Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-02-01
THE WRECK OF TEE SAGINAW.


THE WRECK OF TEE SAGINAW.
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 lied 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 elias
gov, Scotland, and William Halford
(myself,) coxswain Of captains gig,
volunteered to go in the boat to Hon
olq 4 Five DAVIS ont ,ost +, nom ana ora
and no means of making either-no
dry finder or wood, but had flint and
steel. About five or six days before
making Karlii we succeeded in getting
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 lost Mr..
Talbot was Ill for seven or eight days
with diarrhHa; 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
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
hauled that night to westward. We lay
to thus until IL 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 1 NJ. called my relief
Andrews and Francis came on deck,
also Mr.. Talbot After 1 went below
boat was again kept away for short
time, when she again hove to, it being
dark. At little past A. NJ on Mon
day, December 10, she was kept away
for the third time. I remained below
until felt the boat was getting into
shoal water. ! woke Muir and told him
it was time we went ON deck. He did
not go, but [ did Just as I got in
cockpit a sea broke aboard, abaft
Mr. Talbot ordered to bring boat by
wind. I hauled aft main sheet Francis
was at helm, and brought vessel no 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 rghted the boat It was
then that Muir put his head up
the cock pit, when I 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
to the breakers. We then found
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. I landed with |
the water breast high, and took with |
me tin box on board, with its cover
/
charts, &C.; also Captain S1card'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
belonged to the contract
ors, as their, employees, previous to
that tlme-also, my and Francis's
papers, and accounts destined for Mare
Island Navy Yard The named
box, with everything not lashed, fell
into the water when we were upset. I
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. I 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, ineoherently. He groaned a
good deal I was much exhausted, and |
laid myself down till sunrise, when [
looked for Muir, and found him gone
from the place left him. Soon after
[ found him surrounded by several ma,
tives, but he was dead. and very black
in the face. During the day 1 got some
food and clothing from the natives
one called Peter-and after resting N.Y.
self Peter and [ went on horseback over
to Haualei, to Sheriff Wilcox and to
Mr.. Burt. Then we returned with the
sheriff and coroner to Kalihi Kai, where
an jnoueSt was held over the bodiac Of |