain
Gardiner, q gentleman Of fortune, who had
joined the Patagonan Missionary Society, and
had gone TO some small barren islands off the
HOrn to enlighten the inhabitants, wild as they
were. We received intelligence from Rio that
we were to look after Capt. Gardiner at the
Falkland Islands, whcrew we proceeded, and hear
ing there that vessel had left provisions and
clothing for him, expecting he would call for
them, we resumed our search for him to Staten,
a small, uninhabited island; there we found
nothing that could lead 10 his discovery but a
large boat mOored TO tree, and on the hill was
a flagstaff with piece of bed-tck for flag.
We cut the name Of our ship on several trees,
and got under way the next morning. We an
chored at Gilbert's Cove, about two or three
days sail; there we sent boats ashore, and cut
in tree was this inscription:
"Dig deep; 'nder This spot you scH find bottle"
We dug, and found it, and in it note as fol-
lows:
"c'apt. GarliacT, you wN fna, IS at Spanish
HdrJor, al a distance Of about 60 mules
from this place"
We proceeded IN that place the next morning,
after speaking to two canoes OF Strengthening
human beings, quite naked; they were painted,
and colored shells hung round them.
There were several other canoes Of this de-
scription of humanity in its worst form; they
caught fish and ate them raw, and subssted on
wild herbs and roots of trees. How they could
bear the cold cannot tell, for ten months out
Of twelve it is intensely cold. We happened TO
get there in the summer. We gave them a few
articles of clothing, but they would not wear
them. We left them and resumed our search
after Capt. Gardiner. We arrived at Spanish
Harbor the same evening, and sent boats Oh
shore as soon as we dropt anchor, and then be-
held sight which trust shall never witness
again. Strewed in different parts of the beacl
were Capt G.. and two of his party. The first
we saw was Capt. g. in a state Of decomposi-
ton. We supposed it to be him. by their being
a watch hanging to his skeleton form, and some
distance from him there was another. We pro
ceeded some distance to cave with lantern
when we entered there was q deadly smell n
the end Of the cave, where we found the re
mains of the others. There was furniture ant
cooking utensils, as though they had lived Their,
some time. The boats crews were allowed Il
have the clothes, &c.. as they found large ches
containing books and clothing; and on the lid o
it was nailed his will, stating that the first shi
that found them should have them. We burie,
them with the honors of war. And cut on tn
wall was this inscriptions:
"Procoed on The beach about a mile and hal
--you wiH find three more; do mol delay, for Il
are StdrUmg.'
We made the best Of haste, and found ther
dead. Itappenred they had been Stunned b
the natives, and had starved TO death.
we mad roughish passage from Rio here, .
is gene rally the case round the Horn.