The Hawaiian gazette., 1879-07-09
AWAIIAN GAZETTE
EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY
CRAWFORD MACDOWELL.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9. 1879.
A Voice from Ihe Sea.
The Sole Survivor of the Ellen J. McEin-
NOM tells the tale of the Wreck-A soul
narrowing narrative.


Victorino LOpes. the sole survivor of the
wreck of the Ellen J. McKinnon, the vessel
destined for J. c. Dnncans escape, tells the fol-
lowing narrative of the hardships endured. He
says We sailed away from San Francisco on
the oath Of March. Six days afterward We were
overtaken by gale of wind of such violence that
it strained the vessel very much and caused her
TO lurch so heavily that thought several times
she would capsize. On the morning OF the sixth
ouy | was ai the wheel from two 10 four 0 clock.
The Captain, whose name never learned, came
along and ordered the first mate, 0'Brien, to
reef the sails, 10 heave TO and keep her head
well off. This was done, and then the mate
took the wheel from me and dashed it aud told
me to still stand by. At about ten minutes TO
three O'Clock | was still standing at my post,
with the wheel dashed. when the vessel, a fat
bottomed one sheered, and before she could
right again she was struck by wave aft and
keeled right over. At that time . Bren the
mate, George ard Johnny, OF The port watch II
don't know their other nanes), the one | be-
longed TO- we're on the deck. They chung TO the
rigging. | hung TO the wheel. and noticed that
the forward scuttle had hoated away, and knew
that the water must have run into the " fore
cassel.' and prevented the men who were asleep
there from making their escape. The sliding
scuttle on the cabin had not been removed, so |
made my way forward and pulled 1t away, and
called TO the Captain to come out Manuel.
the second mate, first came out OF the cabin, and
was Immediately followed by the Captain, who
was in his shirt and drawers. lie asked whose
watch it was, aud 0'Buen replied:
"MINE. AND SHE UPSET"
The Captain camoered to the side of the YES
sci. and hung there. The sea was running very
high at the time, and one wave, which seemed
to be much higher than any l had seen before
caught the Captain and carried him away. i
heard him hallOo twice, but II was impossible to
render him any assistance. That was the last
saw Of him. Then took rope and fastened
il around my waist. attaching the other end 10
the vessel The other men did the same We
remained 10 that position, waiting Tor daylight,
which it seemed 10 me never would come. As
daybreak approached the wind Gained some
what, aud the sea went down. When light again
dawned. and could once more see about me-
took INV sheath knife. and after running along
the side of The vessel. cut away the main and
forward rigging and braces. This allowed the
masts to sway with the motion OF the vessel
and 10 short time the mal0mast snapped of
and fell into the sea, and, some time alter, The
forward mast also went by the board. This
lighlened the vessel considerably, aud allowed
her TO get into more upright position, lying
after this at an angle of about 40 degrees, which
allowed Us more deck-rOOm, Ut least So that we
could, with care, move around. By this time
the pangs of hunger and thirst came on, and,
while nv companions were giving away TO de-
spalr. and were not making any efforts 20 help
themselves, thought OF procuring provisions II
possible. / made my way 10 the cabin, aud
found keg of whiskey and q box OF fruit, and
also bag Of potatoes. These l secured, aud
laShed them to the forward part Of the wreck.
then took the msinj ID aud made sort Of tent OF
it. and five of Us got under this coVer-the first
aud SECOND mate, and two sailors beside myself.
As the day wore on, The wind moderated, and
We fOated with the tide. The provisions which
had secured | took charge OF. aud dealt OUT
sparingly. We kept watch aud watch, 10 the
hope Of seeing sail, but every night as dark
ness came on, the despalring cry OF
mo SAIL IN SIGHT"
Was uttered At the end of the third day the
second mate died. and We pitched him over
board. | had managed TO secure u small cask OF
syrup, which | gave 10 the men, mixed with the
liquor. That night fell asleep unt slept more
sOundly than at my time since the wreck, and
on awakening found that the meu had gone TO
the liquor aud provisions that We had aud un-
dashed them and let them fall overheard, thus
leaving us without anything to eat. With a
pole managed TO get into the hold and d-aw up
another sack OF potatoes. We ate them raw,
aud subsisled on them hlone to the ninth day
after the wreck. o. this day | could see the
bodies of The dead men 10 the I" forcasseI right
under Us. My companions we're becoming
weary, and knew that unless | got some food
for them that they would not long survive so
had to do the best could. ished in the
fOrecassel for some cans of fruits and meats
knew to be there. | got piece of iron and
made hook, and lashed II TO The end OF d pole
and commenced fishing. | got hold of some
thug and hauled II up. and found 1t was the
body OF one q the O.her watch. He had eyI-
dendy been ammed between some boxes, which
had held bin so tight that be could not get out.
put the hook down again aud hauled up sack
OF potatoes, aud alter that brought up a box Of
butter. This was all We had to eat FRESH
water we had nOne and were forced to drink
suit water. From this cannot give any account
of the days, as | could not keep any track of
them. We came IN sight OF large number of
birds and sea gulls which were swimming by,
and with piece Of WOOD which hurled at them
i killed oGe. 1t hoated toward tue wreck aud |
took il up aud greedily sucked the blood. and
then tore The flesh in pieces and gave each Of
my companions Il small piece. then made a
hook and baited II with some OF the flesh, and
with that managed to catch some fish, which |
ate eagerly, and 1t tasted 10 me as ii it was the
finest turkey. One OF the men, George, was
becoming very faint, and | saw be was gong 10
die. | Told him be must Try to keep up but be
replied taat be did not think he would live very
long. i asked hun If be thought be was going
TO God, and be said Yes" | then SAID
George, when you get to where God is, tell
Hin TO send Us some water He told me that
be would, and then begged me not to throw him
overheard as soon as be died. He became 10.
sensible and in short time died let his body
remain under the cover one whole day, and then
put it 10 the sea. believe that be kept hI.
promise, for, soon after he died, squat came OIL
and The rain fell in torrents. | held out nv
sou'wester until 1t was full. aud treasured the
water. The other men Tapped the water from
the sides of the vessel just as dogs do The
first mate had become crazy from the effects Of
drinking salt water, and be died soon after
George. That left me and Johnny on the wreck
Johnny was getting very weak. and thought
l WOULD MAKE ONE MORE EFFORT
And see it | could OF get some preserves, il
order TO sustain his life. With piece of iron
cut away hole 10 the deck, aud ished where
knes preserves had been stored in the hold but
! was uoable TO get any at all. Some time after
that Johnny died. 1t must have been about
ten O'Clock at night. kept him With me nnt
two o'clock IN the morning. and then rolled him
over into the sea. Then was left alone Oh the
Il