The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-04-24


months aftrward upon the island, and the
other two started with the chief officer for
New Zealand in january, 1867. No
tidings have been received from them,
and their fate is almost certain). Iron
(for an anchor) aud rope were placed in
this first boat, the mission was to SEQ if a
lanairg could be made outside the cave,
aud afterwards to return for more passen :
gers. But from some cause or other the
boat lay outside the cave and did not re-
turn, The second quarter boat was then
launched in her were placed about fifty
tons of bouilli and some beef and pork
The captain, who did his duty nobly, in
tended to dispatch this boat, with women
and children, TO the first which had gone
outside the cave but his intention was
in some way frustrated. The boat was
| filed with men and one woman, Mrs.
Jewell, the stewardess, who in being low
cred from thu. ship fell into the sea- Her
husband jumped in after her, aud both
were saved, aud are among the survivors
There was heavy sea running and the
General Grant was sinking fast. Many
of the passengers got into the long boat
which was lying on the quarter deck !;
slowly the ship sunk until the boat and
its living cargo were aaoat, but they had
not gone hundred yards before the sea
broke over the boat and filed her. OF
the struggling passengers only three were
saved The hull of the ship was now un-
der water, and the sea was breaking so
heavily that neither of the boats dared
approach her. The Captain was last
seen in the mizzentopmast cross-trees j,
within few moments of disappearing he
waved his handkerchief as au adieu to
those who were 10 the boats.
Slowly aud sadly the Survivors pulled
away from the dreadful cave wherein so
many of their fellow.passengers had found
their last resting place. The coast, as
far as they could see, consisted of high
perpendicular rocks, and there was no
possibility of effecting landing. They
were many times in peril before they land
ed they we're all the day pulling, some
times in the teeth of the wind, and it was
night before they reached large rock
about one and half miles northeast of
Disappointment Island. In trying to eff
feet landing for the purpose of obtaining
fresh water, one of the boats was swamped,
but the men got safely on the rocks. OF
all their provisions, only three pieces of
pork and nine tins of bouilli were saved.
The boat, however, was recovered On
the morning of the 18th Of May they got
some fresh water. They had been un-
able to procure any wood for fire, and
even if they had they would have hesita-
ted before riskiug their last match on
rocks where it would have been impossi-
BILE for them to live. They were obliged
to keep on their oars all night so as to
prevent being blown off the land.
About noon Of the 18th they entered
place called South Harbor, but they did
not think it q fit refuge, go at daylight
the next morning they started again, aud
reached Port Ross There they camped
and set about the anxious task Of lighting
FIRE, in which they were fortunately
successful The fire they lighted that
evening was not allowed to 90 out for
eighteen months. They caught two or
three birds, gathered few limpets, and
these, with tin of bouilli, were cooked
and heartily enjoyed by the poor ship.
wrecked people. The next day they dis.
covered some old huts, which had, doubt
less, afforded shelter for other sufferers,
and gathered limpats and killed four seals
on the beach at Enderby's Island. They
saw some goats, but did not succeed in
catching any. Knowing that ships had
been wrecked there before, aud the island
they were on had been a refuge for men
10 the same condition as themselves, they
spent the next few days in searching for
food, tools, clothing, which they thought
might have been left for the benefit of
future castaways. They were not success
full.
They were very badly off for clothing.
There were some who were without coats,
hats and shoes and stockings. From this
cause and from the want of nourishine
food, the party for many days were in a
state of dreadful suffering. They were
attacked with dyseDtery, and became so
reduced and emaciated that they feared
none would be left to tell the story. One
day when they were out IN the bay search
ing for the hut left by Captain Musgrave,
who with some of his crew had but few
months before escaped similar peril after
twenty months suffering, they described
themselves as being so weak that they
could scarcely lift their oars out of the
water when, after an absence of eight
days, they returned to their companions,
they were startled with horror at finding
the men they had left reduced almost to
bare skin and bone. They knew then
how they themselves had changed. Bat
after time they rallied /; they got more
accus omed to the food they succeeded in
making O little salt, and from the skins of
the seal they made moecasins for the Shoe
less. They also managed to make sail
from seal skin.
On the 18th of July they came upon
Musgrave's hut their joy was great, for
they thought they would find we'll stock
ed depot but their disappointment was
greater, for everything had been carried
away except few rags of old canvas and
an old boiler, which they afterwards used
to boil satin. They made many discover
les, which although trifing in themselves,