Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-05-27
Shipwreck Narrative.

sailed from Hebron Bav, Austria la.
MAY 4,lS66. for London. with full
cargo and eighty-three passengers.
Not being heard of, she was given up
as q missing vessel more than a wear
ago, and was supposed to have foun-
dered with all on board. Now, how
ever, it is discovered that the vessel
was wrecked, when only nine DAYS
out, on one of the Auckland Islands
where ten Of the survivors have been
found and rescued. The vessel was
wrecked at the entrance to a cave;
and only boat-load of her living
freight eocaped. We now proceed
with the original narrative furnished
to the Boston -4dUe7tiser:
Slowly and sadly the survivors
pulled away from the dreadful cave,
wherein so many of their fellow-pas-
sengers 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 were all the day pulling,
sometimes in the teeth of the wind ;
and 1t was night before they reached
a large rock about one and a half
miles northeast Of Disappointment
Island. In trying to effect 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 bouili
were saved. The boat, however, was
recovered. On the morning of the
18th of MAY, they got some fresh
water. They had been unable TO
procure any wood for a fire; and, even
If they had, they would have hesita
ted before risking their last match on
rocks where it would hare been i'm
possible for them to live.
About noon of the 18th, they en-
tered a place called North Harbor +;
but they did not think it fit refuge;
50 at daylight the next morning they
started again. and reachadPnrt Ross
There they camped and set about TIE
anxious task Of lighting a fire, IN
which they were fortunately success
full The Ere they lighted that even
ing was not allowed to 90 out for
eighteen months. They caught two
or three birds, gathered few limpets;
and these, with a tin Of bouiiH, were
cooked, and heartily enjoyed by the
poor shipwrecked people. The next
dav they discovered some old huts-
which had doubtless, afforded shelter
for other sutserers-aud gathered linn
pets and killed four seals on the beach
al Euderbv's Island. They saw some
goats but did not succeed in catching
auv Knowing that ships had been
wrecked there before, and that the
island they were on had been a ref
uge for men in the same condition as
themselves, they passed the next few
davs in searching for food, tools, and
clothing. which they thought might
have been left for the benefit of fu-
ture castaways. They were not sue
cessful.
They were very badly off for cloth
ing. There were some who were
without coats, hats, shoes and stock,
ings. From this cause, and from the
want of nourishing food, the party,
for many DAYS. were in a state OF
dreadful suffering. They were attack
ed with dysensery and became 50 re-
duced and emaciated that they fear
ed none would be left to tell the sto-
~. One day when the were out,
searching for the hut left by Captain
Musgrave, who, with some of his crew.
had. but a few months before, es-
capped a similar peril, after twenty
months suffering, - they describe
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 We're startled with
horror at finding the men they had
left reduced TO bare skin and bones.
They knew then how they themselves
had changed. But, after a time, they
rallied; they got more accustomed
te the food they succeeded in making
a little salt, and, from the skins of the
seals. they made moccasins for the
shoeIess. They also managed to make
a sail from seal skins.
On the IIth of July they came up
on Musgrave's hut. Their joy was
great. for they thought they would
fud there a we'll stocked depot. But
their disappointment was greater; for
everything had been carried away. eX-
cept a few rags of old canvas, and an
old boiler which tnev afterwards used
10 boil salt in. They made many
discoveries. which, although triijng
in themselves. were Of absorbing inter-
est 10 the finders. They found two
files. and another hut, fitted up with
three hunks. in which there was an
adze. spade. and a little wearing
apparel They saw some plg-tracks,
but no pigs. They managed to catch
seals enough 70 live upon 1t was a
/ long time before they knew how to
use the skins for clothing. they were
so hard; but at length they discovered
+ that. By PAIRING the dried skin close to
+ the roots OF the hair, they could CD
+ tain a very soft material. And So
T they managed % live on. The hlsto-
r. ot one dav was the history OF all
+ In September. after they had been
on the islands for over four months
/ thev were all attacked with an alarm
L