The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-08-11
CAST on A DEsOLATE ISLANp.
Thu Sunerinus for Finccn Months of the
Shipwrecked Crew of IA WhnIer on
flenrd's Island.

The sunerinus for Finccn Months of tho
Shipwrecked Crew of whaIer on
1leard's Island.
John Esmond, sennA officer Of the
whaling bark Trinity, ., New London,
the crew Of which were recently taken
off Heard's island in the South Indian
ocean, after sojourn OF fifteen months,
tells story that vies with that of
Robinson Crusoe The bark Trinity,
Captain John Williams, left New Lon
don in June 1880. with crew Of six
teen hands AT Cape dc Verde islands
I nineteen Portuguese negroes were
shipped. ION September " said L )
mond, I've arrived at the uninhabited
island OF desolaiion and landed three
months provisions. On September %
wo sailed toward Heard's island, and
arrived there October 2 It is the GUS
tom of whalers 70 call at Heard's island
TO kill sea elephants. The island is
$50 miles southeast OF Kerguelen's
Land 1t is thirty miles long and from
three to ten miles wide, with volcanic
group of mountains in the center about
5000 feet high. IL is covered nearly
all over with snow and ice, the glaciers
reaching down to the water. We landed
two white men and two negroes with
provisions enough for three months and
left them to kill sea elephants, and
the bark then proceeded round toward
the southeast end of the island,
whore it was proposed to land another
party, The sea, however, was too high,
and no boats could he landed. She
lay at anchor here till October 16, when
at midnight heavy storm burst upon
her, and at 10:40 o'clock on the 18th
the ship grounded about fifty Yards
from tho beach. FROM tnis uay, Ucto-
Der II, 1880, until the rescue, on jana.
airy 23, 1882, the seamen lived on this
uninhabited island without any COM
munication with the DETER world. All
of the crew got ashore safe and sound
except seven negroes, who were frost
bitten. We hauled ashore also about
two months provisions"
On the first night of their sojourn the
ship foated away, taking with her six
months provisions, and they had moth
ing to depend on but the resources of
the island aud the few provisions saved.
There grew kind Of wild cabbage on
the island in plenty, and this. with the.
flesh OF the sea elephants and sea leop.
ards. formed their chief sustenance
There WAS plenty of fresh water. The
party lived in four shanties made of
wood, stones and sod. One was built
on the southeast side OF the Island and
used as lookout. Tie weather was
always cold. 1t was below the freezing
point when they landed, and summer
brought no change of any consequence.
During the months Of June, July and
August they only haa ebo~t th-os Le~-.
OF daylight in the twenty four. though
occasionally the moon shone very
brightly. The only occupation OF the
men besides sleep was to patrol the
beach in search OF food.
They had accumulated about 500
barrels OF oil when rescued, but they
left it all on the island. They had
blankets with them, and beds were
made from the feathers of the sea hens
which they canght. Their own clothes
had to last them all the time they were
there. but they made boots. gloves,
mittens, ETC., ont OF the skins Of the
sea animals. They were entirely with.
out tobacco, and this the seamen
seemed to regard the worst i'll of all.
Esmond made II sun dial ON the roof OF
his shanty. A correct reckoning Of the
days and months was kept by marks on
board. January IL. 1881. two men
were drowned. In November OF the
same year the pengnins began to lay
eggs, which they were enabled to
obtain for food and enjoyed
greatly. At times the volcano
TH;s!y' were hihhss6le 10 rsAEEl the fyRtiRRh
on the other end OF the island on 40
count of impossible ice fields until De.
cember last. 1t may be supposed that
it WAS n welcome sight when, On the
10Th of January, 1922. the United States
steamer Marion hove in sight.
The seamen stood on the rocks
and waved their Blankets tin at last
they were seen. On the 18th Of last
January the men were taken on board
and the Marion steamed for Clinton bay,
eighteen miles distant, where the four
men previously spoken of were en-.
camped. These, too, were taken on
board, and the whole party were clothed
in navy costume. When the Marion
reached Cape Town the American con-
sui took charge CT the shipwrecked
seamen. They sail ed for Southampton,
England. and then for this country.