The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-11-28

rived from Tristan da Cuhna. The
.taU0 had been becalmed off the island,
and the captain had given information
of the landing of the two brothers, and
as the sealing season had set in, the
Tristan da Cuhna men set out at once
for inaccessible Island; they behaved
with much kindness to the brothers,
pointed out that the position
west side OF the island exposed
them to prevailing winds, and advised
them to SHIFT their quarters to the north
east side, which they at once agreed to
do, and the Tristen ia Cunha men took
all their stores round, and showed them
how to build a hut, and soon after left
them promising to visit them Mt Christ
mas; aud the brothers at once set to
work building their house near water
fall, clearing the ground, and planting
then seed, and otherwise making prepa-
ratlons for a long stay. Firewood was
plentiful, and by aid of the long grass
they could reach the summit of the
island, where they We're about four miles
of broken, uneven ground. The beach
was about a mile long, with a strip
of ground back to the foot Of the cliffs.
Using the boat, they captured nine
teen seals. The first house they built
failed to keep out the rain, and they had
ing hard at their house and plantation,
they were Quickly consuming their store
of provisions without replenishing it,
and they soon became fully aware that
that the. time would arrive when they
must be entirely dependent on home
produce. They occasionally used their
boat III sealing, but unfortunately she
was too heavy for two men to handle,
and got so damaged that they could
only keep her afioat BY constantly bail
ing. This was a mOmentous event to
the poor fellows, as, III the beginning of
April, 1872, the tuSsOck-grass growing
on the cliff at the back Of their hut, and
by means of which they were enabled
to get to the summit of the island,
accidentally caught fire as they were
clearing the ground by burning, and
the only way left them of ascending was
by going round to the northwest side in
their boat; thus, by the accident to
their boat, their means of subsistence
was cut off; however, nothing daunted,
built up stern of the best half, and
christened their extraordinary looking
craft the Sea-cart, and by means of the
Sea-cart they were enabled to get round
the point and on the summit of the
island, on which were pigs and goats
They found the flesh of the latter ex-
tremely good, but that of the pigs was
unpalatable, owing to their feeding
partially Oh sea birds.
On the 18th of May an English ship
hove in sight, anu fire was lighted to
attract attention, as their boat was not
safe to go outside the lzelp in. The cap
tain afterwards reported at Tristan da
Cunha that he had seen two persons on
the island, also square -sterned boat,
but that only one came off, and that
there appeared to be too much surf for
him to attempt landing.
60 The Door fellows hearts sunk with
in them as they saw the ship bear away
from the island, as winter was setting
in on them with heavy gales and much
rain; moreover, in one of the gales, their
Sea cart was washed off the beach and
wrecked, leaving them no means of
getting to the accessible side except by
swimming round high bluff; this
great loss occurred in June. In May
they dug their potatoes, and in the fol-
lowing month some of the other vege-
tables were fit for food; but being
unable to reach the top of the island,
their store of provisions ran short, and
towards the middle of August the two
brothers were greatly reduced in
strength. Although fish could be
caught III plenty little distance from
the shore, but few could be taken from
the rocks, SO that the loss of their boat
stopped that means of supply.
In the middle of August the male
penguins landed to prepare their nests
for the season, and at the beginning of
September were followed by the fe-
males, who began laying; the day before
this happened the brothers had eaten
their roast potato, and but for the time
ly supply OF eggs for food, they would
have persisted.
In Septe mber a passing French yes
sci communicated with them, and, in
return for some penguin's eggs, they
obtained about half hundredweight of
biscuit, and were disappointed of a fur
Their supply OF stores by the captain put
ting to sea. III October 1872 q sealing
schooner named the Themis commune
Gated, and landed six men from Tristan
da Cunha. The captain of the Themis
gave the brothers a small quantity of
salt pork, biscuit and tobacco. On
leaving the captain promised to return
III a few weeks time, but did not do SO.
At the end of October the supply OF
penguins' eggs failed, and on the 10th
Of November the biscuits and pork
were finished, and necessity obliged
them to make preparations for swim
ming round the bluff III search of food.
The powder, matches, and other things
required to be kept dry, We're secured
in cask, which they towed round the
bluff. The night was spent at the foot
of the cliff, and the following day, with
great difficulty, they succeeded in
reaching the ridge, and, crossing over the
west side, descended to their first land
ing place. A pig was shot, and they
enjoyed hearty meal of fresh meat,
the first they had partaken of for many
month. In this way they lived until
the 10th of December, having shot six
goats A hut was built at this time on
the plateau, to shelter themselves when
hunting.
can American whaling schooner Wis
tied them, from which they obtained
some small supplies, but they would not
take the opportunity of leaving the is
land, expecting the return of the The
mis- A party of Tristan de Cunha men