The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-10-08
Los. Of ship ..wm. Tell.

HONOLULU, Oct. 6, 1859.
Mn. EDITOR Dear Sir II regret herewith to
inform you of the loss of the Ship HIM. Tell, while
under my command. in the Arctic sea, on the night
of the 18th July. She went ashore bout 8 miles to
the westward of Cape East, Lat. 66o 10 n. Long. 10
W., during the prevalence of n dense fog. the wind at
the time blowing strong from the n. n. w. The
ship had been to the north, Lat. 69-Long. 173, and
in consequence of there finding the ice so heavy, L
had concluded to put back for the straits, and cruise
around Kings Island until a more favorable oppor-
tunity appeared for returning north. On the day of
the 18th the ship had been steering S. L. by compass,
in company with several other ships; about = 2. NJ.
spoke schooner San Diego steering out from the
land, where she had been tradingl e~nquired of the
captain the bearings of Cape East, when he pointed to
the Cape w. n. W. of Cape East-then just visable
above the fog. an said, ..that is Cape East L had
nv doubts about his correctness, and enquired the
second time, he giving the same reply. At 81 P. NJ.
the fog shut in very thick, and not feeling safe to
run, lufed by the wind, heading N. E., head yards
aback, and lay thus until 7 p. NJ. then took in light
sail, reefed topsails and wore round, heading W. by
S. At z. NJ. passed a ship at anehor-which sub
sequently proved to be the Speed,ceH. She had a
boat towing astern, and | supposed from this that il
was a vessel which had been cumming with some
other and having lost her, had anchored on that ac-
count.
Shortly after passing this ship, 1 went below feel
ing perfectly safe, and leaving the ship in charge of
the 81 officer, with orders to wear ship at 10 2. VI.
and to call me at II. At 9 hours 10 minutes, the
officer came to me and reported the land to be so
close that he had not room to wear. 1 Immediately
gave orders to let go the anchor, and 'grasping an
axe made for the deck for the purpose of cutting the
ring-stopper; and while passing the man at the
wheel, ne informed me that the ship had just struck.
The breakers could not have been more than a ships
length ahead at the time they were discovered.
At the moment the ship struck she was head on,
and not more than fifty feet from the breakers; as
soon as she struck 1 sounded and found four fathoms
water in her waste She Immediately swung broad
side on and lay very easy. AT aboue IL L. NJ. the
fog lighted up, and three ships were seen at anchor
about three miles OFF. | took a boat and went on
board the Speedreif, for assistance. Capt. Gibbs,
Capt. Edwards, of the Hi5ernia 2d, Capt. Thomas,
of the Eliza adams, each with a principal por-
ton of their boats and crews came and rendered all
the assistance in their power, each bringing anchors
and hausers.
The ship was frightened by starting the ground tier,
all the fresh water, &C., but the sand was so soft the
anchors would not hold. and in the meanwhile there
was a heavy swell setting the ship gradually further
on. We worked faithfully on the ship until II NJ. of
the following day, at which time the ship labored
very hard and we were constrained to give up all
hopes of saving her. / then went 10 work saving
provision. &C., and at 3 p. VI. finding the ship la
bored so heavily that it was impossible to stand on
her decks, cut away the foremast, and main and
mizen topmasts, after which she lay quite easy.
On the 18th of July. deeming it best for all con-
cerned, I sold the ship and all that was saved, with
the exception of the oil and provisions, at auction;
the provisions which were saved [ divided among the
crew, and the oil and bone freighted on board the
Hiternia 2d, for the Sandwich Islands. The ship
had on board about 800 barrels and 1000 pounds bone.
Respectfully your obeiient servant.
JAMES L. AUSTIN,
Late master HIM.. Tell