The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-01-18

During TIE journey to Honolulu, Cap
tain Hopken gave Captain Bennett many
particulars relating to the disaster. When
the Shelehoff, on the Sd Of July, IN a
cyclone, became disabled by having her
rudder carried away, the Captain, as al
ready stated rugged ropes from the wheel
through blocks, so as to steer from the
"crow's nest as it was Impossible to re-
main on deck. In this way the ship was
steered xor sixty-fve days. The Cap
tain S idea was to work to the Sandwich
Islands. He relied principally upon the
position of the stars by night to steer his
course. Ia the day time the sun was no
guide. and even at night In some cases he
was compelled to steer without the assis
lance of the stars on account OF heavy
fogs After having spent sixty five days
in the rigging subsisting on fish and de-
pending on the moisture of the sails for
drink, they came on deck and improyised
a place of shelter in the fore-castie. by
spreading a top-galant sail as an avn
ing. The provisions taken from the
''crow's nest having been exhausted,
the rim wire of tin vessels was converted
into hooks, and with these the crew fish
ed, thus obtaining fresh supply Of
food. The fish was dried and taken to
the rigging.
They had to depend entirely for their
supply upon the moisture Of the atmos-
phere. Sheepskins, used as chatting
gear, were hung from the rigging, to re-
ceive dew or rain. These skins were d.
yided between those on board; that is
each man had his particular place to suck
the water off, and he vas not permitted
to encroach upon his neighbours portion.
In this way they managed to moisten
their parched lips. until one by one they
became delirious and jumped overheard
or died Of exhaustion.
From the date Of the wreck until the
friendly visit Of the Moses Taylor, four
vessels were seen, but three were very
far of. They could only be noticed in
the distance. About seven to nine days
before the Captain was rescued, and
while there were still eight living souls on
board, bark drew near the wreck and
stopped for few minutes, but went away
again on her course While she lay in
front of the wreck. the men raised them
selves on their knees, waved their hand
kerchiefs and pieces OF canvass, ard made
all the signals in their power to attract
| attention. They were unable to haIloo,
and the result was that they were left to
their fate. The Captain could see the
| letters composing the bark name, which
he says was short one; could see new
spanker; saw persons moving on deck,
and saw lady sitting near the rail. This
| was IN broad daylight, and Capt. Hopken
is at loss to divine the meaning of the
conduct of the Capt of the bark. His
conduct is not humane. and if known he
should be dubbed out of his position.
The feelings of the wrecked and forsaken
men as the bark turned away and went
on her course were heartrending. Almost
exhausted by starvation, ami despairing
of any relief, they had laid down camly
to meet their fate, when this harbinger
of relief, as they fondly and really behev-
ed her to be, came alongside. Their
hopes revived, and their falling spirits
gave way to cheer. They raised them
selves, and as they viewed the bark and
saw her stop they believed boat would
be lowered. and that they would be res.
cued. But when this last hope disap-
peared, what must have been their con-
dluon, as the bark spread her sail and
was waited away from the scene of the
wreck, the mems spirits fell even lower
and never rose until they took their final
departure. The first mate of the Shele.
hof died two or three days after the dis
aster. and the others, except the eight on
hoard when visited by the bark, died in
September. Some died on the decks,
and some became delirious and jumped
into the ocean. Some days before his
rescue, Captain Hopken rolled the dead
bodies of three men into the sea.
Captain Hopken and Asley Crane,
three days before the arrival of the Moses
Taylor, came down from the "crov' snest,"
having experienced the most intense
cold. They left after them their supply
Of fish, with the intention Of returning,
but when they reached the deck they be-
came so weak that they were unable to
ascend again. and were thus left without
food or any means of obtaining it. 1t
had not ralned for nine days, and during
that time they never moistened their
! lips.
The night before the Moses Taylor ar
rived, slight shower of rain fell, and a
tin cup of water was obtained. Captain
Hopken confidently believed that Mr..
Crane would have given him some, but he
drank the whole ravenously He then
threw the cup on the deck, walked hur-
rledly and was not seen any more. 1t is
supposed that the water made him deHr
ious, and that he walked overheard, and
found 8 grave In the Pacific.
Very frequently as Captain Hopken
lay asleep or partly unconscious on deck
or IN the rigging he used to dream he
heard the cry, Brig ahoy u and raising
himself he would answer, "Am
saved p Casting his eyes wistfully
around, he looked anxiously each time for
that relief which he dreamed was at
| hand, but only to be disannn;ntaH Enoh