The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-04-28
From the Commercial Advertiser, March 2l
Loss of the American Whale ship "South
SeamaE.~


By the arrival on Sunday last, March q, of the
Hawaiian schooner Kamehameha ~. twelve days
from French Frigate Shoal, we learn the American
whale ship South Seaman, Capt. Norton, which
sailed hence March 9TH for the northxard, struck on
the east end of the Shoal, at 5 O'Clock on the morn
ing of March Is, and has become a total loss. The
crew got safely ashore and part Of them come pas
sepgers in the Rameho neha ~.
Some thirty still remain on the island, and viii
probably return in the Kamehameha, which will be
dispatched this evening on her return to the
island. Capt. Norton informs us that on the night
Of the 18th he judged from good observations that he
was well up with and 40 miles TO the westward of
Basse Island, which is laid down on the chart as the
wesiermost part Of the group, and was steering mis-
course.-W- S W-,-going from 10 to IL knots be-
fore q strong trade breeze. There were three Of the
best men in the ship on the lookout, but the breakers
were not seen until she struck. There is four to five
feet water on the reef, which extends y. E.. and S. W.
forty miles. After striking. the ship commenced
pounding heavily on the rock, rising and falling on
the breakers and forcing herself further on. In about
twenty minutes the topmast and foremast went over
b~oar1neaving two boats Two hours after going on
the ship bilged. and with her stores will be nearly n to
tai loss. She stands upright, with her bottom ont but
in a perfect network of coral reefs.
The South Seaman was a new clipper ship, on her
first voyage and third season north. She had no oil
on board. having shipped home about $500 barrels.
She was commanded by Capt Thomas H. Norton,
who was also q part owner. She had on board pro-
visions and stores valued at about Sl2, 600, besides
anchors and chains to the amount of 5000. Alto
gether the loss cannot be less than $4,000.
We have received from Capt. Norton the following
account of the loss of his ship. 1t contains some in
teressing particulars, in aGDtion to those published
in our extra of Monday lasp and reprinted above.
HoSo6U, March %, 1859.
MR- EDrroR,-Dsar Sill beg to give you the
following particulars relative to the loss of the ship
South Seaman. under my command. on the French
Frigate Shoal
We left here on the 10Th inst, bound to the Ochotsk
Sea At 5, A. NJ, on the 18th, the ship struck on
the above shoal- She was going at the rate of from
ten to IL knots, with strong trade winds, all sail on
and steering W. w. Judged myself, from observ-
atoms taken the previous day, to have been forty
miles west of Basse Island As soon as she struck,
We cut away her foremost She beat up on the coral
reef till she lay in six feet water. In about two hours
after striking she bilged. As our masts went, the
sea took away our bow and waist boats. Atdaylight
we got the larboard boat inside the reef with a tow line
and boat anchor; took the boats down from over head
and hauled them through the breakers by the line.
The third boat which was got clear Of the ship was
swamped with some ten or twelve men. After drift
ing through the reef, she was anchored bottom sids
up The sa was 50 heavy, breaking over the ship,
thas zit was very dangerous to leave her. We sue
cee3e3R saving two barrels water, about four bar
rels bf44 and some two or three boxes fresh meats,
togeth1 18th my chrouometers, charts, quadrants
and pepo{tka After bailing out the boat that was an
chored, ne divided the men in the 6ve boats. 1t was
now sds1pgEed that We were obliged to leave to pre-
vent UGfn8 svamped- We steered for Guam. About
two hours after leaving the wreck We discovered .
whale boat pulling towards US, which proved to be-
long to the schooner Kanehameha ~. belonging to
this place. They had seen the wreck at daylight and
we're coming to our relief We were kindly received
by Capt Foss, who brought twelve Of the crew to this
port, and / would take this occasion to express, on
behalf Of myself officers and crew. my heartfelt
! thanks to Capt Foss, slr. Fetsers and Ar. Realty, fsx