The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-11-20

SAS FE,ycisco, Oct. 5, 1853.
Among the passengers who leave for New
York in the steamer for Panama to-day. il
Capt. }. N. Knowles, of the clippsr-ship
Wild Ware, which has been missing for sew
eral months, and long since given up rs lost.
with ali On board. As the Captains story
is very interesting one, have obtained the
1 particulars from him for your readers. The
ship left New York in September last, for
San Francisco, where she arrived on the l4tl,
Of january, leaving again in ballast on the
9th of February last, for Valparaiso.
The strong easterly winds which prevailed
for some time after starting, forced the ves-
sci considerably westward Of the usual track
OF vessels bound for South Amercun ports.
Capt. Knowles had taken fair observations
daily, and on the night in question supposed
himself at least l6 miles from land. An
hour after midnigh, he discovered break era
upon the lee bow. The helm was put hard
Gown, but the ship mis- s-stayed, and while
wearing struck upon a sunken coral reef and
soon fell over on her side and bilged. A
heavy surf broke over the ship, and it be-
came evident at once that she must be lost.
Her topmasts were cut away to case her rs
much as possible, but all efforts to relieve her
failed.
| Daylight at last revealed their position,
and showed that the vessel had struck the
reel surrounding Ocono, very low lagoon
island, n mile and Il half or two miles in cir
cumference, the reef extending in some
places two miles from the shore. Soon after
daylight the boats were got out and all hands
/ landed.
In the course Of the day the captain sue
cecded in getting his nautical Instruments
and supply of provisions ashore. During
the ten days following they were unable to
get to the wreck but twice, in consequence of
the surf. While on the Island, Captain X.
made very careful observations. from which
he ascertalncd that Ucono lies IL miles east
OF the position ascribed to it on the latest
English charts, by which he had nayicated
the ship. To this error of the chart-whch
he is confident will also be exposed soon bv
the officers Of the sloop- DIVA Nandalia
the loss Of the Wild Wave is to be attri-
butcd.
On the l4th of March he started in hi.
iiie- boat, with his first mate, Jas. NJ. Barrett
OF Binghampton, \. Y, and five men, for
PItcalrn's Island, IS miles 10 the Southward,
expecting to lind relief there not to be had
at Ocono, which is out of the usual track of
vessels in any trade. When he left the ship
had not broken up, and he got ont his specie
/ ''' 'oOh IL Ntth IitctirnS lSlaNu IS
Il fertile and pleasant island, only 4 miles in
circumference, which was settled. many wears
ago, by the mutinecrs of the British naval
brig Bounty. 1t has long been favorite
stopping place for whaers, and the captain
went there in hopes of meeting some one of
them who would carry himself and men to
the Sandwich Islands.
Arriving at the island in IS hours. he
found it uninhabited, the settlers ha, ing re-
moved to Norfolk Island. In landing, the
boat was stove and ruined. Of course the
unfortunate men were now without boat of
any KIND, and bad no tools to make one
There seemed nothing for them to do but
possess themselves in patience until next
February or March. when they mi sht hope
Tor succor by the whaling feet bound up the
pacIhc. The island ubOunds in tropical
fruits, which, with goats and chickens left
by the late settlers, promised abundant sup
port; SO the captain fitted up deserted ten,
ement and made himself rs comfortable as
possible. An old gun barrel picked up on
the island was mounted upon n rude stock,
so that one man could fire it with match
while aimed by another. In this very quaint
fashion the goats were brought down for
meat.
In walking about the deserted settlement,
one dly, they found some old RUSTY tools,
consisting of few axes, planes and augors.
With these they determined to build a boat
to get away in, and proceeded at once to car
ry the plan INTO execution. Of course it was
no small undertaking, as they had no saws,
rigging, or iron-work for fastenings.-
They went into the woods, however, with
their axes, hewed a single plank from each
tree TIL the whole was ready to put together.
In the meantime they found few nails, and
burned couple of houses TO get more
With these and wooden pins they fastened
the vessel, and in about three DAYS had it
ready to launch, II trim looking, though frail
schooner, thirty feet in length. From a
quantity of condemned ropes picked up on
the island, they made Oaaum to caulk the
seams, as we'll as rigging for the schooner.
The sail of the life boat, and some old sail
cloth, also picked up at P.tcai ms furnished
sails for the John Adams, usI Ihc new craft
was chrlstcncl. From Il bucket of tar. and
several pounds of rosin, found in deserted
tenement, the bottom seams were daubed, and
the rest were painted with some refuse white
lead from the same source. The hold was
eight feet deep, and we'll deckcd over. 1t
only remained to get set of fcolors. These
the Captain soon provided an old shir, fur
nlshlng the white stripes and stars, some
trimming from the church pulpit, and the
curtains before bunk in deserted house
furnished the blue for the field.
After three weeks effort, tho Adams was
launched, proyisionei with jerked goats
4 meat. and an abundance of water. Three of
the sailors, fearful of the craft, preferred
to remain where they were. SO Captain
kowles, bis mate and two men set sail from
Pltcairn's on the ID Of July for Tahiti, in
tending to call in at Ocono Island, where he
had left 30 men. The first night out they
encountered severe gale from the north
west, which lasted three days, forcing them
so far to the eastward that they could not
make Ocono. They bore away accordingly
to the Marquesas, 1900 miles from Pitcairn's,
where they arrived safely on the 9TH of Au-
gust. Here they found the United States
sloop- of-war Ndndalia, Commander SIM
clair:s who Immediately got under way for
Tahiti, to get wood and water, and pro-
ceed thence to the rescue of the Wild Waves
crew, remaining on Ocono and Pitcairn's.
To Tahiti Captain X. and his companions
also proceeded. The mate went with the
Fandalia on her errand of mercy, and Capt.
Knowles was carried by the French fric
Eurydce to Honolulu, whence he started for
San Francisco; on a merchant schooner, mr.
irving here on the 2Sth of September, bring.
ing his co|ors and his specie with him. lie
starts for home to-day, as already stated,
and carries the first news of his ship which
has reached the East since last spring. His
) family, which live at Cape Cod, have long
since given up all hope of ever hearing from
,. him, as he learned from his friends here
lie is evidently an intelligent and honorable
gentleman, and his misfortunes command the
sympathIes Of the San Francisco merchants
and shippers.
Csy We are sorry to say tive do not wish
to say it-but must, as faithful chroniclers,
. say it-namely: Victoria's daughter, Mrs.
Princess of Prussin-quarrels with her hus-
> band, or Mr.. Prince of Prussia quarrels with
> Mrs. Prinoess-thas is, they de-net think
exactly Ike. and Mrs. Victoria is with iha