The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-14
WRECKED ON THE ISLAND.

Thrilling Adventure of British Ship
wrecked SaiIOrs-FIfty-two Days in an
Open Boat.
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct IA thrilling tale
Of shipwreck on & coral reef in the Pacific
and sufferings of the crew in open boats for
ffty-twO days was received here to-day by
the Australian mail steamer. The British
ship DunnOttar Castle, bound from Sydney,
New South Wales, for Wilmington. Cal,
Captain 81. a. Martin, laden with coal, went
ashore about midnight on CureOr Ocean
Island, July Is, between two reefs, OH the
coral bottom, and became a total loss. The
DunnOttar Castle sailed from Sydney on the
9th of June. She was vessel of ], 200 tons,
and was owned by Skinner & Co., of Lon
don and Glasgow. She had twenty-eight
men. Her running ashore is attributed TO
the ships chronometers. When she struck
she was securely held, and all attempts to
get her off were fruitless. The crew worked
from Thursday until the following Mon
day TO jettisOn the cargo and stop the
leak, which was cause by the rocks. The
officers and crew stayed by her until there
was ten feet of water in her hold. By
noon on the day following she was resting
on the bottom with twenty-five feet Of
water in her hold. Soon after the ship
struck all her water tanks got afoat and
most of the water was spilled. What water
and provisions that could he secured were
landed on the island. The first mate,
bOatSwain aud five sailors left the Ocean
island July "a in lifeboat, and steered for
the Hawaiian islands for aid. They took
tweDty-eight days provisions and a
quantity OF water and left twenty
eight days provisions and 2S3
gallons of water on the Ocean
Island for those who remained, who were
Captain Martin, the second and third mates,
fifteen sailors and four boys. The crew
who embarked in the boat had hard time.
They were afoat fifty-twO days, and from
August % 10 September l they had only
biscuit and pint of water each per day.
They sighted land twice, but at the first
land, Necker Island, they were unable 10
get ashore. At Bird Island they saw no
signs of water, aud, after pulling
completely around the island, they kept
OF. They then Steered for the Island
OF Kanai, and reached KaiIawai,
eighteen miles from Henelel. on tie
18th of September. The natives helped tia
sailors ashore There Norman, first mate,
procured whale boat and went to Henelei,
and the steamer James Makee at once went
to the rescue. The seamen travelled over
1900 miles in the open boat. Occasionally
they caught a booty and had little soup,
but for some time they had no meat. Tie
crew of the lifebOat were taken TO Homo
lulu, where they were cared for. On the
14th of September the steamer sailed from
Honolulu for the Ocean Island Supplies
were put on board by representa-
tives of the Hawaiian and British
Governments, besides which large guam
titles of provisions were taken by
the Interisand Steam Navigation Com
pGny, who own the vessel. Sufficient pro-
visions were put aboard for a six months
cruise and four live sheep were taken by
she InterisIand Company for the ship
wrecked sailors. PrOdting by the occasion,
the Hawaiian Government determined to
send material and have a life-protecting
station erected on the island for the benefit
of those who may hereafter be wrecked
there. The building is arranged with
cutters To catch rain and tanks To
hold the fresh water. 1t is also arranged
To leave LOCO gallons of fresh water. Be
sides the house. the Hawaiian Government
sent a lot OF cocOanUt trees, which will be
planted, also quantity of aigerOba seeds,
which will be sown on the island in the
vicinity of the station, so as to insure both
shade and cOcOanut milk for tie future use
of shipwrecEed mariners