Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-03
A New Robinson Crusoe.

i
Knowles. of the clipper ship Wild Wave
which has been missing for several months
and long since given up as lost, with all on
board. As the Captains story is very
Interesting one, have obtained the particu-
| lars from him for your readers. The ship
left New York in September last, for San
| Francisco, where she arrived on the l4th OF
January. leaving again in ballast on the 9th
Of February last, Tor Valparaiso.
The strong easterly winds which prevailed
for some time after starting, forced the YES
sci considerably to the westward Of the usual
track o! vessels bound for the South Ameri.
can ports. All went we'll however, uutil the
night of the 4th OF March, Captain Know les
had taken fair observations daily. aud on the
night in question supposed himself at least
sixteen miles from any land. An hour after
midnight be discovered breaker, upon the lee
bow. The helm Was put hard down, but the
ship-mistayed, and, while wearing. struck
upon sunkcn coral rect, and soon fell over
Oh her side and biiged. a heavy surf broke
over the ship, and it bec'me evident a. once
that she must be lost Her top masts were
cu.-awsy, to ease her as much as possible
but all Efforts to relieve her materially failed.
Daylight at last revealed their position,
and showed that the vessel had struck the
reefsurrounding OsOno, very low lag ron is
land, mile and half or two miles In cir
cumfereucs. the rect extending in some places
two miles from shore. Soon after daylight
the boats were got out aud ali hands landed
10 the course of the day the Captain succeed
ed 10 getting his nautical instruments and q
supply of provisions ashore. Daring the ten
days following they were unable to get out to
the wreck more than twice, in consequence Of
the surf. While upon the island Ca plain
Knowles made very careful observations,
from which be ascertained that Oeono lies
sixteen miles east of the position ascribed tc
it on the latest English charts, by which he
had navigsted the ship. To this error of the
chart-wbich Captain Knowles is COZ tieut
will be also exposed b. the officers OF che
sloop-of-war Nandalia. soon-thc loss Of the
Wild Wave is attributed.
Upon the l4th of March, started in his life
boat, with his first mate, MIR. James +. Bart
lett, of Binghanp,on, n. u. and five men,
for Pl,cairn's Island, seven,y-iVe miles to the
southwark, expecting to find relief there, not
to be had at Oeono, which Is out Of the usu-
al track of vessels in any trade. When be
left the ship had not broken up, and the
Captain got out bis specie and carried 1t
down with him. Pltosirn's Island, it will
be mbered, is fertile aud pleasant Is
land, only four miles in circumference, which
was settled many years ago by the mutineers
of the British naval brig Bounty. 1t has
long been favorte stopping place for whal-
ers, and the Captain went there IN hopes OF
meeting seine one Of them who would carry
himself and his men 10 the Sandwich LILA nds.
Arriving a. the island 10 fOrty-eight hours
he found it uniuhahi:c9, the settlers having
been removed to Norfolk Island. 10 land
ing too, the lie boat was stove aud ruined
O, course the unfortunate men wtre now
withou. a boat of any description, and bad
no tools with which to construct one. There
seemed to be nothing fer them to do but pos
sess themselves in patience until next febru-
ary or March, when they might hope tor
succor By the whaling feet bound up the
Pacific. The Island abJCnds IN tropical
fruits, which, with goats and chickens lett hy
the late settlers, promised abundant support
meantime. So the captain fitted up a deser-
ted ten ement aud made him. elf as comfortable
as possible. An old gun barrel picked up 90
the island, WAS mounted upon rude stock,
50 that one man could fire it with match
while aimed 10y another In this dual fash
ion the goats we're brought down for meat.
In walking abru. the deserted settlement
one dag, they found old rusty t0o!s, consist
Jog of few axes, planes and augurs. With
these the CAPTAIN deter mibed to build boat
TO get away with, and the party PROCEEDED at
once to carry the plan into execution .,
course it was no small undertaking, f,r they
had no saws. nor rigging, nor irOu-work for
fastening. They weut into the woods, how
ever, with their axes, hewed single PLANK
out of each tree, until the whole was ready
to put together. IL the meantimethey found
a few nails, and burned couple oi houses to
get more. With these and wooden pins they
fastened the vessel, and in about three days
bad it read to launch, a ,rim-Ooking, though
frail schooner, thirty feet in length. From
quantity Of Condemned ropes picked up on
the island. they made oakun TO cauIk the
seams, as well ar rigging OF the schoorcr.--
The sail of the life boat and some old sali
cloth, also picked M at Piteairn's furnished
sails for the John Adams, a. the new craft
was christeued. From a bucket OF tar, and
several pounds Of rosin, found In deserted
tenement, the bottom seams were raid, and
the rest were painted with some refuse white
lead from the same source. The hold was
eight feet deep, and well deckcd over. Il
ouly remained to get set Z! cclors. These
the Captain soon provided, an old shirt iul-
nish,ng the white stripes and stars, some
trimming from the church pulpit thered, aud
the curtains beforea bunk IN deserted house
furnished the blue for the field.
After three weeks effort, tho Adams was
launched, provisioned with ieik2d goats
meat, chickens, fruit a few cans of prcser-
we'd meats, and an asuudarce Of water
Three of the sailors, fearful of the craft,
perferred to remain where they were. 81
Captain Knowles, his mate, aud two men
set ssil from Pitcarb's on the Sd OF July Ter
Tahiti, Intending to cal! in at Oeono Island
where hc had lett thiIty-two men. tie hfst
night out, they encountered a severe gale
from the northwest which lasted three days
forcing them so far to the eastw ,rd that they
could not make Oeono. They bore away ac-
oordingly for the Marquesas, 1900 miles
from Pitcairn, where they arrived safely on
the 5,h of August. Here they fouod :he U. ,.
Nandalia, Commander SlUcialr,
who imm edia,ely got under weigh Tor Tahiti
TO get wood and water, and proceed thence TO
the rescue of the Wild Waves crew, remain
inv on Oeono and Pi,cairn's. To Tahiti Cap
tam X. and his companions also proceeded.
The mate went with the Nandalia on her err.
rand of % ercy, and Capt. Knowles was carried