The Portland daily press., 1871-01-17
The Wreck Of the saginaw.
NARRATIVE OF THE SURVIVOR OF THE BOATS
CREW WHICH STARTED FOR HONOLULU.

NAhhAllSE Oc AhE SORVlNOI Oc 1hH 0OAV
CREW WHICH STARTED FOR HONOLULU.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. Is 5-William Halford,
the only survivor OF the boats crew which left
Ocean Island Nov. 18th, bound to Honolulu
for relief for his ship wrecked comrades of the
United States steamer Saginaw, gives the fol-
lowing account of their adventures:
From the time of the wreck, nearly three
weeks. all hands were employed getting up
tents, saving provisions and rigging, making
fresh water with apparatus and decking over
and preparing the captains gig to go to Homo
lulu. The launch was lost at the time the YES
sci struck. The former was raised about ten
inches midships, tapering fore and att, and
wooden deck was placed over all with places
for men to row with movable hatches. Lieut..
Talbot, Peter Francis, ir, master, belonging to
Manila, and John Andrews, seaman, OF bos-
ton, James Muir, seaman, OF Glasgow, Scot
land, and VIM. Halford (myself), coxwaln OF
the captains gig, volunteered to go in the boat
to Honolulu.
Five days out we lost all our light and fire
and had no means of making either. There
was no dry tinder or wood but we had hard
flint and steel. and about five or six days be-
fore making Kani we succeeded in getting
light with glasses taken from an opera glass.
We suffered much from wet, cold and want Of
food.
When we left Ocean Island, Nov. 18th, at
noon, we run to the north to latitude ~, there
we took the westerly winds and run east to the
longitude of Kanii as Mr.. Talbot supposed, but
it proved ultimately that we were not near that
longitude by over degree. We then stood
south. We had heavy weather while running
eastward. We hove to with the sea anchor
twice, and the last time lost it, We did not
make land so soon by week as we expected.
The first land we saw was Kauhuelana rock
near Nipan Island, Friday morning, December
10Th. She was kept away for the third time
r -A.1 IolA I,rnk
ting into shoal water; I walked Muir and told
him it was time be went OF deck. DE did not
90 but did. Just as got into the cockpit a
sea broke aboard abatt. Mr.. Talbot ordered
to bring the boat by the wind which was done.
Just then another breaker broke on board and
washed away and were never seen afterwards.
Muir was still below and did not get clear un-
til the boat was righted, when he gave symp-
toms of insanity. Before the boat was righted
Mr. Talbot was clinging to the bilge OF the
boat called to him to go to the stern of the
boat and there get upon the bottom. While
attempting to do SO he was washed of, when
be sunk. He was heavily clothed and much
exhausted, but he made no cry. I succeeded
in getting on the bottom when stripped my
| the boat. Tt was then that Muir put his head
up the cockpit, when I assisted him in getting
| on deck. Soon after another breaker came and
upset her, and again she went over twice. The
IasC time sn0 came up rignI duu uedu ou tuo
breakers We then found her to be inside the
large breakers. We then drifted towards the
shore at place called Kalidi Kai, about five
miles from Hanaei. I landed breast high and
took with me the tin case Of dispatches and
letters. There was tin box on board with its
cover broken, containing navigation books
charts and many other papers. This box, with
everything not lashed fell into the water where
we first upset. Handed at about 8 a. M, and
saw no one until day break, when seeing some
huts l went to them and got assistance to get
the boat on to the beach. I had previously, by
making five trips to the boat, succeeded in
bringing ashore various articles, and also as
sisted Muir to the shore. He was insane and
said but little incoherenty He groaned a
good deal. was much exhausted and laid
| down to rest till sunrise, when l looked for
Muir and found him gone from the place left
him in Soon after found him surrounded
by several natives, but he was dead.
During the day got some food and clothing
from the natives, and after resting myself Pc.
ter and went on horseback over to Henale.
Before ] left it was reported that Andrews
body had come ashore and had been taken care