Polynesian., 1853-10-29
Qbe polpnesian.
Loss Of Ship Susan of Nantucket.
Continued from No. 24.


the oars again, Chose who were able, ou
Iprogress was very slow, as our limbs wer'
benumbed with cold, and want of room t,
exercise. At III A. NJ, came near the lant
but did not meet with a place sufficiently
smooth for landing, on account of serl
Steered to the N. E. till near the end OF the
island, when the wind came strong from the
N. with snow which decided the case,-lant
we must, in doing which we succeeded bet.
ter than we had feared, as our boats received
no serious injury. 1t was about 2 P. M
when we landed. About 2 hours after saw o
sail about 6 miles distant, set fire to some
grass, and raised signal, but Of no avail
as we were probably not seen, the vessel
being amongst the ice, and trying to keep
from coming in contact, and soon steered to
the south and disappeared.
After landing, turned up our boats on the
snow and Ice, and prepared to sleep. in
which think not many succeeded, as am
sure did not, although had not slept since
the first ice was seen from the Susan.
Tuesday 26th.-At daylight Mr. ]. Ham
blin and myself went to look for food, or ra-
ther if there was any thing on which we
| coul ddepend for subsistence. At IL NJ,
returned, having made no further discovery
than that snow and ice covered the face OF
the ground; that the rocks near the shore on
which there was weed growing, and adhering
to which were a mall shell fish about the
size of whortleberries; and on the shore a
small quantity of keIp; these we used from
day to day.
Third and fourth of May the ships COM
pany built a place to live in, as wanted
their boat to put in order for no less voy-
age than some of the Northern Ports of
China, a desperate undertaking truly, but
what will not man undertake when driven to
despair by hunger? not that our stock Of
provision taken from the wreck was all ex-
pended, but soon would be, notwithstanding
our living as much as possible on kelp and
shell fish, such as have before described.
had thought it barely possible that by
pulling and sailing near the shore Of the ISL
and on which we now were, and with the
first fair wind and good cay to cross to the
next, and by keeping near the shore, be able
to shelter or 60 on shore in storms, and SO
reach Matsmai, where concluded the ma
tives would not drive US away without first
giving US a supply of rice. That done, we
should not starve; we would then make the
attempt to pass Matsmai straits, and cross
the Sea of Japan, through Corea Straits,
hoping, however, before that time to fall in
with some friendly vessel, and so terminate
our forlorn hope, but he who permitted US to
reach Companies Island had not forgotten
US.
Thursday, May 5th, one week after land
ing, we launched our little boat for the voy-
age before described, although to all ap-
pearances desperate. Yet we had strong
hearts and hoped for the best Our number
being seven in all, after steering S. West
about one hour and half, saw smoke
raised by those left behind, signal for a
sail, which we soon discovered to the S. E.
We soon gave chase, but as the sail drew
ahead, we were willing to allow that the old
adage held good, that stern chase IS hard
one. At times the breeze would die, and
we gain, then increase, and we lose, or at
least not gain much; we were now near
enough to see man at the mast head, yet
we were not seen, then came fresh breeze
and | had the sorrow toSsee that those on
board meant to improve it, as the sails were
at once trimmed, and out went the main top
mast steering sail. We were near enough
to see many Of the larger ropes, butwe not
seen; saw a man go to relieve the mast head,
and soon after. with inexpressible pleasure,
saw the steering sail come in, the head yards
braced up, and the ship came to the wind
with the main topsail to the mast. We now
knew for a certainty that we had been dis
covered, and that she waited our arrival,
which was slow, as the men at the oars had
over exerted themselves during the chase,
and now we're quite exhausted. The vessel
proved to be the Black Warrior Of New Lon
don, Henry W. Bartlett, master, who re-
ceived us on board, sent to the island and
fetched those who were on shore, supplied
US with clothing, and treated us with the ut
most kindness and his officers also.
May sth-Spoke bark Endeavor of N B.,
Capt. Howland, who kindly took 8 of the
crew, and supplied myself with some articles
of clothing Of which stood in need.
May 9th.-Spoke ship Huntsville of Cold
Spring, Capt. Smith, who took more Of the
crew, lst and Cd officers included, and gave
US further supply Of clothing.
And now, in conclusion, will say that the
loss of my ship attribute to the inaccuracy
of the general chart, as when first saw the
land 25 miles distant, it, according to the
chart, should have been 80 or 90, in which
case could have worked to the leeward be-
fore the gale, ice, and sea. The next morn |
ing, when the wind came to the westward,
worked off shore again, as l had been but
25 days from Ascension Island, and had on
board 2 excellent 8 day chronometers. | had
every confidence in the correctness Of my
longitude, and supposed the land correctly
laid down. | have since seen a chart on
board bark Endeavor, on which the land was
laid down as found it.
And now perhaps few remarks on Eu-
rope OF Companies Island, might not be
amiss, as others, may be deceived BY their