The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-01-28

pork, constituted the allowances per man. Inc
officers, fifteen in number, Jared questionably
better, for they had a small leg ofmutton, which,
having been kept too long in a warm climate, was
tainted, and had an 50 ancient and 6sh-like smell"
Some chickens, turkeys and sheep that were
saved, were turned loose on the island. 1t was
necessary to put all hands-93 souls-at once on
short allowance, for it was uncertain what sup
Plies the island might afford, and a long period
might elapse before they were relieved. After
the frugal supper, those who were fortunate
enough to have saved tobacco, divided, and after
a smoke. as cheerfully as the circumstances would
allow all settled their wearied bodies among the
bushes, to sleep, or to ponder over the events of
the day and t. speculate on the prospects ahead.
1t was in truth. a remarkable shipwreck. The
night had been clear starlight, with a moderate
breeze. The ship was heading direct for an island
whose position and disGance-and that Il short
one-were known, approximately if not precisely.
She was making not over two and q half to three
knots, yet she ran directly, without any particular
lack of vigilance, on a rect which was above water.
and on which the breakers were dashing furiouslv.
The presence of a strong current is the only hy-
pOthesis in explanation. The fact that the ship S
stern went up high and dry on the reef, so that
the most important stores and the boats were
saved, was also u remarkable one. And last. not
least, the recollection that no lives were lost, gave
occasion for thankfulness and wonder. One man,
u marine, who was intoxicated, had n narrow
escape. He fell, or rather walked overheard,
right through the break where the vessel had
parted. lie was picked up with difficulty.
The next day was employed in securing what
ever could be got from the wreck, and digging on
the island for water. None was found that was
much different in taste from the water of the
ocean. One well only afforded very brackish and
bitter tasting water, which a few could drink
without disagreeable effects. while others had to
avoid it wholly, or suffer. Supper consisted OF a
niece of bread and stewed turtle. So they Law
down to rest again in discomfort. Some had OBJ
tanned mattresses and blankets from the wreck,
but they were all wet. They had got ashore u
small stationary boiler, belonging to the CON-
tractors party.
after landing, as a distiller, and to the great Joy
of all hands, it succeeded admirably in producing
fresh water from salt. Fearful of disaster to this
Invaluable distiller, a watch was set over it.
consisting of three of the ships engineers and
three seamen, who took turns in superintendjDo
it while in operation. Tents were put up for
shelter, and messes formed, and the camp began
to assume as much the appearance of comfort as
possible under the circumstances. From this
time forward, until the arrival of the Kikduea,
the same routine was gone through with daily,
of working on the boats, with a view TO visiting
Midway Island, fishing, and catching turtle and
sea-birds. Every Sunday morning, all hands
were mustered, and divine service was held. On
the 18th of November, the Captains gig, which
had been raised upon, deeked, and thoroughly
ntteQ tr the purpose, edticu from the lSEanQ Tor
Honolulu for assistance, with a crew of four Men
under the command of the executive officer of the
ship, the lamented Lieutenant Talbot. In our
issue of January 4th, we printed in full the
account of the voyage of LOO miles in that
mail boat, which ended so disastrously To fonr
out of the five who left the island in her. After
her departure, the work was vigorously carried
on of building a boat in which to visit Mid wav.
to be forty feet long.
The long continuance Of a diet of animal food.
all the vegetables served out being one half n
decaved potato per diem for each man-bepan to
tell upon the health of the people, and diarrhoea
was prevalent. Medicines were scarce, but quiet
and a few DAYS of abstinence from seal-rneat.
turtle, &c, served to effect a cure. On the 9Th
of December, quarter ratIons of beans were
served out. Fresh fish were caught, but were far
from plentiful. December Odd, the bread ration
was two ounces per man 29th, one ounce of -four
and one ounce Of beans on alternate DAYS. with
a small piece of sea-gull, or seal. twice n dav.
varied occasionally with turtle, which we're Begin
ning to get scarce. With one of the spars, q
lockout was set up, snrmounted by a flagstaff, on
which was hoisted the cOlOrs, union down. in
order to attract the attention of any passing
vessel. December 22d, Odd and oath, there was
a heavy gale from the westward. with a high tide
and heavy surf, which damaged the boats some
what. November I'd, the Captain, with two
boats crews were out picking up drift wood
from the wreck, when a westerly gale came on
and they were obliged to spend the night on a
sand spit, in a cold rain. Without a shelter.
they adopted the. expedient of digging holes in
the sand and burying themselves in it. They got
safe back to camp the next morning in a sad
plight however.
Their anxiety about a supply of fresh water
was now past, for the rainy season had set in,
and a hole was found which afforded a good sup
DIV of palateable water. Life can be sustained
for an indefinite period on scanty supplies of the
uoorest kinds of food, but water il an absolute
zz~zs TIa Ena-hIrds oalTa1 49, > -
seamen, were not very plenty, and the number
taken was limited to eight per diem. No shoot
ing was allowed, for fear of frightening the game
away from the island, and the plan was to de
capitate them with swords, which was an easy
lob. as the birds were tame. One swift cut. and
the goney made no sign. Eight birds, the size of
a chicken when pincked, served for ninety three
men. Occasionally an egg was found, five inches
bv three in size, and these were treasured az
deIicacies, and shared equally in the mess, each
person getting a taste. The laying season had
not vet commenced.
November llth, there was an excitement in
the camp in the evening. The carpenter, who
had been strolling along the beach, ran in, quite
out of breath, and announced that he had seen
the light of a vessel in the Ofing. The idea was
a plausible one, as the China bound steamer
would be passing about that date. But after all
hands had turned out to look at the light, it
turned out to be a star just rising, and hidden
now and then by the swell of the sea.
After the sailing of the gig on the 18th of
November, the thoughts of the exiles dweIt upon
the voyage of the boat, and they followed her in
Imagination over the waste of waters and specu-
lated upon how long it would be before help
would come. Counting day after day, and say
ing each night to each other the gig is 50
many days out to-day and working silently on
the boats, the time wore menotonously away.
Occasionally, of an evening; after an unusually
good supper of fsh,-the nearest approach they
had to q full meal,-animal spirits would rise,
and songs and storytelling enliyened the hour.
1t is not surprising, however, that the songs and
stories generally ran upon the subject of good
eating. Up to December 18th, they had killed
and eaten seventy-fve seal and twelve hundred
g gonies.'' Christmas day-Merry Christmas
il passed over in the days journal with the sim