Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-27
IN UNLUCKY EXPEDITION.
The Captain and Crew of General Buffers
WreckIng Schooner Given Up as Lost.

The Captain and Crew Of General Buffers
WreckIng Schooner Given Up az Lost.
The Boston Herald publishes the follow
ing remarkable piece OF history IN 1881 an
American whaler, heavily laden with sea-
elephant oil and South Sea Island sealskins,
was working her way from the islands OF
the Antarctic ocean, bound home. The
trip had been very successful, and the YES
sci was laden with a valuable cargo. When
near Desoation Island hurricane was
encountered, and, in spite OF every effort
made TO save her. the vessel was driven
into the breakers OF Desolation Island. Her
masts were carried away and portion OF
her crew washed overheard and drowned.
Several OF the crew, however, including the
captain. John Easmond. and the colored
steward, chung 10 the wreck, and a. soon
as the sea had abated somewhat attempted
to land on the island in one OF the ships
boats. The attempt proved disastrous. the
bOal being dashed on the heavy boulders
lining the shore. and but two men, Captain
Easmond and the steward, u. VI. Olsen, OF
Baltimore, succeeded in landing.
These two men, east ashore on a deS0late
island, subsisted for several months on wild
birds, which they killed with stones, and
eggs, with which the island was covered.
In the meantime the wrecked vessel held
together, and with every succeeding gale
was washed further on the shore, so
that 81 ordinary times she lay quite high
and dry. Months aiterward whaling.
ship hove 10 of the island. search
ing for fresh water. and discovered
the castaways. Their story was soon told.
and when the ship sailed she cirried away
as passengers The shipwrecked IN Tiners.
They arrived in this city, and. in telling
the story Of the wreck OF their vessel, also
stated that her cargo was intact, IN good
condition, and could easily be secured.
Captain Robert Tarr, OF Gloucester. heard
Of their adventures, and together with
General Benjamin +. Butler, decided TO
make IN attempt 10 secure the spoils.
On August 18th considerable excitement
was caused in Halifax, y. s., by The state.
mint there made and widely telegraphed
over the United States and Canada. that the
schooner Conquest had been purchased by
parties from tue United States, and was to
be used for, as il was then stated, piratical
purposes. Ii was then asserted, and not
deaied, that the schooner was purchased by
Robert Tarr, Of Gloucester, and Benjamin
+. Butler, Of Lowell, and what these two
well.known politicians could want with an
old schooner formed good foundation for
stories by gossipers throughout the country.
II now appears tina, the schooner was
purchased by these gentlemen for the pur-
pose OF seeking and securing The abandon
ed cargo Of this South Sea whGler. ashore
on Desolaiion Island. The schooner sailed
from Halifax August Is. 1852, with orders
to call at Cape Town and wire her arrival.
From the time she sailed from Halifax up
10 now not a word has been heard from her,
and she Is now given up as lost. Her com.
mander was the captain Of the lost shaler.
John Easmond, hailing from South Boston,
and her crew-Iist comprised the following !:
William Hilchey, Haxifax, first mate: John
Hilchey, Halifax, second mate; Joseph
Matthews. Halifax, cooper; p. NJ. Olsen,
Baltimore, cook; James Splcer, John Car
rigan, James Deadly, John Surcsll, David
Frazer, Edmund Little, and Z. Byrnes, sea-
men, all OF Halifax