The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-10-25
LOSS OF THE Am. BRIG SHELEHOFF !
100 Days starvation and Suffering.
Eleven lives IosI-onIy one saved I.


On Thursday, Oct. 10, at A. NJ, sail was
discovered by the wheelman on the steamer
Moses Taylor The vessel lay directly in the
steamers track, and appeared to be disabled,
having but one mast standing, and only her lower
topsall set, running before a fresh southeast
wind. On approaching her, it proved to be a
away, apparently deserted, no persons appear
ing in sight on board. \ sail spread over
the fOrecastle, and tent rugged in the foretop
cross-trees, showed that the crew had occupied
these places for some time. At every lurch. the
sea made clean breach over the vessel from
stem to stern. To all appearance it was a wreck
which had long been water-logged, and her crew
taken of by some passing vessel. Her stern
was broken away, the bulwarks on both sides
gone, and her sails flying from the foremost ia
rags.
On reaching the wreck, the steamer stopped,
and Captain Bennett sent off boat to ascertain
whether ans persons were on board. aud if none
whether any record conld be found respecting
her. The sea being quite rough, The brig urched
heavily, and the boat approached her with some
difficulty. She was boarded however BY the
third officer and seaman from the steamer who
Immediately went aloit into the forstop, aud
finding no one, went into the forecastle where
they discovered u weak, enaciated man, Nhe ex-
claimed, as he saw them; Great God Almighty
am saved ?" He was lifted into the boat, aud
taken to the steamer. the only article brought
with him being small canvas bag containing a
nautical almanac, and vial inclosing sheet of
paper with the date of the wreck ana names of
the crew and passengers.
Ii proved to be the American brig Shelehoff
2l3 tons register Of San francisco, bound to
CallaO with cargo Of lumber. The survivor
was Capt Luder Hopken, the last of twelve
persons on board at the time of the disaster
The brig was caught in a cyclone on the night Of
July g. the same date Of the solar eclipse. Soon
after midnight, when the cyclone was at its
height, she was thrown on her beam-ends, and
found to be rapidly filing and in order TO prevent
q total loss of the vessel and her company, her
mainmast was cut away. and she rghted up. No
time was allowed to save any provisions or cloth
ing from the cabin, and the crew were obliged to
retreat to the foretop to prevent being washed
overheard, IS every wave made a clean breach
over her. The mate, Mr.. johnson, died first, six
days after the disaster. Two halfbarrels Of
salmon. halfbarrel of tongues, and box of
China starch we're fshed up out of the hold, bui
the drinking water was all found to be brackisb.
The salmon, tongues, starch. and few fish caught
with hook from time to time. ard occasionally
a little rain-water caught 10 a sail, and always
more or less brackish from the salt spray, we're
all that the ships company had to subsist Oh.
Capt. Hopkens account of the suferings of
his men and passengers is a most heart-rending |
one After the death Of the mate, on the 9th of
July, none occurred till Sept 6, when they began
to become deIirious and weak from hunger and /
thirst, and several died, or jumped overheard in
their delirium. Boils and disease, induced BY |
hunger and saltwater, added to the intensity Of
their suferings-
Nine or ten days before the steamer rescued /
him, Captain HOpkeu states that bark ran !