The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-08-13
Three American ships Wrecked.

Three American ships w rocked.
The clipper ship LadogG, Wiley, arrived at thi
port on Saturday last, 80 days from Howland's Is
land, and reports the loss Of the ship Mary Robin
son, 1871 tons, at that island, and the ships Lady
Washington. 1925 tons, aud 81. Charles, 1913 tons,
on Bakers Island. As some of our readers may not
know where these are located, we will state that How
lands Island is a low coralline island, nearly south
west from this group, located in W. long. 1862 SO,
and AZ miles north of the Equator. Bakers Island
is about 81 miles west of Howland's. Both these
islands are covered with guano deposits, Of the kind
known in commerce as phosphate guano. The former
is claimed and occupied by the United States Guano
Company, and the latter by the American Guano
Company, who have worked the island for six or
eight years. Each island has agents of the COM
panies located on it, with heavy moorings for ships
that 60 there to load guano. There is no anchorage.
owing TO the steepness of the shore. and vessels have
to moor quite close to the land. Generally the trade
winds blow with great regularity, and the moorings
being on the lee side of the islands, in ordinary
weather ships lie there safely. Il is only during the
prevalence of westerly winds, Gains. or strong ty-
phoon swells from the southwest, that any danger
attends the loading of ships at the islands. At some
seasons generally in the winter) the surf rolls in
with terrific fury from the southwest, caused by the
typhoon storms. During these periods, it is almost
impossible to land on the island.
We have been furnished with reports Of the loss of
the ships named, and as it is important to have the
facts all given, we publish them in full. During the
high tides in June, one-half of Howland's Island
became submerged or covered with the sea, which. on
retiring, left a lagoon in it, and the guano soft like
mud.
Report Of Ship LndOgu.
Sailed from Honolulu, May 9th, 1864 to load guano at How
land's slanHt hau tolerate n r. trades TO Lat. 1 > ~ N,
Long. loe9 80 w thence to HOwland's Island light variable
June 9Th; found the ship Mary Robinson and bark Harrison
Weather h I Ss%xp so 'Dansnf from i% tSe r Westward aSa torrents Srfg q of
rain. The ship Mary Robinson had been on the reef, but
June 2sth, touched at HowIand's again, found both ships
sqaai from n. w, and Knocked Off their rudders, causing the
~ R; to 1s,n make some some water as AT AT 5 p ?: n fl aned d away and Dat at
hsd flag a hal mast rstn 1 w ! W d smg :, S s e WI Tina s,s at t ehs .ime
with 1900 tons of guano on board. taking the moorings with
h her ri Her ,S Grew , mere ,ia all s" Seins rSe sark s@ asSses got go s %
keel and copper; but did not make any water.
sale sailed f for :, San :, FT "a TSe to a rsPairi Ia taking asn captain 1Ttna 90 Sn sd oo and a
Howland's IS days, with battling winds ami sauaIly weather
and rain every other day. The middle of the Island is a per-
9th for Honolulu for moorings. Touched at Bakers Island
Enclosed you will find the report from that Island.
JOHN A. WILEY, Master of Ladoga.
Report of Ship Lady Washington.
The ship Lady Washington of Boston, Capt. Holbrook, was
lost at Bakers Island, May Sd, at about 1 O'Clock, P. NJ. Early
with frequent squalls, which caused the ship to swing directly
in shore, and very close to the reef, but she laid very well to
her moorinss all the forenoon. About a quarter to / O'Clock,
n heavy squall from the west struck her, which, together with
the very heavy surf which had been running in all day. caused
the ship to drag her moorings, and strike on the reef AS soon
| as possible we got the boats alongside, and got into them. The
rendered valuable assistance. All this time, the ship was
from the time she struck, she was on her broadside, and going
down head first; At half past 1 O'Clock she had entirely disap-
peared, taking down the mooring with her, and no part of her
has been seen since except a few vm movable things about tn
very kindly received.
ley got under way and stood out to sea. The whaleship
sent two boats to our assistance, but they did not arrive Iii
we were all of; Afts5ward, Capt t., Bates took one,half Of
on board the SkyLark. Both vessels then cruised around the
enough to permit a boat to land, they stood in, and on the 9TH
the DesdemOna landed her portion Of the crew, and on the
due, both to Capt. Burseiy and Capt. Bates, for the kindness
and generosity with which they treated us. All but 3 o. 4 lost
The L. ": had in between 400 and 500 tons of guano when
were at Bakers Island when I left (July cd waiting for the
May 18th, John Bennett, colored) of Boston, and steward
of the L. ", was capsized out Of a boat when coming in
when he was got ashore, and died 8 hours sfterward, deceased
sen, a native of Drammen, Norway, seamen of the L. ",
died of dysentery, aged %.
Baker, sG Island d. june sth' at sP.M; The A.a: CO.. agent,
s M, H hnay = sSaSte distance nl' I from a the h : edge IL Of r; the reef I i, wa was
intended that she should lie there, till the next day, and she
the wind died away. and the surf sent the ship in on the reef
The three topsails were then set, to try and back her of, but as
it was then a dead calm, it was of no use. The ship was set
on the reef as far as amidships, where she struck fast, her
stern being in deep water; and when the tide fell she careened
over on her port side.
AS soon as she got ashore they commenced saving provisions,
and everything else, that could be easily moved, both from the
Island and the ship Skylark- The next day, everything that
could be, was saved and the masts cut away. On the Sth she
went to pieces first breaking in two smiiships. Then the
wreck was sold as she lay, for $500. Her bow from the break
of the forecasile, with bowsprit and jibboon, yet DULY p re-
mains whole. Capt. Higgins took passage in the ship Skykdrk,
Capt. Burseley, which left Bakers Island June Goth for Fall
mouth. England, with about 1900 tons of guauo. While the
SkyLark was at the Islands, Capt. Bursely put to sea .fUe
different times for the safety of his ship, besides once parting
his mooring in the night, and drifting out to sea. The ship
Danube, Capt. Broughton, first arrived of the Island, June
10, but did not come to her mooriugs, till the Goth, when she
took the one the Skuidrk left.
+. A. HOOPER.
Late I'd officer of ship Lady Washington.
THE ATLANTIC MoNTHLY.-The June number OF