The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-06-30


ing rays on their unprotected heads.
lie fourth day the course was changed for
Clarion Island, located in Long. ia w. lat
10 oU but owing u strong winds and heavy
sea, the boats were unable To fetch up To IT,
On the fifth. sixth and seventh days six dol
phins. bonita and turtle were caught. and
divided among the three boats, giving the crews
plenty Of raw meat, but they had no salt they
were unable to keep it. Al the boats crews
we now put OF an ailnwanc. Of gill Of water
lalf Il biscuit, and half a raw potato, twice a
day But when it rained. all hand, were priv
Ieged I" drIrk all the water they could catch.
For the next thirteen days. the winds con-
tinucd Eight and baiHiug. the long boat town..
the other two ali the while. On the l7th day
out. two =. boobies - were caught. which were
divided among the boats crews.
When eighteen DAYS out. under a strOn trade
wind. it was found impossible for the long boat
70 continue towing the others. as the strain and
jerking were so severe as to endanger her. and
Capt. Mitchell decided to cast off the mate :
t1at, which WIS done in Long. ! II W. Lat Is
y. Three days alter. it WAS decided, for the
same reason. u cast of the second mates boat
and alter coming alongside. dividing the beg
sarly remnant Of stores. and bidding eac,i other
adleu, they east off. all being III good spirits
Up TO this time, the three boats were still in
sight OF each other. each having n navigator in
charge. and heading on the same course. That
night they parted company, and the two mates
boats have not since been heard from.
After reaching longitude III west. and lati-
tude II north, Captain Mitchell decided to head
for - American group located according to
Bowdirch, in Lat II n, Long. 1873 30 W. The
boat spent several days cruising over the posi-
ton, but found no signs of land. Thus far they
lad cndeayOred 10 keep iii the usual track of
Cali!ornia-bOund clippers. in hope of meeting
passing sail. But failing To find land here, they
beaded for Hawaii, distant 1900 miles.
At this time they had no meat. and nothing to
eat but the bare bones Of the ham, and the can
vas it was rolled in, with their regular two gills
OF water. Pieces of this canvas and the slaves
Of Il butter kcg which had saline relish to
them. served as the main standby. while the
leather of their boots WAS scraped off. soaked in
water 50 as to make the leather soft. This served
as their soup. For desert, they ate pieces of
ton shirts and handkerchefs. BY some accident
there was a supply of tobacco in the boat. which
served to allIy their thirst and may have been Il
principal means Of preserving their lives. Dur
Ing the entire passage the utmost discipline pre-
vailed, with watches off and on, as regularly
on the ship. The boat leaked badly, and all
hands took turns bailin9 to keep her aaoat.
With the strong trade winds, heavy and
squalls, blowing at times almost gale, this
no light work
On the thirty-eishth day, four fying-fish
kindly flew into the boat. These were seized,
and divided into fifteen eqhtai p"rts, and each ate
his share raw. The next day another hying-tSh
came aboard, which was also divided into fifteen
pieces, and served around. On the Gorticth day,
Il very small fish flew aboard. which was given To
the clptain. as he was suffering most from want
of nourshment.
On the forty-frst day. Neal Turner, an invalid
seaman, who had severe abcess in the hip. gave
up discouraged, and lay down the bottom Of
the boat. The rest Of the party We're in god
spirits but weak. expecting to see land in four or
five days. There was no grurnblinS nor dissen-
sion.
On the forty-third day out at II A. NJ. the cry
I,s(r
of Mauna Loa cheered the furnished voyagers.
The land sighted ii day or sooner than
they expected. On nearing it. flag waved
on pole, which was seen by those un shore, but
at first it was supposed t. be IL fishing party.
When approaching near the breakers, OF LaupI-
hoehue. two natives SWAN off % the boat, and on
finding the destitute condition of the climbed
into II, shook hands with every one. saying ''how
DO you do, took the oars, and brought the boat
safely To the beach.
None of the party were able To stand up, and
on trying TO do 80. Tell over, perfectly helpless,
and unable infants To walk alone. The
tives crowded around, women yicing with the
men, took them up in their arms, and carried
them all ashore, to the house OF Mr.. Jones, Pulu
Agent OF j. {. King X Co, who received them
with greatest kindness. The natives brought all
kinds of fruits and vegetables, such potatoes.
bananas, cOcOanuts, &c, for the starving men.
but Mr.. j, deeming it not prudent for them u
eat these. made some tea and broth. and nUrsed
them with the zeal of Il Florence Nightin gale.
Next morning they We're allowed to eat little
more freely. but still with great caution, their
host providing them more at each subsequent
meal.
Word having been dispatched to Hilo, the
American Consul there. Capt. j. Worth, sent
three boats and brought the sailors to that port
Capt Mitchell and the Me>srs. Ferguson prefer
ring to remain at LaupahOehoe till they gained
more strength. At Hilo the Consul provided for
all their necessities and bestowed much care on
them.
The whole party in the long boat, thus reached
land safely after having been fOrty-three days at
sea- OF snort allowance part OF the time, and less
allowance most Of the voyage. hat Is more
remarkable. there sickness, nor any OF
that dizziness which is often the accomlani-
ment of persons kept in a starving condition for
50 long a time.
TO Captain Mtchells fitness for hi- command.
Is due in no small degree the success of bringing
this open boat 2jOO miles safely To land. He had
q COMPASS. but no chart, and steered as with
super-human skill. or more correctly speaking,
an over-ruling Providence steered them IN safety
To the land. The seImen express the most un-
bounded confidence in him, and felt. like soldiers
with their General, that 80 long rs he led them,
they were safe. and should reach the land.
The other boats-unless picked up by some
stray vessel-have probably been lost Though
each was provided with navigator. 1T was not
till after they parted company, that the long
boat decided u put off for these islands. The
others may have done 50 or not but IN either
case could hardly survive the squalls and heavy
seas encountered bv the one which has arrived.
The cautlin and sailors will leave for San
Francisco by an carly vessel. During their stay
in IIiln, they were generously suIp piled with all
that human kindness can provide, and probably
they will meet the same treatment here.