The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-10
THE PILOTS BRIDE,
asroRY OF THE PERlLs OF THE DEEP.
ssnsrIass Of Crew Wrecked on the Island o
DssOla,ion-TheIr Great PrIvitiOns'aad Hard
ships-Fourtssn Months 10 Solitude ohA
Barren Coast-Rsseusd At Last. -

II hhipt-fnurteen n0nths IN boHtuutp "
Barren COAst-Rsseusd At Last. q,
BosroH, April 9.-Captain Joseph Fuller
ofthe bark Pilot's Bride, Of New London
has arrived home after an experience that
falls to put few men whoeo down to the
sea in ships. He left New London, Conn.,
April 81, 1850, on whaling. voyage 70 the
Island Of Desolatien, situated in south lati
tude so degrees and longitude 70 degrees
east, orabout midway between Cape Town,
the southern African port, and Australia
lie reached the whaling grounds withou,
mishap and met with 30 much success that
he was obliged to put in at Cape Town to
transfer his cargo. After that he returned
to the neighborhood Of the island again.
The rest OF the story Is better told In the
language OF Capain Fuller, as he related it
to a correspondent to-day
RUN on A RREP.
"AllSwent we'll" he said, until October
| 8, 1881, when a violent snow storm and gale
Of wind lasting three days struck us, hand
ling US rather roughly. We should have
got out OF ii all right, however, 4 on the
night OF the 4th,5 in the midst Of the storm,
while trying to make harbor on the Island,
we had not struck on reef and lost con-
troll OF the rudder. We go out our anchors
and as the storm seemed to be rapidly
abating remained ON board, hoping tolbe
able to kedge her out after time. During
the nigh. Il cleared oil, and as soon as, the
day broke we discovered our position To- Ioe
in the midst OF tue breakers some six
miles from the mainland. The vessel was
humping and aashing bows under,
and | soon came to the conclusion
that it would not be safe to remain in her
over night, 80 | ordered out three boats.
We threwin few things, and the entire
crew pulled 10 the shore and landed in
safety. OF course, knew the geography
OF the coast OF the island to someextent
from my long familiarity with the neigh
borhood. It is customary for Awhaiers in
that vicinity to put stores ashore in some
OF the harbors in order to make room for
their cargo until. such time,as they need to
use them again. This harbor, on the shore
OF which we found ourselves, was what ID
laid down in the chart as Potts Harbor.
We were there about G o'clock and almost
the first thing we cams across were sonie
stores Of the bark Trinity, which was
wrecked there. ,gs ..s .E-
i51'.7 LOSS orTuE sfriP.S =
There was lot OF old canvas and some
provisions, and we Immediately began to
build tents for shelter. II was very neces.
sary that we should lave them, Tor it came:
on to snow and rain almost Immediately,
and continued to do SO for two days, dur
Ing which time we could not see but few
yards beyond our door, When II. finally
did clear oil, and we turned our gaze sea-
ward, our worst fears were realized. There
was no trace OF the vessel TO- be SEEM !
Immediately sent detachment Of our men
along shore TO seeAif. they could find any
traces OF her, and they soon returned with
the information that pieces Of the wreck
were scattered all along the beach. A
barrel or so OF -four was everything 10
the shape OF provisions that we could
find. There were, however, some
twelve or fifteen hundred pounds ofabread
which the Trinity crew had left, and this,
together with what-we were able to catch
and kill, was sufficient to keep US in food
for some time. The island is some three
hundred miles in circumference aud rises
inland to lofty mountains which reach the
region Of eternal snow, ,:but there is not q
tree on it. A hardy growth OF grass foot
high is the only sign OF vegetation, aud in
this grass an unlimited number Of rabbits
live, from which We got many agood meal.
The main discomfort came by reason Of
our limited stock OF cooking utensils. We
had only one small frying pan, and as we
did not have any other means oil cooking
anything this invaluable object, was kept
in use literally from morning 70. night In
supplying all hands with food. y = a -