The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-31

which they afterwards used to 9on shnrnn sSiS eI'
| They made many discoveries, which altnougH
trifing in themselves, were OF apsorpinS iItu tno
est and value 10 the finders. They iouna a,o Imo
files and another hut fitted up Wltn Gniee
bunks, in which there we're an adze, spaue,
and a little wearing apparel. They saw some
pig tracks, but no pigs. As have saio DeioIe, ,1'
their covering at night was grass, ana the
weather being bitterly cold, their peds were
not as comfortable as they would nave nkeo.
They managed to catch seals enough TO hve
upon. 1t was long time before tney hnew
low to use the skins for clothing; they we're
So hard; but at length they discovered that by
pariug the dried skins close to the roots Of the
hair, they could obtain very soft material.
And so thev managed to live on. The history
of one day was the history OF all.
In September, after they had been on th2
! islands for over four months. they we're all
attacked with an alarming sickness. Their
stomachs began to swell, taen their limbs;
most of them thought that their last hour was
come It somewhat resembed sccrvy, as
when they pressed upon the swollen part the
indentation remained for some time. They
learned afterwards that it was a disease known
| to old whalers s the ''cobbler.
were on an island at the time, which they
called Rabbit Island, as they found rabbits
there. They instantly multiplied their flre,
and four of them gave chase in the boat, but
without success. The ship passed. and was
not seen again. This had the effect OF de-
pressing their spirits considerably. The suf-
ferers are positive in their declaration that the
smoke from their fires must have been seen on
the ship. So October and November passed.
They had an agreeable variety IN their food
about this time in the finding Of some sea
fowls eggs and they lighted on q rusty, axe
in the stump of an old tree directly in front
of one of their huts. Then, beginning to
6Qtor-
mined to make an effort for their own deliver
ance. They fitted up one of their two boats;
decked her over with seals skin, provlsoned
her with seals meat, about thirty gallons OF
water in seals outlets. the flesh OF three goats
and about twenty 1ozen OF cooked eggs. Inc
names Of the crew are Given below. On the
22d of January, 1867, they started, without
COMPASS or nautical instrument of any sort.
They thought that by steering cast-northeast
thev would make New Zealand. This was an
error, as the course should have been north or
q little to the west OF north. At the time Of
the start the wind was southwest, but on the
first night it shifted to the northwest, with
rain, and blowing very hard. Those who were
left upon the land we're very hopeful Of q sue
cessful result to the venture of their comrades;
but five weeks passed. and then they knew
that in all likelihood they would never meet
their comrades again in this world. There is
one hope STILL The boat may bave made
Cdmppeu lSlaQQS, WHICH urS OUC
miles east Of the Aucklands.
February passed and March. In the latter
month they found stave on which was writ
ten in charcoal, Minerva; four men, one Off
Ger; Leith May 10th, 1861; March 25th, 1865.
April and May slipped by, and the men had al
most given up hope; but they gathered great
pile of wood, ready to light as signal i'll case
caught small pig; they kept her for three
months and then they killed her. Then oc
CURED an event which occasioned much sad
ness. On the Sd Of September old David
Mcclellan died. He had worked with them
and suffered with them. 1t was like losing |
the chief part of their dying hope TO lose |
him. He was buried in the sandbill on Ender-
by Island.
About this time they we're very well off for
food. They succeeded by means of an inge-
nious hook made out of q half inch bolt in
catching q number of pigs, and they found
some wild potatoes. They sent adrift the in
fated bladders OF the pigs, attached to which
account of their sad condition, i'll the hope of
some ship picking one up. They also made
small boats of about three Feet in length; they
attached to each heavy riece of iron so as to
turn the little craft by the stern, to keep her
before the wind, and cast them out upon the
waters. On the deck of each were carved all
the PARTICULARS of the wreck. Nearly despair
ing, and yet clinging to the hope, growing
fainter day by day, of being rescued, the little
band lived on, adopting every means within its
power OF assisting in its own deliverance.
THE DELIvERANCE.
On the 10Th of November, 1857, more than
eighteen months after the wreck OF the Gene
raj Grant, the man on the lookout saw o sail.
The signal fires were lighted without delay,
but the smoke did not appear to attract no.
tice. On the 21st the brig Amherst was sight
Ell, running from the south along the east
coast. The boat was launched, was observed
from the brig, and the sufferers were taken on
board. 1t is almost needless to say that they
were treated by Captain Gilroy and his officers
and men with kindness and consideration.
The joy Of the rescued sufferers was great
"Words" says one, "cannot express our feel
ing of Joy for such deliverance from hard
ship and privation dL ring period Of eighteen
MONTHS" They were taken on to Southland,
New Zealand, whero they were Hospitality re-
ceived and provided for.