The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-02-11
THE WRECK OF THE SAGINAW.
Dreadful Suffering OF the Boats Crew

Dreadful Suffering of the Boats Crew.
William Halford, the sole survivor of
the boats crew who attempted to sail
from the wrecked steamer Saginaw to
Honolulu, a distance of more than
thousand miles, told the story of their
sufferings to San Francisco paper, as
follows:
"Volunteers were c,lled to go in the
gig to Honolulu. Lieutenant Talbot,
Peter Francis, jr., Master, belonging to
Manila, and John Andrews, seaman, of
Boston; James Muir, seaman, of Glas-
gov, Scotland, and William Halford
(myself,) coxswain of captains gig,
volunteered to go in the boat to Hon
olulu. -
"Five days out lost all light and fire,
and no means of making either-no
steel. About five or six days before
a light with the glasses taken from an
opera glass. Suffered much from wet,
cold and want of food. When we left
Ocean Island, November 18th, at noon,
we ran to the north to latitude thirty
| two degrees there took the westerly
winds and run east to longitude of
Kauii, as Mr.. Talbot supposed, but it
proved ultimately we were not near that
longitude by over degree. We then
stood south. Had heavy weather while
running eastward; hove to with sea
anchor twice-last time lost it. Made
another drag with three oars, which
were also lost. Then made another
drag with two oars, with square sal
by crossing them. That lasted for
three turns of bad weather; the last
time it broke adrift, and was lest Mr..
Talbot was i'll for seven or eight days
with diarrhna; got better, but still
suffered from fatigue and hardship.
He was somewhat cheerful the whole
passage. Muir and Andrews were sick
two or three weeks. Francis was al
ways we'll The deck was leaky. The
boat was furnished with chronometer,
barometer, cOmpasses, sextant, opera
glass, charts, Bowditch, and almanac.
Did not make land so soon by week
as we expected The first land we saw
was Kauhuelaua rock, near Nihau
Island, On Friday morning. 10th De.
cember. We stood north by east (Ni-
hau Island in sight, but to windward)
all day Friday; during that night and
Saturday we stood n E. by E.; on
Saturday night headed E.. third S.
S. E.
"Sunday morning, wind allowed us
to head S. E. Saw Kanli, great dis
lance off, Saturday night. Sunday
night we were off Haualei Bay; then
hove to, head to n. W., wind having
| ID Io4 III -,
to thus until II P. M-my watch on
deck, called Mr.. Talbot; told him night
was clear l could see the entrance to
Haualei harbor. He ordered boat to
be kept away, and steered for entrance
got near it, when it clouded up and
became dark. We hove-to again to the
northwest. At l NJ. called my relief
Andrews and Francis came on deck,
also Mr.. Talbot. After / went below
boat was again kept away for short
time, when she again hove to, it being
dark. At little past 2 A. NJ. on Mon
day, December 10, she was kept away
for the third time. l remained below
until l felt the boat was getting into
shoal water. I woke Muir and told him
it was time we went on deck. He did
not 60, but l did. Just as 1 got in
cock-pit a sea broke aboard, abaft
Mr.. Talbot ordered to bring boat by
wind. 1 hauled aft main sheet. Francis
was at helm, and brought vessel up to
wind.
"Just then another breaker broke on
board, and capsized the boat. Andrews
and Francis were washed away, and
were never seen afterwards. Muir was
still below, and did not get clear until
the boat was righted, when he gave
symptoms of insanity. Before the
boat was righted by the sea, Mr.. Talbot
was clinging to the bilge of the boat. |
called to him to go to the stern of the
boat, and there get up on the bottom.
While attempting to do SO, he was
washed off, when he sank. He was
heavily clothed and much exhausted
He made no cry. / succeeded In get
ting on to the bottom, when [ stripped
myself of clothing. Then sea came
and righted the boat. It was
then that Muir put his head up
the cock pit, when 1 assisted
him in getting on deck. Soon after
another breaker came and upset her
again, she going over twice; last
time came upright and head ON
W bllc DlcdhtIS. we tUcu
her to be inside of the large breakers
We then drifted towards the shore, at
a place called Kalihi Kai, about five
miles from Hausiei. [ landed with
the water breast high, and took with
me tin box on board, with it's cover
broken, containing navigation books,
charts, &c; also Captain Slcard's in
structions to Lieutenant Talbot, and
other papers, among which was Muir's
and Andrews discharge papers, they
having shipped November Is, for one
month-they belonged to the contract
ors, as their employees, previous to
that time-also, my and Francis's
papers, and accounts destined for Mare
Island Navy Yard. The vove-named
box, with everything not lashed, fell
into the water when we were upset [
landed at about three A. NJ, and saw no
one until daybreak, when seeing some
huts went to them and got assistance
to get the boat on the beach / had
previously, by making five trips to the
boat, succeeded in bringing ashore
the long tin case afore- mentioned,
chronometer, opera glass, barometer,
one ships compass, boats pinnacle and
compass, and also assisted Muir to the
shore. He was still insane and said
but little, incoherently. He groaned
good deal. / was much exhausted, and
laid myself down till sunrise, when !
looked for Muir, and found him gone