The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-16
A Terrible Story of Shinwreck.

The Golden Hind, Captain Benjamin F.
Robbins, left New York on the 18th of Febru-
ury for San Francisco. When in the latitude
of ST. GATHERINGS, experienced series of heavy
westerly gales, which continued for nearly a
month with great violence. On the 18th of
June last, when on the west side of Patagonia,
and at the Pacific entrance to the Straits of
Magellan, the pintals and gudgeons of the rud-
der gave way, and it floated off, Three DAYS
were consumed in constructing temporary one
OF spare spars 1t las ed about week, and in
another heavy gale this was also carried away
and we dr:fted at the mercy of the winds On
the second day after this last disaster, the ship
struck between two rocks, one forward and one
aft, on the western coast of Patagonia. Three
boats were hurriedy prepared, and at Z o'clock
that evening lowered away. In the hurry of de-
parture nearly all the nautical instruments
were left on board, and many articles absolute
ly necessary. There were three boats lowered,
the first under command of Capt. Robbins, the
second commanded by Mr. John Saville, first
mate, and the third in charge of Mr.. Webb, the
second mate. Each contained seven men. Mr..
Webb parted company almost Immediately
We lay under the lee of the ship until morning.
The sea at the time we left the ship was break
ing over her fore yard, and during the night
she beat to pieces en- the rocks. The next morn
ing the last vestige of the Golden Hind had dis
appeared, and search of two days was made
for the other boat, but no trace of her could be
seen. We have long ere this. concluded she
was swamped and that her entire crew were
drowned. Upon examination it was foud that
we had a small box and a bag of hard bread
the latter soaked with sea water, about 20 cans
of beef, little tea and coffee. An allowance of
one cracker to each man, and one of beef
to fourteen was at first issued, but this speedi-
ly decreased to half cracker, and finally we
did not taste beef more than once a week. A
few days after we left the wreck, the captains
boat was swamped, and we lost our compass
and quantity of the provisions An attempt
was made to reach Sandy Point, Gillian con-
vct settlement and the coaling station of the
Pacific mail steamers, but our course could only
be determined by the sun and stars. 1t was
tfen midwinter We pulled close to the land,
working all night in fair weather, and during
heavy blow landing and going into camp.
A oout twenty days the men held out admira-
blv: but in the bitter cold number were FROST
bitten, and our legs and feet were terribly
swollen. On going into camp we constructed a
tent of the boats sail and the mzzenroyal sail
with the oars. A fire was built in the centre,
and the fol- rteen men sat around it the night
through. We suffered terribly from the loss of
seep. as no one dared to remain away from
tie fire for fear of freezing to death, and the
tent was too small to hold all in reclining po-
sition Al the end of the twentieth day the
general debility from Insufficient food ana the
eress slow, and very often we camped for sew
eral days at time The allowance OF bread |
had been reduced to a quarter of a cracker
day, and very often the men did without for
day or two together to help out the supply. Al
most the entire month Of July was spent in
pulling in what we believed the direction to
sandy Point. In the latter part of July the
weather became "a feeaEfully tempestuous and af-
enr as days gatsss
roots, some berries and little celery and eaoT
man partook ravenously of whatever b bo" eaGI
find. Here the men became seriously i'll; t tbeir
Legs Were swollen to fr Sh prSpotons but
wandered ABOUT with their feet tied up in oIS
cloth and pieces of canvas. Some, Unable to
walk, crawed about on their hands and knees
Att eugth White, seaman, became delirious
and died 1t was impossible to dig grave, SO |
we laid the body in the bushes. The next one |
attacked was young fellow we called Dan.
lie died within three hours after The carpen-